January 8, 2009, Post II

Politics Dem Con Watch keeps track of Obama appointments and confirmation hearing schedules here.

Social: more from the so called “persecuted Christians”. They are complaining that the state government of South Carolina weren’t permitted to issue “I Believe” license plates.

Via AU’s Wall of Separation, we learn that supporters of South Carolina’s “I Believe” license plates gathered for a rally last night to voice their opposition to a federal court’s injunction stopping production of the plates – and they were not hesitant to declare the decision just the lastest attack in the so-called “war on Christians” and make their outrage known, with one speaker, Rev. Arnold Hiette, going so far as to condemn the plate’s opponents to hell:

State and local church leaders Tuesday were joined by South Carolina’s attorney general and lieutenant governor for a standing-room-only rally at People’s Baptist Church. More than 400 people gathered to protest the Dec. 11 injunction stopping the production and sale of “I Believe” license plates.

Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, who first introduced legislation allowing the plate, declared the need for a long-term grassroots campaign for its production, calling Christians the new “silent majority.”

“There is free speech for every group in this state besides Christians,” Bauer said. “Every citizen has the right to free speech in this country. I don’t understand why witnessing in public is considered unconstitutional. You don’t even have to be a Christian to believe everyone deserves the freedom of speech.”

…

Church pastor Rev. Arnold Hiette warned it’s only the start of what could be a prolonged battle …Red-faced and angry, shaking his fist alongside his Bible, Hiette told the congregation that the four complainants – especially the Unitarian – and one judge who took away the people’s right to witness via their vehicle tags “along with the ACLU, they’re going to burn in hell.”

What these morons will never understand is that having free speech does NOT entitle anyone to

1. Have a government sponsored platform for their views and
2. Being granted a captive audience for their views.

Free Speech: they are free to put whatever bumper stickers they want on their cars…they can profess to believe in whatever nonsense they want. How is their speech being restricted?

Middle East/World Events: 3-quarks daily has had a series of articles, mostly which presents the Palestinian side of things. Here is another one.

I think that it is important for me to read articles such as these as, well, on some level I identify a bit more with Israel than I do with the Arabs; I view the Israeli population as being more technologically advanced, better educated, on the average wealthier (Saudi sheiks aside), and, on the whole, more sane when it comes to religious matters.

Anyway, here is a map which tracks the amount of land controlled by the Palestinians verses those controlled by the Israelis.

8 January 2009

Workout notes I got up early (Mom is going to the doctor) and ran 6 miles outdoors on the Hike and Bike. 27:58 out, 27:35 back for 55:32 total.

I did the run just as the sun was coming up; it was crisp (high 30′s to low 40′s) and there were spandex ladies all over the place! Pity I didn’t find any to chase; evidently I am running right at that pace to where I seldom gain on the other runners but few gain on me.

One guy did blast past me at a 6 minute pace or so and he was making it look easy.

Interestingly enough, this run was far easier than the one I did on the same course on December 23; and this one was actually 9 seconds faster (though it felt slower). That is progress, I think.

Anyway, I love these runs which are done right as the sun is rising.