I will be back next Thursday. Have to go before my Father.
Be Blessed and Pray for me. 
I will be back next Thursday. Have to go before my Father.
Be Blessed and Pray for me.
Emptiness Without God>>>
devotion from
The title of Saturday's devotion from Our Daily Bread says it all. It's amazing how when I didn't have God in my life how I tried so many things feel that void and at the end of my journeys I still came up empty inside. Only when I truly began honoring God, studying His word, being obedient to His will, asking Him to be the leader is of trying to treat Him like a genie in a bottle that I feel complete.
This past week has been a trying week for me, from dealing with family issues, people not caring about you are your possessions you work hard for to obtain them, I have had to ask God to give me strength, patience, calmness and I have slipped up from time to time this week and have lost my cool. But I will tell you this, by the Holy Spirit flowing through me now it would have been much worse for me, the people around me if God was not in my life right about now. When having God in my life He has given me the answering what I need to do, on how to handle my situations for this week. I'm I still angry from this week, a little(am not going to lie, this just happened Thursday and Friday)...am I in a better place, yes.
Having the word of God flow through me let's me know that some people in your life whether they are close friends, relatives, your children, your spouse will let you down from time to time and I will let people down from time to time because you and I are not perfect, we all are flawed. But God has also have given you and I common sense and sometimes we have to put our foot down on certain issues, certain matters. I thank my Lord and Savior for His love for me and by me doing His will He gives me new insight on how to not only put Him first but He allows me to have a peace within, to be able to enjoy my desires that are pleasing to Him.
This year has been an eye opener for me because I am learning why God should come first for when you put Him first in everything you do, He truly gives you the desires of your heart.
Be Blessed, Be Safe, & have a Wonderful Weekend.
DarrenKeith~
Heartprints>>>
devotion from
This was a neat devotion. I try leave "heartprints" where ever I go. Not to be noticed but because coming up as a youth and going through the things I have went through, I always said to myself I will try and not treat people the way I was treated. Prime example, when first entering high school, I don't know where this tradition came from but juniors and seniors would call "freshman day" where that was some sort of hazing really; they stuff freshman in lockers, beat on them, make the run around the gym in the jockey garment (or as we called them jockey straps). I was blessed in many ways (well one was I was 6'4" and about 245lbs so that helped me a lot) but I said to myself whenever I became a senior I would not do this to incoming freshmen and I didn't.
Leaving "heartprints" is a choice of a individual plain and simple. I remember hearing a pastor talk about you want to leave a good feeling whenever someone mentions your name and I know what he's talking about because it happens in your church, at work, on campus each day. When we here some names it brings a smile to our faces and with other names of individuals mentioned, eyes get the rolling, HUGE sighs come out, smiles drop from our faces and comments like, "or...are you sure you want to have him or her over?"
One good way is just be yourself, I learned this about 15 years ago from a close friend. People would always gravitate around him and I always wandered why. I watched him day in and day out then God brought to me. He has made each and every one of unique to bring something to the table. God has giving us all gifts and that is how I began just being myself, and before I knew as time has passed by I see the same thing happening to me.
It makes me feel good when I'm able to bring a smile to another's face because in this day and time this world has really become superficial. We have a generation, young and older, with a attitude of "give me because I exist" not "help me because we can not be an island all to ourselves". I made it my mission that if someone does not know something and I do, whether it's something about God's word, how to surf the web better, anything...and if they are willing to learn, I will teach them and if I don't have the answer, I will try and direct to a individual who does know the answer.
I try to never make a person feel stupid because some of us learn quicker than others, you and I didn't come out knowing everything but we have come across people in our lives that think and act otherwise. I do not act this way because I wish to get a pat on the back, I do this because people took time out of their lives when I was coming up and showed me that there are people out here that's not always looking to get over on you or try to belittle you in front of others after they have shared knowledge or a skill with you.
Try and be a person today that when you leave your "heartprints" people are not trying to wash them away once you leave their presence.
Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a Great Day.
Hearing Aid>>>
from
I'm learning each day how to be obedient to my Heavenly Father. Being obedient is really simple, but it's not easy. Many things in life are simple but doing them...that's the hard part. Think about it, when we were young and someone wanted you or I to do something we knew was wrong, we could have said no...simple; but hearing the teasing and ridicule that would not have been easy. It goes for the way God wants you and I to live our lives and I'm going to be honest sometimes it's not easy because of my flesh wants what it wants.
By me working this 2nd job now has really opened my eyes on the tithing, on giving God His time through prayer, getting into His word, putting things in perspective. I'm so glad I am growing wiser instead of just growing older, that would be a very wasteful life. I have learned that whenever we try and manipulate our circumstances we're only manipulating ourselves in the end because we do not bend God to our will, we always bend to His, it's up to you and I when we will do it...sooner or later; I am learning to yield to the former because it takes too much out of me to keep trying do things my way.
I witness His grace in my life each and everyday. I'm learning to take responsibility for my choices in life each and everyday because again it's the best way, the less stressful way to go through life. I heard Pastor Paul Shepard say something that was so profound and it hit me like a ton of brinks.."people always say experience is the best teacher and that's not true many times because we do not have to go through everything to figure out if it's wrong or not". Growing up I didn't try drugs or drink for different reasons;
God’s Little Blessings>>>
devotion from
Today's devotion from rbc ministries asked do we see God's blessings everyday? As Christians you would automatically think "yes" but sometimes I think we all look over the tiny blessings that God puts before you and each day. I think I noticed them most of the time because I'm observant for the most part. I can sit, watch, and see the marvels of God when I watch animals, insects, highways, and yes technology. I found out about 6 months ago how our eyes are just like our fingerprints in a way because everybody eyes are different and I just don't mean by color. When I heard that it hit me that's why some places scan our eyes for identification. To know that God to the time out to make every person different on this earth blows me away.
I noticed his tiny blessing sometimes when I am lost or have misplaced something. I look and look and can not find it. Sometimes I call myself backtracking to find it and to no prevail. But when I stop, and say, "Now Lord, I know it's here and you know how much I need this item to complete my task, please direct me to it." Before I know it, He brings it do my mind and I find it. This past weekend I was reformatting my hard drive and I needed the new anti virus software I just received. I usually keep my software in my draw and it was not there. I looked everywhere and couldn't find it. I said a similar pray above and God brought it back to me where I placed my new software.
I noticed His huge blessings but I thank Him for the small blessing, the encounters, the timing of God. Sometimes when we think we may be running behind and we meet up with a person that not can help you and I but sometimes God may add a little something special to that encounter. Like the family in the devotion that met up at the Mexican restaurant in Disney World before the storm rolled in, God is awesome because as always His timing, His blessings when you sit back and think about it can have you smiling all day.
Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a Productive Short Work Week.
"Fools have no interest in understanding;
they only want to air their own opinions".
proverbs 18:2
Cleaning Out The Files>>>
devotion from
messages: A must "listen to":
Dr. Charles Stanley's
This is one of the reasons why I am so glad I am a Christian, knowing God has forgiven me of my sins...past, present, future. Two of my favorite movies are and . One thing that stands out to me about these movies are regrets, guilt. Ray Charles and Johnny Cash had past demons that kept haunting them, the tragedies that happened in their lives. Even though it was not there fault they could shake the fact they thought it was their burden what happened to their brothers. That is why so many people are on a road of self destruction. No matter how many times you tell how nice they look, how much of you enjoy their company, what joy they bring into your lives, those compliments fall to the wayside because of past memories, past regrets, past guilt. Many Christians do the same thing, my brothers and sisters in Christ say with their mouths that God has forgiven that but they still carry that "yoke" around their necks by themselves.
Once you truly give your life over to Christ Jesus, he is our advocate, he is our attorney, God does not and will bring up our sins no more and that is an awesome feelings. Knowing that Jesus comes along side of us, gives us new life to carry on each and every day gives me a pep in my step and smile to my face. They are things that's happened in my life I wish that never happened to me...some things I brought on myself, somethings I have no control over; things that were once a huge burden around my neck. This is where my moods swings would come into play. One day I would be happy, joyful, fun to be around...other days I would want to be all alone, mad at the world, all because I would dwell on how I was teased in school because of my stuttering, how I was dateless in high school, the names I was called growing up. That was my crutch, my safety place. I was a very unpredictable, miserable person to be around.
Then in year 2000 took a turn for the better. When I found out how much God loved me, what His gave up for me on calvary, the fact that how Christ wronged no one and went to the Cross to have His Father look away from Him for a moment because Christ Jesus took my sins, MY SINS...past, present and future to live a for Him and to have guilt free life? How can I not be a happy person. This does not mean that I'm Ned Flanders (even though he is my favorite character) everyday. Past regrets come to me but they do not stay. I heard pastor Greg Laurie make this statement last night while I was at work, "all Christians should wear a sign around their neck saying, 'Christians..Under Construction...work in progress'". I thought that hit the nail on the head. That is what I am everyday. I'm not perfect, I'm going to make mistakes, I'm going to say the wrong things every now and then but I do not have to hold on to those mistakes I will make in the future because I once I truly repent of my sins, God remembers them no more.
To people who are not saved, give it over to Christ, lay your burdens on Him and He will give you strength you can not believe. To be able to live your life knowing you are covered by the blood of Jesus is the best feeling in the world. Situations will come believe me but the load of past regrets, mistakes you make will not be a hindrance to your life, you repent with all your heart and truly believe that Christ died for your sins, the memories of past regrets will be there but not the weight of your mistakes. And to my brothers and sisters in Christ...for you and I to feel we are not forgiven is an insult to our Father. He would not have sent His son, His ONLY son to suffer the beaten, the humiliation, the suffering on the cross for you and if our sins could not be forgiving. We have made mistakes, we will make many more in our lives because we are a work in progress and it is a process we will go through until we see Him again. Jesus died for you and I to have a wonderful life here on earth, to be a example to others...yes we are flawed, we are sinners, we make mistakes...but those things are badges of honor because we let the world know, without Him...we are nothing; with Him, we are conquerors.
Be Blessed, Be Safe, and Have a Wonder weekend~
this piece, was supposed to post yesterday but I revised, revised and revised again because of the subject matter. I apologize for the delay.
The Dead Sea Squirrels>>>
devotions from
great audio sermons to help you and I as parents:
Pastor
The devotion from today was kind of cute but will hit home to many parents. Children are a gift from God and they are amazing and it's very true, at a very young age children are like a sponge and soak up in their developing brain just about everything they hear or see. What you pass on to your children can be a blessing to you or a curse. In this day and age parents really do not believe that but it's true. We tell our children don't use profanity but if they hear you and I swearing all the time, don't be surprise if it's past down to them. As well as smoking, drinking, telling lies...that passes right down to them. Children are very smart, very intelligent, they do what we do many times, not what we say.
