I know someone famous!

A while back I was talking to a friend and up walked someone new (to me). I stuck out my hand for the customary 'welcome' handshake and greeting when I realized I was in the presence of someone famous. I said, "You are THE Laurie Johnson? How is the TV business!" Unfortunately I had one mass media venue confused with another and Ms. Johnson replied, "I have no idea. I'm in radio. Who are you?"

This was the beginning an interesting friendship. Oh, but there is one great perk! I got a head shot photo autographed to ME out of the deal.

Thanks Laurie!

Breaking News...

This afternoon when I got home from work I received a message from my sister …Hopper, you shall henceforth be known as … wait for it… UNCLE Hopper.

Jesus, The Master

Well it was battered and scared,
And the auctioneer felt it was hardly worth his while,
To waste much time on the old violin but he held it up with a smile,
Well it sure ain’t much but its all we got left I guess we aught to sell it to,
Oh, now who’ll start the bid on this old violin?
Just one more and we’ll be through.

And then he cried one give me one dollar,
Who’ll make it two only two dollars who’ll make it three,
Three dollars twice now that’s a good price,
Now who’s gonna bid for me?
Raise up your hand now don’t wait any longer the auctions about to end,
Who’s got four Just one dollar more to bid on this old violin?

Well the air was hot and the people stood around as the sun was setting low,
From the back of the crowd a gray haired man,
Came forward and picked up the bow,
He wiped the dust from the old violin then he tightened up the strings,
Then he played out a melody pure and sweet,
sweeter than the Angels sing,

And then the music stopped and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low he said now what am I bid,
For this old violin and he held it up with a bow.
And then he cried out one give me one thousand,
Who’ll make it two only two thousand who’ll make it three,
Three thousand twice you know that’s a good price,
Common who’s gonna to bid for me?
And the people cried out what made the change we don’t understand,
Then the auctioneer stopped and he said with a smile,
It was the touch of the Master’s hand.

You know there's many a man with his life out of tune,
Battered and scared with sin and he’s auctioned cheap,
To a thankless world much like that old violin,
Oh, but then the Master comes,
And that old foolish crowd they never understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is rought,
Just by one touch of the Masters hand.

And then he cried out one give me one thousand,
Who’ll make it two only two thousand who’ll make it three,
Three thousand twice you know that’s a good price,
Common who’s gonna bid for me?
And the people cried out what made the change we don’t understand,
Then the auctioneer stopped and he said with a smile,
It was the touch, that’s all it was; it was the touch of the Master’s hand,
It was the touch of the Master’s hand;
oh, it was the touch of the Master’s hand.

The Touch of the Master's Hand
Wayne Watson

Picture

This discussion of Intellectual Honest started with the laying of ground rules and a discription topics to be discussed. Some of the readership also speculated as to my identity. In order to put to rest some of your thoughts and concerns, I have decided to post my head shot.

Baylor University

I have a beef with Baylor University. Years ago, when I was preparing for college I was very excited about attending BU and studying science in the Biology and Chemistry departments. I applied, visited the campus and was accepted. As the story goes, I did not attend Baylor; I graduated from a state school after studying in both aforementioned departments. Looking back, I am glad that I did not attend Baylor.

If you are not aware, BU is funded in part by one of the largest Christian denominations in America. One reason for wanting to attend this school was that Baylor has a great reputation for turning out good scientists. I was also intrigued by the opportunity of learning at an institution with a spiritual background similar to my own.

The taste of Baylor turned bitter in my mouth after contacting the biology department dean and talking with other professors in the biology and chemistry departments. The esteemed professors at this religious institution not only preached Darwinian Evolution (a theory denounced by their founders and currently affiliated base) they preached only DE and actually ridiculed me when I asked about alternative theories such as Intelligent Design and Creationism (fewer holes than DE theory). DE is a theory not proven fact. Holding on to this or any other theory so tightly when there are so many unanswered questions is Intellectually Dishonest and ignorant.

In my book, Baylor University's Biology and Chemistry departments are a disgrace to their respective disciplines (sciences, in which all possible theories should be analyzed). My opinion is that the religious denomination that supports BU is betraying their own doctrines and should either push for PhD professors that are more open-minded or withdrawal affiliation from this secular university.

ps. If you have more recent or further first hand experiences with BU I would love to hear from you; either here or via my personal email address.

I stand corrected.

In a previous discussion on the topic of hormone contraception (HC) there was much discussion on the detailed mechanism by which these medications do their intended job: prevent pregnancy. I would like to make a comment on the subject as it has been brought to my attention that my vocabulary remained wanting.
Lesson No. 3a – birth control
Lesson No. 3b – birth control

I originally proposed that within a typical calendar year any HC method would have the possibility of actually preventing pregnancy by causing an abortion 2-3 times. I was incorrect in my use of vocabulary. Below is a corrected discussion.

Pregnancy: a defined period if time when an offspring is physically attached to and developing as a result of physical interaction with his/her mother.
Abortion: the termination of pregnancy by which a developing fetus or embryo is no longer allowed to mature through his/her attachment to the mother. The offspring is no longer viable.
Contraception: the process or act of preventing pregnancy.

