Why we need to keep Congress away from our laws.

I've never been that unsympathetic to Megaupload. I find the multiple anti piracy promotions on my legally bought DVDs actively encouraging -- me to rip the DVD down into an mp4 so I can delete the fracking ads and watch the show. And it peeves me off that my favourite spy show (Burn Notice) is … Continue reading Why we need to keep Congress away from our laws.

Daylight saving morning.

Now, today is the first Sunday of the school holidays. My kirk is a branch of the local Presbyterian Congregation, and it is aimed at school age and university children and their parents. During the holidays, we go into recess. We attend the morning service. But when you wake up, and the clocks have gone … Continue reading Daylight saving morning.

Education bubble deflating?

Well, it depends. Getting a professional degree will increase your earnings. Expatriating (where you degree is worth more) will do the same. But the consequence of having not 12 but 15 years of quasi compulsory education is that basic degrees have become devalued. New Zealand university degrees are the most worthless in the developed world, … Continue reading Education bubble deflating?

We need to rediscover the sustainable.

I have always loved the psalms of ascent, and this is one of my favourites. But this does not fit smoothly with the gospel. Now, I tend to read the lectionary, and take the passages (there are generally five: two psalms, OT, NT, and gospel) and then think about them. Since this is real time, … Continue reading We need to rediscover the sustainable.

Do not market.

When I was younger I saw the neo-pentecostal movement split mainline denominations. And I have seen people desire power, pray to be able to fight spirits, pray that their acts and words would be spectacular. Consider that the demons themselves should flee and bear witness to the power of Christ. It all sounded very holy.  … Continue reading Do not market.

And you expected him to be nice…

My Son is doing his final history assignment for the year. He is having to write a diary of two people who were signing the Declaration of Independence... and has chosen John Adams (who he does not like) and John Dickinson (who he does like). This makes me think about how the modern press and … Continue reading And you expected him to be nice…

Two unfashionable points.

Jesus has been taken from his baptism in to the desert. He has gone from a point of great proclamation to being in the desert... alone, and tempted. He could have agreed to any of these events: the opponent tempted him because he knew the risk Jesus incarnation bought to this earth.Which brings me to … Continue reading Two unfashionable points.

Linkage Proper.

It is about time I put together a list of good posts in the last week. Now, I do not necessarily agree with every one of them. Your mileage will vary. Your offense level may be challenged. Nothing here is frankly evil, but nothing here also may be safe for work. Brendan. The New Nigger … Continue reading Linkage Proper.

Linkage: freedom and islamophobia.

The Imams of this world get a lot wrong in their mistaken zeal for righteousness. They are following a prophet who was by his own admission instigated massacres and had multiple wives, at least one of them underage by most standards: the age of consent may not have existed in Arabia but was generally more … Continue reading Linkage: freedom and islamophobia.

A certain lack of subtlety.

One of the statements Jesus made about his return is that it would be as obvious as lightning across the sky. We do not need to go looking for signs, they will be provided. Jesus may have been alluding to incidents in his life such as this. Luke 3:15-22 15As the people were filled with … Continue reading A certain lack of subtlety.