I knew at a early age I didn't want children because I knew in my early 20's what it would take to raise children and I could not give them; quality time, quantity time, health insurance, love, love and more love. My prayers are with parents today, especially single parents because you have a much greater challenge today. I am a 1970's child(born in 1965...to many in that makes me as old as Duncan McCloud of the Clan McCloud) to me the last era of most parents really being involved with their children's lives. That was the last era that when a teacher sent a note home with you it wasn't going to very pretty once your parents saw it; it was the last decade when most teachers and parents worked as a team.
When I hear now how some parents jump all over the teachers first then ask questions later it makes me cringe. Some parents have the right to do so because not all teachers are perfect and lets be honest, some teachers should not be in our school system at all but most teachers are dedicated educators and are working on a limited budget as it is and to compound that with some parents who are not teaching their children manners and having respect for authority only makes the matter worse.
My wife and I have been married for over 6 years now and it's been challenging everyday because of the struggle between me and the step children. She was married for 16 years previously and her ex husband and I are like night and day. Where he ran the streets, I'm a home body for the most part. Where I try everyday to put God first...her second...me third, the ex husband always put his needs before her or the children. Their children are grown and out of the house but guess who they gravitate too? Maybe later in life they will realize their father did more harm than good but for now it's a everyday struggle between us because when deep down inside when you have on man figure who tried to be their "buddy" and another that's trying to set Godly principles and values in their lives of course they're going to gravitate to the former, it's human nature. Later in life they will realize I was trying to prepare them for life and not trying to be a dictator...time will tell.
Parents today have a very challenging road ahead, your choices in finances, friends, how you treat and communicate with your spouse is being watch very closely by your children. And with all this from the world teaching children it's okay to live together without marriage, it's okay to sleep around, it's okay to live by your rules and your rules alone, not having respect for authority. We can not shelter our children, have them live in a plastic bubble but when applying the Word of God, letting your children see that you and I are not perfect and seeing you and I apologize when we're wrong, treating people the way we wish to be treated will go a very long way in their lives. Will our children make some mistakes in their lives, yes...will they push against the principles we are trying to teach them...yes; but will they respect and love you and I down the road...YES!! It's better to teach, discipline, correct your children when they are young than try to raise them once their grown and you and I as parents will not have to live with many regrets if they do choice to go down the "wrong" road of life.
The book of proverbs gives a very good blueprint on how we should raise our children. If we go by those principles and our children still choose a path of chaos and destruction for their lives, you will feel less regrets because you have placed within them Godly principles and we must remember God has given all of us free will to choose our path in life. Parents that haven't taught these principles, does this make you terrible parents, of course not. My mother was a God fearing woman but I did not know anything about the book of Proverbs until I became an adult. We as parents do the best with what we know and what tools we have at the time, this is just another tool I am passing on to you because nothing is more hurtful than to have past regrets hanging over our heads and weighing heavy on our hearts.
Like I have written before, I do this out of love and I'm not trying to be popular, I'm trying to live God's way. I grew up on both sides of the fence and let me tell you, I will have to live with some of the choices I have made for the rest of my life and I can not take them back. I'm not perfect, we as parents are not perfect but doing things God's way will bring more joy than pain when raising children and less guilt in our lives.
Be Blessed, Be Safe, &
Have a Great Day
DarrenKeith~
Tech News:
Nintendo Wii: Funny name, fun system
story from
f nothing else, you have to give Nintendo points for courage. When competitors decided to zig as the next generation of video game systems came along, Nintendo zagged -- and that gutsy decision may well give it an enormous market share boost in the coming years.
The Wii, which goes on sale Sunday, Nov. 19 for $250, is not a graphical tour de force. It doesn't support high-definition graphics. And forget about HD-DVD or Blu-Ray; this thing doesn't even play current generation DVDs (for now at least - a second version will be released next year). But it does make the gaming industry more accessible to those it unintentionally excluded before. Briefly put: The Wii is one of those rare video game machines that's worth trying to pick up during its first holiday season.
That, of course, will be easier said than done. Hardcore gamers will be fighting hard to get one early. But if you do manage to find one, grab it. The price is considerably lower than what Sony (Charts) and Microsoft (Charts) are charging for their new offerings -- and the system is one the entire family will enjoy.>>>
Two of six airlines say there's no ink on iPod deal
story from
he Cupertino, Calif.-based iPod maker, whose announcement coincided precisely with rival Microsoft Corp.'s official launch of Zune, said the in-flight iPod connectivity would be available to passengers beginning in mid 2007.
"It's way too early to confirm any such details," an Air France spokeswoman, referring to the iPod seat connectivity and a mid-2007 availability date, told Reuters.
Similarly, a spokesman for KLM told the media outlet there had only been "informal contacts" between Apple and the airline leading up to the announcement.
"It's very premature what Apple are saying," he said. "We have no idea if this is technically feasible, if it's financially viable, or it customers want it.">>>
Mozilla Claims Firefox Better At Finding Phishers
story from
A study sponsored by Mozilla has claimed that the company's Firefox browser is 18% to 23% better at spotting fraudulent phishing sites than Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7.
The survey, which was done for Mozilla by testing company SmartWare, answers a Microsoft-backed study released in September that put IE 7 at the top of the anti-phishing list.
According to Mozilla's figures, Firefox 2.0 correctly pegged between 78.85% and 81.54% of the 1,040 phony sites culled from a PhishTank list of phishing URLs. IE 7, meanwhile, identified 66.35% of the same sites.
Firefox and IE tackle phishing differently. Mozilla's browser offers two detection options: One is based on a locally-stored blacklist that's updated from Mozilla's servers about every half hour; the other queries Mozilla's partner Google each time a URL is requested to see if the address is in the search engine's phish database. IE, on the other hand, only offers a real-time lookup to match the destination URL with Microsoft's fraud list.>>>
Hands on with the Mac Pro: Getting started
article from
hen I joined Macworld a little more than a year ago, the company offered to buy me a Power Mac G5 for handling my Mac OS X Hints duties. But since I already owned a fairly fast Power Mac—a dual 2GHz G5, actually—it didn’t make much sense to go through the hassle and expense of an upgrade for a slightly faster processor. I decided to wait.
This summer, my wait paid off. Apple replaced the G5 line with the Xeon-powered Mac Pro, a machine with two dual-core processors for a grand total of four individual processing units. The Power Mac G5 has gone back to being my personal machine—the Mac Pro now does my heavy-lifting.
Back when I picked up a Mac mini earlier this year, I wrote an extensive three-part report on my experience of switching over to one of the early Intel-powered Macs. Given that the mini I have is on the low-end of Apple’s desktop offerings while my new Mac Pro is at the other end of the spectrum, I thought it would be interesting to give the Mac Pro the same treatment I>>>
Former HP chairman pleads not guilty to felonies
story from
Patricia Dunn, the former chairman of Hewlett-Packard, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges that stemmed from her role in overseeing a probe into boardroom leaks.
At a brief arraignment hearing here in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Dunn's lawyers entered her plea and she was released on her own recognizance.
Dunn, 53, is at the center of a corporate spying scandal at HP, which the company has acknowledged involved obtaining private phone records belonging to HP board members, employees and at least nine journalists. Among the journalists were three CNET News.com reporters.
California's attorney general has charged Dunn and four other people linked to the spying with four felonies, including identity theft and conspiracy. The charges could bring a prison sentence of up to 12 years.
The criminal case also threatens to drag HP's name back into the headlines for months. Ralph Sivilla, a state deputy attorney>>>
As Zune Goes on Sale, Microsoft Says iPod Can Be Tamed
story from
Microsoft Corp. can break the dominance of Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod in the digital music market with the Zune player that went on sale yesterday, chief executive Steven A. Ballmer said.
"We can beat them, but it's not going to be easy," Ballmer said in an interview.
Zune is Microsoft's first product in the $4 billion U.S. digital music market dominated by the iPod. Microsoft marked the release with free concerts by rapper T.I. and the rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers.
"The market will have two big players for a long time, us and Apple," Ballmer said. "Obviously we're the David in this one; Apple's the Goliath."
Zune sells for $249.99 in the United States, the same price as an iPod with comparable storage space, and will compete>>>
other news:
Get Out Now? Not So Fast, Experts Say
article from
One of the most resonant arguments in the debate over Iraq holds that the United States can move forward by pulling its troops back, as part of a phased withdrawal. If American troops begin to leave and the remaining forces assume a more limited role, the argument holds, it will galvanize the Iraqi government to assume more responsibility for securing and rebuilding Iraq.
This is the case now being argued by many Democrats, most notably Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who asserts that the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq should begin within four to six months.
But this argument is being challenged by a number of military officers, experts and former generals, including some who have been among the most vehement critics of the Bush administration’s Iraq policies.>>>
Reid Pledges To Press Bush On Iraq Policy
story from
Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), who was elected Senate majority leader yesterday, said last night that President Bush still has not grasped the urgent need to change course in Iraq. Reid vowed to press quickly for phased troop withdrawals, a more international approach to Iraq's problems and a rebuilding of the depleted U.S. military.
In his first extensive interview since the Senate Democrats' leadership election, Reid also said members of his party will have to think big on the nation's domestic issues. That includes tackling the budget deficit with strict new rules on spending, exploring an eventual expansion of Medicare to address the uninsured, and examining an increase in tax rates on upper-income Americans.>>>
Truth That Transforms>>>
daily devotions from
"Has belief in Jesus’ resurrection changed your life? Are your goals and priorities different than they were? Are you kinder, more patient, more forgiving? Ask God what He wants to do in you, and then cooperate with Him in that change."
That's the last section of the devotion from rbc's devotion for today...Has belief in Jesus changed me...yes, yes it has.
It has made me much more patient when tolerating people, especially at work. Many of work in a work environment that people are constantly gossip, backbite, lie, step over one person to receive recognition from their supervisors. It can get hectic, frustrating, bitter at times but when you have Christ in you live He has you zoom in what's really important...going in, doing your job to the best of your ability, getting the heck out of there because now you are living for Christ, not for approval from your co-workers, your boss. If you are doing what you supposed to either you will get recognized or God will open another door for you to move on, I have witnessed this in my life time and time again.