There is much discussion in the medical community as to whether or not HC causes abortion as a part of its contraceptive efficacy. One side vehemently denies this position and while the other embraces it (This was me).

When terms are accurately defined, we come to the conclusion that HC dose not cause an abortion when used at customary pregnancy prevention doses. One of their prominent mechanisms of action DOES HOWEVER TERMINATE LIFE.

Why do I say this? As previously discussed, HCs act by (1) Preventing ovulation; (2) Preventing implantation (sometimes incorrectly called a chemical abortion); (3) Preventing travel of the egg to the uterus for implantation; and (4) Preventing travel of the sperm to the egg.

Prevention of implantation is not abortion. Why? Because abortion requires a pregnancy and pregnancy is defined as the attachment of the offspring to the mother. Prior to implantation there is no pregnancy. Prevention of implantation DOES HOWEVER terminate the life of the embryo by disallowing his/her implantation.

Some may see this as arguing semantics but I now realize why some HC proponents get frustrated with dissenting voices that cry 'abortion'. The argument that HCs may cause abortion at usual pregnancy prevention doses is intellectually inaccurate. Proponents see the fallacy in this argument and choose to label the begining of life at some point after fertilization and implantation.

I now defend my view of the unethical nature of HCs with the understanding that hormones cause the termination of life not the abortion of life.

Girl peach, boy peach

Today I ate what I thought think was a peach. The question comes in dealing with the ‘fuzziness’ of the fruit. I know it was not a nectarine because it was not completely ‘bald’. I was originally not too sure of its ‘peachy-ness’ either because it did not have that much ‘hair’.

Maybe there is a gender difference within the peach family. I think I am used to eating boy peaches (hairy) and today I must have eaten a girl peach (less hairy). Girls are typically less hairy than boys when talking about people, so this is the only explanation I am able to generate concerning this less hairy peach.

Thanks!

A couple of days ago a friend gave me a Veggie Tales video: The Ballad of Little Joe.

It tells the story of Joseph and his brothers and how God used something that was originally bad to become something that was good.

I recommend the new Veggie Tales video for kids and adults alike! The kids will enjoy a vegetable salad of story telling and the adults will enjoy the witty humor of ‘Dodge Ball City’, the Belly Button song, and ‘Little Joe’ himself.

Well I did it.

I am a PC user. I do not like MACs. What is at the root of my distaste for Apples? As is the case with many dislikes today, mine is rooted in ignorance. I have never used a MAC for longer than 10 minutes and for 2 consecutive days. I do not understand MACs and I therefore do not like to try to use them.

Well, yesterday I was given some free downloads on iTunes so I broke down and downloaded the program intended for MACs (just as bad in my book as actually using a MAC).

It was not as bad as I thought, except for the fact that iTunes is so conceded that it will not save music as mp3. It has its own format requiring me to convert my songs to mp3 by way of a rather long process.

I sill prefer PCs to MACs, any day of the week and twice on Sundays, but I know have peeked into the other side.

Some of the songs I downloaded were new and some old. I really recommend checking into some of the classic Imperials’ work.

Trumpet of Jesus – Imperials
I’m Forgiven – Imperials
Heaven – Salvador
So Long Self – Mercy Me
The Chasing Song – Andrew Peterson

Hum:

You have heard these remarks before but maybe on this platform we can come upon a consensus.

1. Why do you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?
2. Why is brail on the drive up ATM?
3. Why was a group of guys launching 50 -100ft, colorful fireworks less than 100 ft from a gas station on my way home this evening?
4. What color do you think the sky appeared prior to "The Flood"?
5. Prior to "The Flood" people were recorded to have lived 700-900 years. After "The Flood" the number seemed to start dwindling to the current day mid 70-ish years. Why did the number decrease? Did the 'post-flood' people start to 'rust'? (ha ha)

'Volun-told' Free Will Offering

While on my adventure out west an opportunity was made available to me. I was afforded the occasion to donate some money to a small town city counsel! Today I am working through the second opportunity this little town has provided me; a chance to waste 6 hours of my life!!

I am wasting my life away at home, on the computer. This is the best possible situation because while maneuvering through all the rig-a-ma-roll of the boring website, I am working on other projects.

So here is how the situation went down. I was excited to be traveling out west and a nice Texas State Trooper police officer man did not fully appreciate my creative interpretation of the posted speed ‘limit’. So he got real excited, turned on lots of pretty lights that were strategically mounted on top of his cruiser, and began to tailgate me. When I pulled off the road (into a pasture), he explained the situation to me along with his distaste for my creative interpretation of the white and black metal signs. This initiated my generous bonus offering to his retirement fund.

I am still not too sure as to the purpose of all the excitement (I was in the middle of nowhere and I think there was one other car on the road, 200 yards ahead of me). I do, however, appreciate all the ‘important’ work that this nice young man provides via public service so this takes some of the sting out of my donation of money and time to ‘The Cause’.