Colleen Callahan takes on Bush: holds family-oriented fundraiser to counter “elities only” Schock Fundraiser

Remember Aaron Schock’s 500 dollar a plate fundraiser with The Decider?

On the same day (July 25), Colleen Callahan is having a fish fry for $15.00 a plate. The time is 4-8 pm. It takes place at the Kickapoo Sportsman’s Club, 11125 Route 150, Brimfield, IL 61517. Tickets: 309-826-9900.

The flyer, circulated by the Callahan campaign, says the following:

As most of you know, President Bush will be in Peoria on this day for a private fundraiser for our opponent, Aaron Schock. According to press reports, that event is expected to bring in as much as $700,000 for this young man’s campaign. We’re offering an alternative. Please join us for an evening of family fun that’s open to all central Illinoisians–an event for all of those who cannot afford to take an afternoon off from work to pay $500.000 to spend time with a president whose failed policies have lead to the current sky-high fuel and food prices, the crumbling economy and a war that continues to drag on far too long. Colleen and other elected officials will take the time to listen to your concerns and talk about the real issues affecting all of us in the 18th Congressional district.

Interesting. If he were to win, I wonder who Mr. Schock will be beholden to? Who would Ms. Callahan be beholden to? The contrast is stark.

I am making my RSVP call right now! My wife won’t be able to make it, but this will be a good thing to do with my daughter.

Boxing videos – ESPN Video: Oscar Diaz in Critical condition

One reason I feel guilty about watching boxing…

more about "Boxing videos – ESPN Video", posted with vodpod

Then again, I still participate in marathons, and people die in these from time to time; there is always risk to any intensive activity.

If anything, the current referees tend to stop fights early.

In any event, my good wishes to the Diaz family.

Training notes: July 18, 2008

Workout notes 3100 yard swim in 30 x 100 on the 2 (no flip turns) broken down as follows:

First Five: warm up, 1:45-1:48 free
Next Five: 25 drill, 75 swim with zoomers (1:50 ish)
Next 10: Free; first one was 1:40, next 3 were 1:38, next 6 had 2 in 1:38, 2 in 1:37, 2 in 1:36 (mixed order)
Next Five: paddle, free, paddle, free, paddle
Next Five: 25 fly, 75 free 1:48
then 100 side to cool down.

Then I went outside (warm and sunny) to jog 3 miles: 30:51; last mile was 10:24. Yes, I know: that is slower than my full tilt racewalk. But it was a jog and it got me sweaty. Then two sets of my leg weight routine.

Interestingly enough: those little weenie bicycle rids with Olivia (got 8 more yesterday) seem to be helping?

Jesus Camp

I am waiting for my coffee to do its work prior to my going swimming.

I saw the film Jesus Camp yesterday with my daughter. Roughly speaking, the film is about this Pentecostal Christian camp for grade school kids; it has the usual stuff in it.

What was striking is that the youth minister was using the Muslim model to say “see how they indoctrinate their kids at an early age? We have to do the same; and we have the truth.”

It was both sad and comical at the same time; comical to see adults being so incredibly ignorant (while “home schooling” their kids) and comical to see the level of superstition.

But it was also a bit sad to see impressionable kids saddled with such nonsense. I can honestly see why Dawkins calls indoctrinating kids into religion “child abuse”.

Yes, I was indoctrinated into religion and yeah, I out grew it (over many, many years) and I can see why others would object to what Dawkins says (note: he is mostly referring to the doctrine of “hell” as being abusive, but he correctly points out that the immature mind has no concept of the concepts it is attempting to grasp).

I’ve wondered what the appeal of such religion (as presented in Jesus Camp) and my guess is that is comes something like this:

Rational viewpoint: our universe got here via natural means; we are on a luckily placed but rather ordinary planet in an ordinary part a galaxy in an ordinary part of the universe. We (as in humans) got here pretty much by accident; yes “natural selection” is not accidental but mutations ARE random; had we the ability to “start the clock over” we might not have evolved.

Evolution works by somewhat cruel mechanisms. In short: “we” really aren’t that special.

Their viewpoint: there is a deity that made it all FOR US and LOVES US; all we have to do is to believe in the correct hocus-pocus. As to those we dislike: they are doomed because they don’t believe in the correct hocus-pocus.

Hmmm, I wonder if these folks (in the film) use modern medicine or stuff derived from evolution.

Here is the start of a youtube copy of the film:

There are 9 of these all together, which you can access at the above link.

Note: I laughed pretty hard when they brought out Ted Haggard; he had used a male prostitute and had taken drugs.

All of this kind of reminds me of the film The Lottery that we saw in grade school; of course Jesus Camp had no human sacrifice.