It has made me much kinder...It's amazing. I have being blessed in the sense where no matter where I have worked God has blessed me to be surrounded by kind people. I have learned that when Christ is the focus in your life, some people will think you are peculiar but for the most part, kind people will gravity to you and let me tell you, it is an awesome feeling to be surrounded by people where you can share how you feel and not worry about your business being circulated around the office as the latest gossip. To be have a close co-worker to talk with in time of need is a true gift from above.
More forgiving? I have grown in this area(but I'm still a work in progress...I can't lie) I have become more forgiving, hold less grudges and I wish I would have learned this concept years back because it is true...it only hurts you not the person that has wronged you. I have spoke many times that it's okay to voice your opinion when you have been wronged. You do forgive them and if they are sincere with their apology, praise God. If they continue to wrong you, you take the matter to them in a loving way and if that doesn't help, you forgive them, you pray for them then you have to deal with them as the old folks say, "with a long handle spoon".
Forgiving someone does not make you weak, does not make you a doormat. Having a unforgiving heart delays you from reaching your goal, it keeps you from God showing and giving you His best because you and I will keep dwelling on he or she that has wronged you and I. It's like driving on the highway and your head is turned looking out the back window you will not move forward.
Has my goals changed? Yes, yes, yes. It's amazing when I ask God what is His goal, His plan for me everyday and I am obedient to His will how it is less stressful because He is in control. When I constantly call upon Him to guide me my day is better. Situations pop up, plans change but I I'm less to get upset, or throw in the towel because in the end it's for His will and His way always turn out to be the best way in the end.
My belief in Him has brought me closer to Him and my eyes are less focus on how the world views me because in the end if I'm doing His will, He will make my enemies respect me, whether they want to or not.
Be Blessed, Be Safe, & as always
Have a Great Day.
Fathers--A Loving Fact
or Unbelievable Fairy Tale?
click to hear broadcast
from /
God's word never grows old, the more you read His Word, the more you get out God's life principle. When I listen to the same teaching from OnePlace.com I get something new out of it each time. I'm listening to FamilyLife Today from an earlier broadcast. Dennis Rainey is interviewing a young man of Christ Jesus, (the author of To Own A Dragon). Donald talks about not having a father and this really hits home with me. I thank the Lord He has always had His hand on me even when I didn't realize it and was being rebellious.
Three times I remember seeing my father, once when he took me on his bus route, once when I went over to his home in St. Louis(he remarried) and I remember being served cabbage and I said I didn't not like cabbage and he hit me in the head with a large spoon(I grew to love cabbage...I told my grandmother, his mother, years later...she was not pleased what my dad did to me). the the last time, seeing him in the casket.
I never really knew him and he never really tried to get to know me, my mother never married again, even though his mother had to pay child support for him because he was not man enough to take responsibility for his action. Some of things Donald got involved in it jolted my memory to some of the mess I got into coming up as a child. Donald recall breaking into people homes taking lose change when he was in junior high, I remember breaking out windows in people's home, breaking into their homes, throwing rocks at people cars, I have been shot at with pistols as a youth, I have been shot by a young and to know how God has had His hand on me and carried me this far and has molded me into the man I am today.
It makes me so angry that even today how men create life and then just walk out of their lives, it's inexcusable. I never had a positive, Christian male roll model until my early 30's (Mr. Cleo Horton). God has brought me through so much and this is why I blog the way that I do...God put me here to be patient, to be kind, to be understanding toward people because that was never given to me coming up. I didn't have a traumatic childhood but it wasn't the best childhood either.
I may not have a physical father to teach me life principles but I had a Heavenly Father that not only taught me about life, but He taught me to keep my heart open to receive and give love. This is why I could never go back into the world, He has giving up so much for me to spread His Word, His love, His message to let people He has your back no matter what.
Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Great Evening
Tech News:
Tech politics: Friends up on Capitol Hill
from
Amid all the post-election noise, Democrats haven't been subtle about their top priorities once they take control of Congress: boost minimum wage, reform Medicare, rescind the 2001 tax cuts, and clean up "the swamp" of Washington lobbying.
With such a teeming legislative plate, the tech industry might be feeling like table scraps right about now. It shouldn't. The 110th Congress could be the most technology-friendly in history.
Here's why: Yes, Nancy Pelosi, the presumptive new Speaker of the House, hails from one of the most liberal parts of the country, San Francisco. But she also represents a city that's near the heart of America's tech sector.
A year ago this month, after extensive meetings with VCs and entrepreneurs, Pelosi unveiled an "innovation agenda" that called, among other things, for broadband access for all Americans, whether it comes via Wi-Fi, Wi-Max or a fixed line by 2010.>>>
Intel leapfrogs AMD with quad core x86 processors
from /
ntel Corp. officially rolls out its first two quad-core CPUs Monday (Nov. 13), claiming it has retaken the lead from archrival Advanced Micro Devices in the multi-core CPU wars. Intel's Xeon 5300 series for servers and the Core 2 Extreme Quad for desktops use two dual-core Core 2 processors in multi-chip packages.
"We will ship one million quad-core processors before our competitor ships its first one," said Stephen Smith, a director in Intel's desktop group.
AMD has said it will ship its first quad-core CPUs around the middle of 2007. However, those chips will integrate four processor cores and four memory controllers on a single die, likely sporting greater performance than the Intel parts.
The Intel launch comes the same day the latest rankings of the world's top>>>
With IE 7, green means go for legit sites
from
Starting early next year, the address bar in Internet Explorer 7 will turn green when surfing to a legitimate Web site--but only in some cases, not all.
The colored address bar is designed to be a sign that a specific site can be trusted, giving people the green light to carry out transactions there. It is a weapon in the fight against phishing scams, which use fraudulent Web sites
The idea is among the draft guidelines created by the CA Browser Forum, an organization comprised of companies that issue certificates for Web sites and major browser makers. Last week, Microsoft decided to adopt that draft version for IE 7, released last month. It plans to add the functionality in January.>>>
A Sneak Peek at a Fractured Web
story from
Internet censorship is spreading and becoming more sophisticated across the planet, even as users develop savvier ways around it, according to early results in the first-ever comprehensive global survey of internet censorship.
The internet watchdog organization OpenNet Initiative is compiling a year's worth of data gathered by nearly 50 cyberlaw, free-speech and network experts across as many countries, whose governments are known internet filterers.
The study systematically tested if, when, how and by whom thousands of controversial websites are blocked in each nation.
Last week, ONI researchers gathered at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School to begin hashing through their as-yet unpublished -- and in many cases, still incomplete -- findings. Wired News sat down with five members of the ONI team to>>>
Sun making Java open-source software
from
Computer server and software maker Sun Microsystems Inc. said Monday that it had begun to make its Java technology an open-source software project available for free on the Internet.
The announcement represents one of the largest additions of computer code to the open-source community — and it marks a major shift for a company that had once fiercely protected the source code used in 3.8 billion cell phones, supercomputers, medical devices and other gadgets.
Santa Clara-based Sun said it is making nearly all of Java's source code — excluding small pockets of code that aren't owned by Sun — available under the GNU General Public License. The same type of license>>>
Calling Out Microsoft
column from
A few months ago, you could have been forgiven for wondering about what the folks in Redmond, Wash., were doing. It's been almost five years since the last new consumer release of Windows, nearly three years since the last update to Microsoft Office and more than five years since the last new version of Internet Explorer. Only Windows Media Player had seen any meaningful updates since the arrival of Windows XP -- and WMP 10 was shipped back in 2004.
Now, that's all changing. During the past few months, long beta-test programs have ended for Internet Explorer 7, the Windows Defender spyware remover and, as of two weeks ago, Windows Media Player 11.>>>
For Ted Leonsis, a Quest to Find Himself Faster Online
from
For a man who's often in the public eye, Ted Leonsis didn't like what he saw when he Googled himself last year.
Leonsis -- vice chairman of AOL, majority owner of the Washington Capitals hockey team and the Mystics of women's basketball, and minority owner of the NBA's Wizards -- was disappointed to see that whenever he typed his name in Google's search box, the results were a hodgepodge of news stories.
That didn't work for him. He wanted to figure out a way to manipulate Google's complicated search engine to put the information he wanted people to see at the top of his results.>>>
Other National News:
Democrats Push for Troop Cuts Within Months
story from
Democratic leaders in the Senate vowed on Sunday to use their new Congressional majority to press for troop reductions in Iraq within a matter of months, stepping up pressure on the administration just as President Bush is to be interviewed by a bipartisan panel examining future strategy for the war.
The Democrats — the incoming majority leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada; the incoming Armed Services Committee chairman, Senator Carl Levin of Michigan; and the incoming Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware — said a phased redeployment of troops would be their top priority when the new Congress>>>
Pelosi Endorses Murtha as Next Majority Leader
story from
House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) endorsed Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) yesterday as the next House majority leader, thereby stepping into a contentious intraparty fight between Murtha and her current deputy, Maryland's Steny H. Hoyer.
The unexpected move signaled the sizable value Pelosi gives to personal loyalty and personality preferences. Hoyer competed with her in 2001 for the post of House minority whip, while Murtha managed her winning campaign. Pelosi has also all but decided she will not name the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) to chair that panel next year, a decision pregnant with personal animus.>>>
A Fortified House>>>
devotion from
I'm so glad that early on that Mr. Cleo Horton taught me to "get to know that man(God)" for myself. I believe that is one of reasons that so many Christians get caught up in false teachings. You would think that some of these people that were fooled by "so called" men of God should have known better but this is what happens when one does not study the Holy Bible and not ask God to open up their minds and ask questions. The Apostle Paul taught this principle of questioning teachers of God's Word or people would follow a falsehood of the Lord's book.
I was young but I remember and the tragedy that took place in . I heard people say, "there is no way I would have followed someone like like that to a place and followed his every word". It's easy for people to say things like that but things happen(remember ?).
When a person really gets into God's word, He will give you the tools to truly understand His ways, this teachings; He will lead to true men and women of God, a good church home. Now know church is perfect because we all are human so just like in a corporate setting, there is going to be disagreements, jealousy, gossip, backstabbing..but one would hope not as much. Even among Jesus' disciples there was jealousy, betrayal, denial. So when I hear non Christians bring up how churches are not perfect, I just, "you're right".
When you build your faith, your life on "the rock", God's true word, you will not fall for any pastors, so called prophet that comes along. Your emotions will not go back and forth. You will not get into the habit of being happy one day, sad the next, angry the next day...that will wear you down and wear you out. When you build your faith of Jesus Christ, he prepares you for trials that will come into your life, disappointment that will come and also great triumphs as well because that is when Satan attacks you and I; at our highest and at our lowest.
Get into God's word and get to know, "that man" for yourself.
Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a Wonderful Day.
other devotions for your spirit:
Remembrance Day>>>
devotional reading from
Remembering Jesus Christ and why He did for me gets me up and going every morning. Knowing that His blood was shed for me to be able to have a peace and joy here on earth is one of the best treasures I have...nothing comes close, nothing.
My life is not all rosy but knowing I have someone with me that is guiding me through each day, helping me chose my words, helping me interact with others, helping have patience with others day in and day out takes so much of the weights off my shoulder. Some people who encounter me say I have a "if it happens, cool...if not, that's fine too" attitude. It's not that, I strive for peace in my life, I don't enjoy unnecessary drama in my life and that is why sometimes I think I am at odds with many people because for me my time and words are very valuable. I'm not saying this to be arrogant but tomorrow is not promised to me. And now that I have Christ Jesus in my life I don't have time for the "stupid stuff".
In remembering Jesus Christ I strive to live like Him. I will never be perfect like Him but I try to not make choices in my life that will hurt me down the road. I have made plenty of mistakes and will make more each day I live because I am a "work in progress". There are areas in my life that I need help on and I ask Him everyday to shed light upon them. I was listening to a message yesterday from pastor Paul Shepard on when you follow Christ Jesus it will cost you but the reward is out way the cost and it is so true. Some people at work I am the "odd man" out and even within my family, my marriage I am not like but knowing that I am pleasing my Father brings a smile to my face and a pep in my step...and this brings me a very important point...
always be equally yoke, have someone that shares your same dreams, your same goals. Someone that truly loves the Lord and not just giving you lip service. A person that will be honest with you when you are not up to your full potential, a person that appreciates what you do, sacrifices you make them and return everything I mentioned back to that husband or wife in full. When you choose your mate, take your time because many single people(and I am not saying it doesn't hurt when you do not have someone in your life) because it's better to be single, searching, asking God to for your mate than jumping into a relationship and worse a marriage and later finding out this may not be the right person for you. I have spoke with many of people who find more pleasure working long hours than going home to chaos. Being equally yoke makes a more peaceful home. :-)
Remembering what Christ gave up for me makes me strive to get His word out there more and more...whether through my blogs, talking with people, just sharing with people how much He has done for me brings me happiness be I am bing obedient to Him. He gives me wisdom because let face it, many people will not come to Him and I have learned not to feel rejected because they are rejecting Him, not me and as long as I plant that "seed" in people I have done my job. That is why so many people get turned away from the Faith because many Christians come across as "judgmental" and "spotless" and without blemish. I do not judge the person, just their choices as well as I should be judged by my actions. God hates adultery but does not hate the person that is committing the sin...God hates homosexuality, but does not hate the homosexual...God hates fornication, not the fornicator...God hates lies but loves the liar...God HATES sin, not the sinner.
If we as Christians can truly get that across, letting people know that we are not perfect(God knows I still have issues) more people will be open and some will not because in the end, God has given you and I freedom of choice. It does not mean just because He has given you and I that choice that we should go down that path. He is just like our parents,your parents love you but will not tolerate some of the choices you make if it goes outside their will, plain and simple.
Do I have a "Remembrance Day" for Jesus...every day He wakes me up.
Be Blessed, Be Safe, & Have a Great Weekend.
One Problem; Two Views>>>
devotion from
I must be getting a little bit wiser as I get older. I remember a time when I would whine, whine, complain about our government, how police would were not doing their jobs, how things will never change. I'm only 41 years old but I have seen things come back around once or even twice a little over four decades on this earth. What do I mean?
The situation with gasoline hit us around when President Carter was in office. I remember when we had a democratic White House and Congress back in the 80's and it seems it may be coming to that again. But what is different about me now is that I pray for our leaders, I ask God to let me see both sides of the spectrum. Now I'm quicker to bow my head or get before the face of God and ask Him to have our leaders use "His" common sense instead of their own.
I was having a conversation last night at work and I was reminded when my wife and I lived in one neighborhood where our next door neighbor would not reign in her children, would not take care of her yard, her oldest son sold drugs from the home and traffic would come through day and night. Everybody on our block would complain but we were the only house on the block calling the police. We tried to organized to have the neighbors sign a petition to have the police department, our local officials to respond but no one wanted to join the cause. Now to all fairness the police had people watching the home and sometimes the wheels of justice turn very slowly sometimes and it seems at times no good results was coming from this matter. Me, I think if more people would have gotten involved the results would have been different. The police officers may have figured, "if your neighborhood block doesn't care, why should we?"
Two lessons I learned from that situation: One, try and go to the neighbor you're having problems with and work the situation out(and we did on numerous occassions) and if that doesn't work try and get other involved when the matter does not get better and Two, go and bow before God, ask for Him to give you wisdom about the situation, pray for the neighbor who was given my wife and I problems, pray to lead and direct the local officials, officers to handle the matter and make sure your(meaning our) house was in order. We ended up moving to a better neighborhood but God came through because we found out that the next door neighbor that was giving us and everyone on block so much grief that the local officials served her with papers that she had to sell her home and vacate area because of the drug trafficking that was so heavy coming from her home which meant that the neighborhood now is much better for our former neighbors. God moves in His on time but when He comes through, He comes correct. :-)
In our present day we have another situation at hand, the votes has been counted, we have a Democratic congress. I truly believe some good will come of this but I'm being a realist and some bad is about to come as well. As I have said before I'm a Christian but I am not a Republician and as I commented on yesterday;
Hello and good evening everyone,
Once again I'm finally making it in and tired as heck but I have to post tech articles before I crash because, I live for this...Christian devotions and tech news, makes me feel good. Sad note, died today. He is one of the reasons that I write and keeps me going because Mr. Bradley proved that you can be yourself and be a heck of a reporter. Many people respect Mr. Bradley for his reporting and he will be missed.
Well folks, I'm packing it in for the night so as always...Be Blessed, Be Safe and Have a Great night.
In-car Internet hits the road
story from
When Stephen Devine drove with his family from their home in Massachusetts to New York City, he spent two frustrating hours trying to find a place to park his 9-foot-high camper van, which won't fit in most garages. In the end, his 17-year-old daughter found a place to park online -- and she didn't even have to leave the van to do it. Devine's van is equipped with TracNet, a system that allows passengers to access the Internet on a vehicle's video screens. Launched in September by Middletown, Rhode Island-based KVH Industries Inc., TracNet brings the Internet to the installed screens in a car, truck, RV or boat. It also turns the entire vehicle into a wireless hot spot, so passengers can use their laptops to go online.>>>
Phishers Pick $2.8 Billion From Consumers' Pockets
story from
Criminals running phishing scams are raking in more money than ever, with the average loss jumping fivefold in the last year and the percentage of money recovered plummeting, according to a survey published Thursday by research firm Gartner. "Phishing e-mails are getting through, and when they do steal, phishers are getting five times the amount they did in 2005," said Gartner analyst Avivah Litan. "They're getting better, much better, at their schemes." Litan pegged the total loss to phishing in the 12 months ending Aug. 30 at a whopping $2.8 billion. Although some analysts have pegged phishing attacks as leveling off, Litan scoffed at the notion. "It was presumptuous of us to think that phishing would be solved, much like spam has been, and would be only so much 'noise' on the>>>
Yahoo to embed instant messaging in e-mail
story from
Yahoo is planning to embed instant messaging into its Web-based e-mail program within the next few months so that people can have live chats in Yahoo Mail, even if they don't have an instant-messaging application installed, a Yahoo executive announced on Thursday. Brad Garlinghouse, vice president of communications, communities and front doors at Yahoo, gave a technology preview at the Web 2.0 Summit here of a new feature planned for Yahoo Mail that seamlessly integrates instant messaging. Garlinghouse said the reasoning behind melding instant messaging and email is to improve the overall "user experience," something which can be lacking in many so-called Web 2.0 services.>>>
Web 2.0 Replaces Music Teachers
story from
In the cacophony of mashups, widgets and collaboration tools demoed at the third annual Web 2.0 Summit here, one rang out as the biggest crowd pleaser: a musical instrument instruction web app with a golden ear and infinite patience. Called In the Chair, the application encourages music students and budding guitar heroes to play along with real musicians by syncing scrolling sheet music with a prerecorded video of a band playing the song. The app monitors your playing through your computer's microphone, and gives you instant feedback on whether you played the right note with the right timing.>>>
Microsoft, Universal ink deal involving Zune
story from
Microsoft Corp. says it had struck a deal with Universal Music Group aimed at allowing the company to do more with a feature of its Zune portable music player that lets people share songs over a wireless connection. Under the deal, Universal will receive a payment for every Zune player sold, in exchange for which Universal will provide more access to artists and rights to music. Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Microsoft, declined to comment on the financial specifics of the deal late Wednesday, beyond saying that it>>>
At Web 2.0 Summit, a Look At What's in Store (and Storage)
story from
Jeffrey P. Bezos, chief executive of Amazon.com Inc., outlined his ambitious strategy for selling online storage and computing power before a crowd of entrepreneurs gathered here Wednesday for the Internet industry's marquee conference and annual pep rally. Speaking to a crowd that seemed almost giddy over the potential of the Web, Bezos detailed a corporate strategy that seeks to transform the Internet retailer into a provider of Web-based storage, computing power and other logistical services for businesses. The idea is to allow other companies to spend less time wrestling with computer infrastructure and more time on their core business.>>>
other news:
Democrats Take Senate; Concession in
Virginia Completes Midterm Sweep
story from
Democrats gained control of the Senate on Thursday, giving them a majority in both houses of Congress for the first time since 1994 and increased influence over President Bush’s policies at home and abroad, starting with the war in Iraq. The Democrats picked up the seat they needed to capture the Senate when the Republican incumbent in Virginia, George Allen, conceded to Jim Webb, his Democratic challenger, completing a broad realignment of power in Washington. Including two independents who align themselves with the Democrats, Democrats will have a 51-to-49 advantage in the new Senate.>>>
Ellison wins 2nd term as Lauderdale NAACP chief
story from
Fort Lauderdale NAACP President Marsha Ellison fended off a challenge today from two opponents, including one she narrowly defeated to earn her first term. Ellison won another two-year term as head of one of the largest NAACP branches in South Florida after her defeat of challengers William McCormick and Al Calloway. McCormick was president from 2000 to 2004. Calloway, a columnist with The Broward Times, is a former branch vice president and longtime member who joined the NAACP as a college student in Atlanta in the 1960s. When she won her first term in 2004, Ellison became the second woman ever to lead the branch since Eula Johnson, who was president from 1959 to 1967>>>
Life’s Storm-Tossed Sea>>>
devotion from
Do you worry? Do I worry? Yes I do God's know our heart so their is no need of me putting on a front. Do I worry as much a I used to...no. This is because the more you lean on, just in and live by God's principles and commands you sleep much better.
When I used to live outside the will of God I found myself living by the way I wanted to live, spending money knowing that money was needed elsewhere, saying things I know I would live to regret or making promises I know I could not keep. Giving things away I know that I would need down the road. Then would get upset with God because He did not come through for me. Pleading for a miracle when knowing deep down it would not come to pass because of the way I was living. I hit rock bottom in latter part of 1997. I was living with a woman I was not married to and I knew she and i fell out of love with one another. I knew deep down she wasn't the one for me and I wasn't the man for her but wasn't man enough to tell her. We dated off and on for 7 years, living together off and on but we both knew it wasn't going anywhere. I was afraid of being alone, I was behind close to 3 months in the rent(I was trying to take care of everything on the meager salary I had, trying to be a man but was a scared little boy inside) and everything was spinning out of control.
I told her I didn't want to marry her because I knew I wasn't the man for her and she wasn't the woman for me. She was furious because she felt I wasted her time(and by right I did...we broke up, we made up, we broke up...that should have been a hint to me, right?). She moved out and I was stuck with everything. The meager job I had I just lost, the car I had...repossessed, me and mother was and never have had a great relationship and I was determined not to move back home to Madison, Illinois because it was more depressing there and I fought so hard to get away from there. Was I worried, every night and day.
But then I cried out to God...not for a miracle, this time it was different. I was tired of living the way I was living. I remember praying to God, "If I find someone good, if I don't, that's okay as well. I know I'm not living right and I'm tired of trying to do things my way. I'm tired of running and going around in circles". A big weight was lifted from me that night. Did someone with a big check come and wipe out my back rent and give me a brand new car? That would be great wouldn't it but no it did not happen that way.
I called my landlord(I prayed before I spoke with him) asked Him could he work with me. Told him my situation and God had mercy upon me because he had every right to evict me from his property but God touched his heart to give me a chance to work through this ordeal I put myself in...yes I put myself in because I could not blame no one but myself. I applied for a hotel job in December of 1997, received a call in early January 1998( I had the 3rd shift). I caught the bus but God shined down upon me again because the bus dropped me off in front of the hotel where I worked so I only had to catch one bus...left that job in a month to work as a contracted security guard at a large company, worked there for two years where I met my wife (a year and a half later we married). She had been there around the same time but we never noticed one another. I was living one day at a time. Some days were good, some were bad but one thing was different, I worried less because this time I was in partnership with my Lord and Savior. Did I slip up from time to time...yes because I'm human but God had my back so the bouncing back was much quicker for me because I was learning from my mistakes.
I'm been married for 6 years now and there are rough patches we go through from time to time but this time I am better prepared, a much better communicator, and much stronger in the Lord. I know that by doing His will, being in covenant with Him because He will not do everything for me because God is not my bellhop. I try to live according to His Word each and everyday. I sleep better now, because I know with Him, I would not be here sharing this with you today. This is my way of sharing how God has turned things around in my life and how He can change your life as well. One thing I come to realize, the same way I dug myself in that "hole" is the same way I got out that hole...one day at a time and by allowing God to lead and direct my steps and I had a inner peace I can not describe.
Be Blessed, Be Safe, & Have a Great Productive Day.
Good evening everyone, It's been another long day/night for me but I'm still hanging in there. Here are some articles that caught my eye earlier today.
Donald Rumsfeld leaving, Vista's in the home stretch to be released, Google makes a 'boo boo'...you gotta love the news. Well everyone, I'm calling it a night.
Be Blessed, Be Safe and Have a peaceful night.
Some Tech News this evening:
Vista's last mile
from
The last stop for Vista is a windowless conference room in Building 26, on Microsoft's sprawling campus in the Seattle suburbs. Each day, members of the Windows team gather inside this "shiproom" to go over the bugs that remain, and to debate which of these can still be fixed in the days left until the product is declared finished, a milestone that is expected any time now. The intense "end game," as these final weeks are known, is a well-worn tradition inside the shiproom, which is on the third floor of the Windows development building. The small room, with its dated, dark wood conference table has been the war room for every Windows release since Windows 2000.>>>
Adobe Releases Tamarin
story from
As we reported in this morning’s reboot, Adobe has open-sourced a bundle of code to the Mozilla Foundation under the name Tamarin. The whooping 135,000 lines of code in today’s release constitute the largest single contribution to the Mozilla foundation since its inception. The code consists primarily of the source behind Adobe’s ActionScript Virtual Machine, but that doesn’t mean Adobe is open sourcing the Flash player. ActionScript 3.0, the language used in the Flash Player v9.0, is based on an international standard by the name of ECMAScript. ECMAScript is also the basis of Javascript, which is the language behind the ever-growing AJAX>>>
New MacBooks to use Intel Core 2 Duo chips
story from
Apple Computer Inc. said Wednesday a new line of MacBook notebook computers will use Intel Corp.'s Core 2 Duo processors and be up to 25 percent faster than the previous generation. Apple announced the new consumer computers ahead of the holiday season with prices starting at $1,099. Last month, the computer maker said its MacBook Pro line of laptops would use Intel's Core 2 Duo processors.
Mozilla Patches 'Critical' Bugs in Firefox, Thunderbird
story from
It's a bumper patch day in Mozilla land. The open-source foundation released a batch of highly critical updates for the Firefox, Thunderbird and SeaMonkey brands and warned that unpatched users face the risk of PC takeover attacks. The Firefox update applies to Firefox 1.5x and does not affect the newer Firefox 2.0 version. Mozilla says Firefox 1.5.0.x will be maintained with security and stability updates until April 24, 2007. After that, support will only be extended to Firefox 2 users. The latest patch covers a trio>>>
Linux Pact for $348 Million
story from
Microsoft will make two payments totaling $348 million to the Novell Corporation under an agreement to allow Novell’s open-source Linux software to work with Windows. Microsoft will pay Novell $240 million upfront in subscription fees to use the Linux software and an additional $108 million in upfront payments for use of patents, Novell said in a filing yesterday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Microsoft and Novell, longtime rivals, announced last week that they had entered into a broad set of business and technological agreements.
Google accidentally sends out e-mail worm
Story from
Three postings were made Tuesday evening to an e-mail list that sends out postings to the Google Video blog. "Some of these posts may have contained a virus called W32/Kapser.A@mm--a mass-mailing worm," Google said in a note on its Web site apologizing for the incident. W32/Kapser.A is better known as the Kama Sutra worm. Some antivirus companies raised an alarm about the threat in February, but it ultimately shriveled. Kama Sutra was designed to overwrite files on infected computers on a specific date. However, the worm, which spread under the guise of pornographic content, caused virtually no damage. Google advises people who may have received the worm in e-mail or downloaded it from the group's Web site to run an antivirus>>>
other news around the world:
SIUC chancellor is ousted
story from
Dogged by allegations of plagiarism and "intellectual dishonesty," Southern Illinois University's chancellor will be replaced with an interim chief of the 20,000-student Carbondale campus, the university system's president announced Wednesday. University President Glenn Poshard tapped SIU Provost John Dunn to temporarily succeed Walter Wendler, who was told last year that his contract, set to expire in June of next year, would not be renewed. Dunn's appointment takes effect Nov. 15. As a tenured full professor in architecture, Wendler will be reassigned to the school's College of Applied Sciences and Arts. Wednesday's announcement came eight days after a Poshard-appointed panel announced that Wendler admitted "lifting" excerpts from a strategic plan for a Texas school where he>>>
AP: Webb wins in Virginia; would give Dems control of Senate
story from
Democrats won the last undecided Senate race to complete an election sweep that ended Republican control of Congress, according to an Associated Press canvass of Virginia's close contest. The strong gains prompted President Bush on Wednesday to replace Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, architect of the Iraq war. If Democrat Jim Webb's victory is certified by the state, Democrats will pick up a sixth GOP-held seat and secure a 51-vote working majority in the Senate. That total includes two independents who plan to vote with the Democrats. The AP declared Webb the victor Wednesday night based on a canvass of election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred. Webb, a former Navy secretary under Ronald Reagan, had>>>
Hamas says death of 18 civilians will be avenged
story from
The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas called on his fighters yesterday to "activate resistance" hours after an Israeli artillery strike killed 18 civilians, mostly women and children, from a single family in Gaza. Khaled Meshaal, who lives in exile in Damascus, promised retaliation after a wave of artillery shells landed before dawn on a residential street in Beit Hanoun. Several homes were hit, all belonging to one family. The attack sparked international condemnation and came a day after the Israeli military ended a six-day operation in Beit Hanoun that claimed more than 50 lives. More than 350>>>
He Did It>>>
from
I have been blessed wherever I have worked, God has put wonderful people in my life. I am truly thankful. It's so ironic because I was thinking of the people through the internet that I have had the privilege to meet many people through my web blogs. I may not have met them face to face but it makes me feel good knowing that God has chosen me to be a vessel not to spread the Good News but to learn, share, chat with people and to be open and honest with them.
One thing is that I try to live the life I talk about day in and day out. I am not perfect, far from it, I will not tell people I am not, "Holier Than Thou" and I have weaknesses. I think people appreciate when you tell them, "I don't know" or "I am not sure". To me that is another door of oppotunity to learn. I really owe all to my upbringing, not only seeing my mother being generous but the rough time I had growing up as a child. It wasn't that traumatic but I was a lonely kid most of my life. The life growing up makes me except people for who they are, not by their title. I do not approve of some people lifestyle but I try to get it across that God loves them and we are sent to hell not by who we are but by the choices we make in life. I try to get across that everyday is a new day to and a new opportunity to give their lives to Christ Jesus because in the end, He has our best interest at heart. And if they do not want to accept them, I pray for them and treat them with the utmost respect because in the God knows what is in a person's heart and if it is meant for them to find their way to them, he or she will.
Many people have been heart in life and some have chosen to become bitter and shut themselves off from the world so they will not encounter pain, betrayal, rejection...I tried that growing up and it's the loneliest feeling in the world. God has taught me that when you open your heart, you will get hurt along the way but you let so much love in as well. I have met and learned from so many people, Christians and non Christians...from Arthur (Big Art) from when I cleaned offices at night(He taught me how to just be myself, people gravitate to you when you are an original, not a carbon copy of someone else), from Mrs Barbara Graves, who taught me it's okay to be a Follower of Christ and still have a backbone, from Mr. Cleo Horton, who told me over an over again, "you got know that man(God)for yourself, this way you will know true and false teachings"; from and Javier when I lived in Florida, my "geek brothers" that taught me more about the web, how to search it and being a geek is a cool thing (even though I knew this but it felt good being around your kind), the many people in Vox...too many to name(to see who is in my neighborhood, go to my neighborhood ) I can go on about how many people that has impacted my life because when you let God choose people to come into your life, it's a win-win deal.
The people I have met through this web blog, and my , I have learned so much and it makes my heart feel so good when I receive feedback saying how I have made their day. Through all the pain growing up, through all the things I love sharing, God has opened another door to share many things with so many people and to receive love and return. And as I write this I really get a deeper revelation...it is truly better to give than receive.
Be Blessed, Be Safe, and have a Productive day.
Hey Everyone,
Just made it home from the 2nd gig. I'm tired but in the long run I think it's worth. I found these articles earlier today at while I was at work this morning. I'm about to call it a night.
Be Blessed, Be Safe, & have a Peaceful night.
Tech News for Tuesday:
Intel to invest up to $1B in Vietnam
from
Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, has received permission to increase its initial investment in Vietnam from $300 million to up to $1 billion, a Vietnamese official said Tuesday.
Intel is constructing a $300 million chip assembly and testing plant in Ho Chi Minh City. Its original license, granted in February, allowed the company to invest up to $605 million.
The government has since approved an amended license allowing Intel to invest up to $1 billion and increase its production>>>
AOL Looks To Embed AIM Into Web Sites
story from
AOL released in beta new application programming interfaces and embeddable widgets to enable developers to embed instant-messaging capabilities from the portal's popular AIM service directly into their Web sites and online communities.
The new Web AIM APIs and widgets, called AIM Whimsicals, extend AOL's Open AIM program, which the company launched in March.
The latest APIs enable developers to integrate a variety of services and functionality in their Web sites, including the ability to let AIM users set their availability, away message and profile, company officials said Monday. In addition, an instant-messaging window can be embedded on a page for sending and receiving IMs. Developers can also let AIM>>>
AT&T and BellSouth: Why you should care
story from
news analysis Watchdog groups believe the outcome of a quiet political battle over which restrictions to impose on the AT&T and BellSouth merger will affect consumers for years to come.
When the AT&T monopoly was broken up in 1984 by antitrust regulators, it was divided into seven Bell operating companies. After this merger, there will be three companies. The new AT&T will become the nation's dominant phone company, controlling more than half the telephone and Internet access lines in the U.S.>>>
Gannett To Change Its Papers' Approach
story from
Gannett Co., the nation's largest newspaper chain, is radically changing the way its papers gather and present news by incorporating elements of reader-created "citizen journalism," mining online community discussions for stories and creating Internet databases of calendar listings and other non-news utilities.
The McLean company has 90 newspapers, including USA Today, the nation's largest. Like all major newspaper firms, Gannett has watched circulation and advertising revenue slide over the past decade, as readers turn to television and the Internet for news and information.>>>
Intel group to sell Web 2.0 software
story from
Intel Corp. has formed a partnership with top Internet software makers to create a set of Web tools for office workers to share information with colleagues, the companies said Tuesday.
The world's biggest computer chip maker said it is working with makers of commercial blogs, wikis and syndicated news feeds to create SuiteTwo, a complete package of "Web 2.0" business work group collaboration tools.
Web 2.0 is the trendy term Internet industry insiders use to describe software that makes it easier for users to publish and share information among themselves.>>>
other news:
G.O.P. Loses Senate Seats in 3 States
story from
Democratic challengers ousted three Republican senators today, defeating Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island as the hottest fight for Congress in years was waged from coast to coast.
Democrats also held onto a seat in New Jersey as Senator Robert Menendez defeated Thomas H. Kean Jr. And Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, who lost in the Democratic primary but remained in the race as an independent candidate, kept his seat by defeating the Democratic nominee, Ned Lamont
Mr. Santorum, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, was beaten by State Treasurer Bob Casey, son of a popular former governor, while Mr. DeWine was unseated by>>>
Shift coming in US policy on Iraq
story from
When the midterm elections are over, the Bush administration can get down to making tough calls in Iraq policy.
With Republicans and Democrats alike calling for a new direction to American efforts in Iraq, the United States will proceed to new policies that will be neither a rabbit-out-of-the-hat redirection nor simply cosmetic tinkering, experts say. In other words, expect neither abrupt US withdrawal nor dogged insistence that current policies are working.
Among many options under consideration, these are the ones most likely to see the light of day, judging from lawmakers, experts, and steps the White House is already taking:
• A new diplomatic push to engage all of Iraq's neighbors - including Iran and Syria - to stabilize the country and help pull it back from the brink of full-blown civil war.>>>
Three Certainties>>>
from
It's strange how different devotions can have you come back to a certain subject you touched on before but give you a deeper meaning. About ten years ago when and died I too mourned , but in a different way than when Left Eye died. When those two died I wasn't a Christian and God did not come into mind,I wondered where they died, how they died, if they were at a wrong place at the wrong time; I didn't think about their salvation. Fast forward some years when died, I remembered where I was, what day and even though I morned for her because this young, beautiful sister who was a gifted rapper, composer (she played the keyboards as well) my first thought was, "I hoped she knew the Lord". That I don't know, maybe she cried out to Jesus right before the horrific accident because we don't know who calls on the Lord. Now whenever I hear of a celebrity dying my first thought is not how they died or why they died but where they are headed.
In one of my previous post I spoke a little on death and how I no longer look at death as a frightful matter but a process for living. To know that Jesus Christ gave up so much for me and you to have everlasting life once our time here on earth is up makes me feel so much at ease. I don't have to wonder where I'm going once or ponder is there a "afterlife". Once I truly died for self and live for Christ I can really appreciate my day to day life with peace and joy in my heart.
Now my prayers are for as many people to come to the Lord because when you know where you are going when you die you will know how to live. To me, it brings a smile to my face each day because I was giving a chance to open my harden heart and invite Christ into my life and now I can share his Good News with many people as I can, not only through words but how I try and live my life. But sometimes I think some of my brothers and sisters in Christ live to die and that to me is tragic. I can understand how that and where they get that concept because I was brought up in a church that taught those standard, that, "I'm just waiting to go Heaven" mentality. God did not send His son to die on the Cross for you and I to walk around as if we already have one foot in the grave. Christ died and God rose Him up again so we can have zeal for life, embrace every breath we take because we already have the victory. Once I knew where I was going by Christ Jesus sacrifice, I stopped looking over my shoulder because I knew where I was headed, upward and this gives me a chance to live life to the fullest. (Note to self: one less worry)
Be Blessed, Be Safe and Have a Great Day Everyone.
Hello everyone,
Let me start off saying how sorry I am, I know I have not been posting as much tech commentaries from myself, I have started a part time job at night so that is the reason why so few tech entries from me. So what I will do from the time being I will continue to post my devotions (which I'm pretty sure you have noticed that) and I will dig up tech articles throughout the week and post them and I will try and post of my own on the weekends because that is the only time I have so please be patient with me. If you wish to visit my personal blog feel free. I really like Vox and if sign up for an account, leave me a comment or to and add me to your neighborhood.
Once again my apologies and as time go on I will get back to the way I used to blog; at this moment I'm trying to get my schedule down pack and getting rest is kinda hard at times but God has been making a way for me so far. :-)
Be Blessed, Be Safe, and I hope you enjoy the tech articles I find and as always, please leave me a comment to let me know how you like or dislike my blog.
Parties Crank Up Voter Turnout Efforts
story from
Republicans seized on signs of movement in their direction yesterday as they unleashed a massive election-eve voter mobilization operation in an effort to stave off potentially substantial losses in the House and preserve at least a slender majority in the Senate.
Democrats answered the Republicans' get-out-the-vote machinery with intensified efforts to contact infrequent and still-undecided voters in a handful of tight Senate races as well as in more than two>>>
Bush Trumpets Iraq Verdict to Rally Support
story from
President Bush on Sunday seized on the conviction of Saddam Hussein as a milestone in Iraq, seeking to rally Republican voters with the issue of national security as some polls suggested that his party might be making gains in the final hours of the campaign.
The White House said the timing of the announcement, two days before Election Day, had nothing to do with American politics and had been dictated by the Iraqi court. But Mr. Bush moved quickly to put it to use in what has been his>>>
The Best Security May Still Be Free
story from
Security software doesn't exactly top most people's wish lists. You know you need it -- how else will you protect Windows against viruses, spyware, trojans and whatever other creepy stuff the Internet throws at you? But there's no joy attached to using these defensive programs.
That's somewhat unavoidable with software that, by nature, has zero productivity or entertainment value. Anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall applications can only help your computer if it's already infected; otherwise, the best they can do is keep your PC in the same condition.>>>
Anger From 1 Ripoff + 2 MBAs = a Game Plan
story from
Here's how Jon Dugan's business idea was born: Last year, Dugan, a student at the University of Maryland, went to a used-video-game store with his brother and a pile of Xbox games. For a stack of 17 used titles, they got $34 in store credit. Out of curiosity, the two went back to the store the next day. The games they traded in had been put on the shelves with prices ranging from $12.99 to $32.99.
"We got ripped off," said Dugan, 23.
It wasn't the first time he had felt like that, but this time he came up with a plan. This summer, he launched a Web site to help game fans get a better deal -- and eventually make some money for himself. On Goozex, gamers can save>>>
Zune problems for MSN customers
story from
People who have bought music from Microsoft's MSN Music store could face problems if they decide to buy the firm's new Zune portable player.
Microsoft has said it will stop selling music from MSN music from 14 November, when Zune goes on sale in the US.
But in a move that could alienate some customers, MSN-bought tracks will not be compatible with the new gadget.
The move could also spell problems>>>
To read Monday's devotions>>>
The Choice>>>
from
This devotion and scripture reading from rbc ministries rings so true. Our Lord gave you and I choices in life. He created you and I to either obey Him or not. If we do obey Him, He will give us directions, be with you and I in time of need, make a way when it seems no way is there, if we don't, when trouble comes, we will feel confused, frustrated, lost, our emotions will be a roller coaster...up and down, jolting you and I from side to side.
Many times non Christians think God is sitting up in Heaven with the gavel and as soon as we screw up His ready to pound on you and I but you really have to get to know Him(reading and meditating on His word) and like that loving parent or guardian that brought raised us.
Example, I knew my mother loved me very much but there were rules that she set in place for me as I was growing up. If I obeyed them I was fine but if I didn't follow them they were consequences to follow. Sometimes privileges were taking away from me (like being stuck in the house with no television, no company over, could play with my toys) and if I really got out of hand I would find myself getting a whoopin'(I know it's whipping but in my house it was the other word) and find myself on restriction. This taught me two things; obey my mom....good things(blessings), disobey my mom...consequences(curses). But with God it's much more deeper than our parents raising you and I because sometimes God allows obstacles so we can rely on Him and to grow you and I spiritually, mentally because let's be honest no parent likes to see their children struggle(this is why two parents should be in the home because it has to be balance, some single parent can create balance in the home but it is so much more stressful...I didn't have both parents and my mother did the best she could but she sheltered me in some ways and it hurt me down the road...and fathers can shelter their children the same way hurting them in the end).
One thing that our natural parents and guardians try to teach us, as well as God is that life is not always fair, people will be cruel just because and things will not go our way all the time. God takes it one step further, unlike our parent who cannot be with us always, God is with us at all times. We may not think He is but He's there and when you live by His commands, the blueprint he set before you and I life goes much smoother. When things get tough He has us look within ourselves to see if are doing the right thing and if we are honest with ourselves and we are living according to His word then we know there is a blessing in the end for us and we do not have go through the "shoulda, woulda, coulda" syndrome.
Living by God's principles are simple, it's not easy, I can vouch for that but my life is less stressful, painful, I don't blame others the way I used to do and for me it eases my mind as well. God has my back no matter what is going on in my life. God gave me a choice...choose blessings or curses, life or death...I choose blessings and life, not because of someone made up my mind for me but because I have lived life long enough to get the message from my way of living.
Be Blessed, Be Safe and have a productive work/school week
to read Sunday's devotions>>>
How come the never took off in the US here I will never know. I love my minidisc players. Me and were chatting a couple of days ago about them. We both enjoy our minidisc players and the sound quality is excellent. I have about 4 of them (a new model came out each year and I snatch them up). Whirly was telling me that some Opera singers have them and I remember I was reading an acticle on Billy Graham and in the picture some had the same model I had recording a interview with Mr. Graham!
This small machine is really cool. I have a older model but with one 80minute minidisc and setting the recording mode to LP4 it will hold 5 hours of information you need. I really enjoy them because of the input jacks. they have a line in jack (right now I'm transferring music I still have on cassettes, ), a microphone jack, a usb jack for when you wish to transfer CD tracks or any mp3 songs to the minidisc. I still have the original software to the first minidisc player I have because I have tried the other software and to honest, it sucks to me(one strike against Sony, sad to say). Maybe their new software is better, I downloaded it but haven't got up the nerve to take it for a spin yet. I wish I could transfer the music from the minidisc to the computer (strike two Sony) because I would record podcast with the minidisc and transfer them to upload, but I will begin using Roxio software program to record my podcast(okay Sony, ball one...the count is 1 and 1).
Overall I'm glad Whirly and I had the conversation because when I got home Friday I took them out again, found my minidiscs, found my power outlet for the minidisc player, found my cords for recording via USB and analog and now I'm writing about this wonderful little tool. :-)
I recently went on Sony's and they only have one model they are selling, I think they are phasing them out which would be sad because this is a gadget really worth having and if that's the case, I'm guarding mine with my life. I dropped one in 2002 and I was crushed, so now I when I use mine I just set it to play, leave it on my belt or in my pocket and do not pull it out until it stops playing(no I don't...I'm not that parinoid but I am very cautious now).
Sony minidisc player...The Little Engine That Couldn't(well...not here in the USA anyway).
Please comment...let me know if there are any Vox neighbors that own these little gems and that me and Whirly are not the only people in the US that have them. LOL
(WTH...What The Heck...instead of WTF) while searching for images on Google...tell me what does this picture has to do with minidisc? LOL)
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take."
~proverbs 3:5-6~
A Surprise Answer>>>
from
It's amazing how God answers my prayers sometimes. From big decisions(do I find a part time job) to the smallest(Lord, help me find my blue jeans). One thing I do know, the more I talk and listen to Him, live by His commandments, the more He shows me.
It's about 4:33am right and I was writing the list of things I wish to get myself in 2007 and I was getting a little discourage because of the prices of items I wish to buy. But then just like that, my Father told me to concentrate on one item at a time, from the lowest price to the highest price (to buy in that order). To be honest, I can be a little overwhelming sometimes thinking of the things I wish to accomplish but I know if I put Him first ALWAYS, live righteous in His eyesight there is nothing I cannot accomplish. Will I get everything I'm putting on my list in 2007...maybe, maybe not but I will not get anything accomplished if I keep worrying and wandering and not take any action toward my goal.
I think in many ways this is why non-Christians get more accomplished than Christians. They are taught to be doers and many of us in some twisted way are taught to be "sitters". That is not how our Lord operates. All through the Bible the men and women were doers. They knew when to move and when to wait...and they had patience. Noah...it took him and his sons about a hundred years to build the ark. They took action and he worked on faith(remember Noah and his family never seen rain before because the water would spring from the ground to water the crops). If Noah could have that much faith and take action I think I can have faith and work toward the items that I want. We as Christians must get out of this "waiting for the Lord" to bring our needs and wants to fruition.
I have found in my own life that when I am moving around that is when my Father gives me my answers and I try to keep a small recorder or a pen and small pad with me at all times. Isn't it amazing the best ideas comes when we're in the middle of doing something else? But that is how He operates and we must be prepared at all times. God helps us in His own way and it is up to us to bend to His will, not for Him to bend to ours...His way is always the best way.
Have a Great Sunday
Be Blessed and Be Safe.
Devotions for Sunday:
"Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety."
proverbs 14:11
Multitude Of Counselors>>>
from
I remember as a child how older, Godly peers warned me about moving in with a woman living outside the will of God. Some were verses straight from the bible, some was from their experience, some was from phrases(my favorite..."you laugh now but it's gonna make you cry one day...I hate when those things come to pass). I didn't listen, I thought they were just "old fashion"; besides, this was a new generation and their time had past. Boy was I wrong.
Here I thought I was getting the best of both worlds but I was really getting the worse of both worlds. I am a sap for romances. I love happy endings, I believe hanging in there until the end. There are somethings I should have let go and this relationship was one of them. I was not ready mentally, financial and spiritually. When you bring another person into your life and especially when you live together everything changes. You do not live for yourself anymore, you live for two...and there is the trap.
You're not married and living together you're really not responsible but by you living together and by the type of upbringing I had, the man is the head of the household. You're responsible for taking care of the bills but really you are not because that is not your spouse. If her car breaks down, me being the man...I'm I responsible for getting the car fixed or by her and I living together should she be responsible. This is why I hate Satan so much(if I could I would snap his and Satan's demons necks) living together and not being married is a trap, it's not good at all.
In this day and age people will say, "you don't need a piece of paper to show you're together" or "it's better this way because once you're married everything changes".(I have learned that when you marry in the eyes of God, it's more than a contract...it's a covenant) Yes many things does change, it has to plain and simple. We today spend more time picking a new car, a pair of shoes, a home than taking our time to pick a person to spend the rest of our lives together. Marriage is work, it's hard work, but it does not have to be that hard.
Take your time and pick your spouse. Get Godly counsel, and be true to yourself. If you are saver, don't get together with a spender, why put yourself through that. If you are a freak in the bedroom(we're all grown here and this is for real...so many couple need to face this fact)and the other person is a wallflower, don't get upset if he or she doesn't want to be tied up or blindfolded or any other thing you're into(I'm not telling off on myself, I'm really not LOL)...you can't use that excuse to step out on your mate. Take your time and get to know one another.
Here is something I know people will agree and disagree on....don't have sex before you're married. God is not trying to keep anything from you and I. All in high school I never dated, didn't have sex and I thought I was missing out on so much. Once I made it out of high school and began dating and having sex I found out the truth...it brings more problems than solutions. Ever noticed when you're friends with the opposite sex and you called them to go to the movies, if they are busy, no problem, that's cool. But as soon as sex comes into play and he or she ask you to go do something and you tell them you're busy...a thousand and one questions comes from out of left field,
"how long will it take you to finish?"
"when will you be back"
"can you call me when you get back"
"why didn't you call me when you got back"
People will tell you sex does not meet anything. To some people it doesn't but if we were honest with one another we give up a little of ourselves whenever we sleep with someone. And we have been in that awkard moment when once we have climaxed we're saying to ourselves,
"what the heck I'm I doing here?"
"how long do I have to lay here before I can go?"
(men and women have thought about this and done this, don't lie)
We have to realize that what older Godly people are telling you and I is not trying to keep sex from us, they are trying to saved for you and I. I have learned from those experiences and have and I try not to dwell on the past but if I could get back all the time and money I wasted on dates, my SugarBaby and I would be set for life(well, not for life but we would have a nice nest egg). People are going to disagree, that's okay but what I am saying to you is out of love and not trying to be a killjoy. I wish some Christian would have been real with me and explained this subject to me this way instead of just saying, "God said not to do it". People want you to be real with them(especially young men and women) and this is what I'm trying to do.
We are all going to make mistakes in our lifetime...but it's best to learn more from others mistakes, saves you a lot of grief in the end.
Be Blessed, Be Safe, & Have a Great Weekend.
Getting Even>>>
from
This concept I have made progress but I am still a work in process. I have grown in this area of my life because it is so true that when you seek revenge the only thing that it accomplish is your time, your health, your sanity and not the person you have in your site for getting even. Somethings you learn early in life and something you learn later in life. This one I wish I would have learned early in life but when Christ was not my life, this was the only thing I knew at the time.
Holding grudges, trying to get even only gets you twisted up mentally, physically. It pushes people away from you because your whole demeanor changes and people pick up on that change in you. You begin to build walls around yourself, afraid to let anyone get close to you and you think you're being protective but you are only hurting yourself. I am not saying not be cautious because sometimes people can be cruel. If you know that person has done you harm on purpose, let them know what they have done, forgive them. If they have a attitude as if they do not care you still forgive them and move on with your life and not have any dealings with them (unless you work with them) because our Savior did not die for you and I to be walked over.
Some people may not know if they have offended you and that is why communication is the key. This is a concept which has taken me years to come to grips with but it has finally sank into my thick skull. When you truly want peace of mind ask the Lord how to address the individual and then go and speak with them. Sometimes we find out it was all a misunderstanding.
Forgiving is a hard concept, I'm not going to sugarcoat this subject, we are wired to get even when people have wronged you and I, God know this because the fall of man in the garden and sin was introduced in our lives but He sent His son to give you and I a blueprint on how to live or lives.
Once we realize we are going to get hurt from time to time and we learn to forgive and not waste energy to get even we will always be open to love and being loved. It's a beautiful thing to have a forgiving heart because a closed heart only brings "looking over your shoulder" and not being able to be yourself.
Be Blessed,
Be Safe,
& Have a Great Friday & Weekend everyone. :-)
DarrenKeith~
With Election Driven by Iraq,
Voters Want New Approach
from
A substantial majority of Americans expect Democrats to reduce or end American military involvement in Iraq if they win control of Congress next Tuesday and say Republicans will maintain or increase troop levels to try to win the war if they hold on to power on Capitol Hill, according to the final New York Times/CBS News poll before the midterm election. The poll showed that 29 percent of Americans approve of the way President Bush is managing the war, matching the lowest mark of his presidency. Nearly 70 percent said Mr. Bush did not have a plan to end the war, and 80 percent said Mr. Bush’s latest effort to rally public support for the conflict amounted to a change in language but not policy. >>>
Get It?
article from
To all the stickers that encrust the average PC -- the ones advertising their processors, graphics cards and potential to inflict repetitive-stress injury -- you can add one more. It's a version of the familiar Windows XP logo that proclaims the computer "Vista Capable." This emblem is supposed to answer what should be Topic A for most computer shoppers: Now that Microsoft's Windows Vista is less than three months from arriving in stores, can a new XP machine make the move to Vista when it arrives?>>>
Kerry Offers Apology To Troops
story from
Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) issued two apologies for remarks that seemed to impugn U.S. troops and abandoned his public schedule yesterday, but he denounced what he called the "campaign of smear and fear" against him as the surreal sequel to the 2004 presidential election echoed across the campaign trail. The White House and Republican allies orchestrated a cascade of denunciations throughout the day to keep the once and possibly future presidential candidate on the defensive and force other Democrats to distance themselves. Kerry canceled plans to appear>>>
Microsoft makes Linux
pact with Novell
from
The companies said Thursday they will collaborate on development of specific technologies, for example to help Microsoft's Windows, a proprietary operating system, work with Novell's Suse Linux, which is based on open-source code. On the business side, they will promote each other's products. In addition, the software makers have struck a deal on patents designed to give customers peace of mind about using Novell's open-source products, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Novell CEO Ronald Hovsepian said at an event here. "This set of agreements will really help bridge the>>>
Haggard steps down
amid gay affair inquiry
from /
Ted Haggard, one of the most prominent evangelical pastors in the nation, resigned today as president of the National Association of Evangelicals amid allegations that he carried on a three-year sexual relationship with a male prostitute. Haggard, founder of the 14,000-member New Life Church, has denied the accusations but said in a statement released by the church today that he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by accusations made on Denver talk radio this morning." He has placed himself on administrative leave pending investigation, spiritual counsel and a decision by the church's board of overseers, the church's legal counsel>>>
Study Shows Male Birth
Control Pill Might Be Possible
from /
Male mice lacking a certain protein — one that has a human counterpart — had reduced fertility, a new study found. The researchers suggest the finding could lead to the development of a non-hormonal contraceptive pill for men, similar to female birth-control pills.
Sperm malfunction
The research team, led by Yildiz Yildiz of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, generated mice lacking the GBA2 protein, called knockout mice.>>>
for Thursday's devotions>>>
When All Looks Bright>>>
from
I do this from time, all Christians from time to time...forget to thank the Lord when things are going so well. I'm getting better at this now day to day. I was just thinking about how people blame God when tragedy strikes and when good times are in our lives we forget to thank Him. I had mentioned this before in one of my earlier post how the media will call some disasters "
the act of God" or "this is Biblical proportions". When things are going well do you here the media say, "This the day the Lord has made" or "This wonder weather today is of biblical proportions" they give credit to Mother Nature(makes me chuckle)
I just started a part time job this Monday night cleaning. I doing this because of Christmas, I need better computer equipment, have extra money in my pocket and most important to sow into God's kingdom. It's going on the 4th day and I will be on my own, I have worked for this company before and he's a nice for letting me come back time again because he knows my work ethic but this time it's a little different for me. I have a different mind set. The first portions WILL go to the Lord.
It is Him who is giving me the strength to work this part time job, along with my full time job, along with me writing these post everyday. I thank God he is using me to spread His Good News and the feedback I get really makes this worth while. I can forget Him because just being able to think on my own, is a beautiful thing. This is rough for me because I am not as young as I used to be but this must be done because as have and will mention from time to time, this is partnership between God and I...a covenant. I heard Joyce Meyers say something that is so true..."Do what you can and God will do what you cannot". I hold on to that each and everyday.
I am trying to get in the habit now of saying thanks to God after I eat. We have been taught to give thanks to Him before we eat but in the Lord commands you and I to give thanks afterward as well. I am trying day by day to just enjoy everyday, the good and the bad, we grow from the bad days believe it or not, we learn more from the bad days, our wisdom should sharpen from the rough days; but we should thank our Lord and Savior for the days when they are pleasant, smooth, trouble free. I stop saying, "Thank God It's Friday" I know people say it from time to time and I truly know what they mean when the say this...getting through the work week, dealing with the home and if you are a parents or a single parent, I know why you're saying Thank God It's Friday...my prayers are with you, you parents are wonderful. :-)
I have stop saying it because I'm learning to really appreciate where He has brought me, where He's taking me and coming to realize that Satan attacks you and I when we are feeling our lowest and our highest. I am learning to say thanks when my stomach is full, the weather is nice, my income is in the black and not in the red.
Have a Blessed, Safe, & Wonderful Thursday everyone.
read ...the Lord goes into detail about "Blessings and Curses"
iTunes 7.0.2
story from
After mentioning it in the morning reboot, I downloaded and installed iTunes 7.0.2. The update promises “stability and performance improvements” as well as support for the new 2nd generation iPod Shuffle, due to be release tomorrow. I’ve never actually had any stability issues with iTunes, but I can say that the update does indeed address the performance issues that appeared with iTunes 7.0. Since upgrading to 7.0, iTunes had been almost unusable for me on a MacBook Core Duo. But the new update returns iTunes to its former snappy self. Before this upgrade, importing new music was one of those tasks that I would start and then head off for a cup of coffee while iTunes effectively locked up my computer until it was complete. The 7.0.2 update vastly improves importing times. Just to test it out I threw>>>
U.S. NEAR THE BOTTOM IN PRIVACY STUDY
from
U.S. privacy protections rank among the worst in the democratic world, a London-based privacy organization said Wednesday.
Privacy International ranked 36 nations around the globe, including all European Union nations and other major democracies, and determined that in categories such as enforcement of privacy laws, the U.S. is on par with countries like China, Russia and Malaysia.
Overall, the U.S. was determined to be an "extensive surveillance society,” the second-lowest rating in the study.
The survey identified Malaysia, China and Russia as the world’s lowest-ranked countries in terms of privacy. It ranked Germany and Canada as those that best protect the privacy of their citizens.
"The rankings establish for the first time that most of the>>>
'Month of Kernel Bugs'
Launches with Apple Wi-Fi Exploit
story from
Metasploit founder HD Moore has released an exploit for an unpatched vulnerability in the Apple Airport driver that ships with some PowerBook and iMac computers.
The exploit kicks off a new project called Month of Kernel Bugs and follows a heated debate over the existence of 802.11 (Wi-Fi) flaws affecting Apple Computer's Mac OS X systems.
In an e-mail exchange with eWEEK, Moore said the exploit is not related to the Wi-Fi driver flaws discovered and discussed in Aug. 2006 by researchers David Maynor and Jon "Johnny Cache" Ellch at the Black Hat Briefings.>>>
Student Unleashes Uproar
With Bogus Airline Boarding Passes
story from
Christopher Soghoian said he was simply trying to highlight a flaw in the nation's airline security procedures when he put a tool on his Web site letting anyone create fake boarding passes, but federal authorities didn't see it that way.
FBI agents visited the 24-year-old doctoral candidate's home in Bloomington, Ind., Friday and returned on Saturday to cart off his computers and other equipment. While Soghoian has not been charged with a crime, the incident has stirred a national tempest and renewed concerns about passenger screening procedures.>>>
This month I will be linking mainly from the devotions book/website:
He’s Always Watching>>>
devotion from
I can't but will try to explain how good it feels knowing that you have Christ Jesus watching over me. Knowing that he's interceding for me is the best thing that I know. I remember before truly giving my life over to Christ that every for me left up to chance. My philosophy was, "If my day started off bad it will end up bad and vise verse" and many times that's how may day would go. I would have a "up and down" personality and that's not good at all; not for myself and not for the people around me...I was very moody.I thought that God had it out for me.
He didn't have it out for me, He was drawing me near him day in/day out. He was letting me know that I could do nothing without Him. He was letting me know stop looking for love in all the wrong places(isn't that a song?). I was a type of person that I didn't want to get too close to people fearing of being let down, being hurt. Jesus Christ let me know that he truly felt my pain and He has been through what I was going through and much worse. He let me know He would never leave, I could come to him at any time, anywhere no matter where I am. Yes, Jesus Christ is everything I need.
Once I truly gave it all to Him, my relationships with people changed for the better, I stopped looking for people approval and only care about the approval for my Lord and Savior, learned in order to have good friends you have to be a good friend. If you carry yourself in a loving, understanding, non judgmental way, God will bring the those kind of people in your life. We will get hurt from time to time, People will betray you and I from time to time, but that's life and also that is when you heed God's warning meter, the Holy Spirit.
Yes we have to do our part as well. Like I have said before and I will always say this, it is a covenant with God, He will not do it all because Christ Jesus has left the Holy Spirt with you and I to lead and guide you and I. Too many of my brothers and sisters of Christ feel once we give our life over to Christ we treat Him as if he's a Genie in bottle. God is not our bell hop. If we live our lives outside the will of God, He will chasten you and I back into His fold by allowing certain situations in our lives.
Everyday is not peaches and cream with me but I can face each day now with a light heart, less worry, and be a true friend to someone in time of need. The Holy Spirit lets me know when to open up to someone and let go the people in my life that wish to do me harm. God...you so awesome.
Have a Blessed, Safe, and Productive day everyone. :-)