Can “Battlestar Galactica” finally conquer the Emmys?

Several years ago, the Emmys created judging panels that were designed to give lower-rated series like “Battlestar Galactica” a fair shot competing against the Nielsen titans by having judges screen sample episodes. But just when McDonnell made that top 10, TV academy chiefs changed the rules last year to diminish judges’ input by half when they mixed their scores on a 50/50 with the results of the original popular vote. Ridiculous! That defeated the whole purpose of the panels’ existence, and Emmy leaders did it for the worst possible reason: They couldn’t take the heat when the producers of “Lost” screwed up the year before, submitted a lousy sample episode to judges in the best-series race and the show got snubbed, triggering screams from America’s top TV critics.

Ron Silver R.I.P.

Ron Silver R.I.P.

This will help our kids how?

I just made a serious decision with my wife that it will be OK in the fall to transfer our girls to public schools from private school.

Now, I’m not so sure anymore.

Texas School District Ditches Homework

What’s the best way to educate our children? Should it be that if they cheat, they always get a second chance? What about late school work? Should students be allowed to turn it in at any time, no matter how late? One North Texas school district is considering some drastic changes like these.

According to several Plano Independent School District teachers, they have been informed that beginning next school year, homework will no longer be required for middle school students. And the grades for homework assignments that are assigned will not apply to students’ report card grades.

Faculty members also told Lucero they think their students will suffer academically and the teachers will be held responsible. A lot of parents say they’re unhappy with the plan as well.

E-li-mi-nate the Negative

“The fundamentals of our economy are strong.” – Jon McCain, September 2008

“He doesn’t get what’s happening between the mountain in Sedona where he lives and the corridors of Washington where he works…. Why else would he say, today, of all days — just a few hours ago — that the fundamentals of the economy are still strong? Senator — what economy are you talking about?” – Barack Obama, September 2008

If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years. The unemployment rate could reach double digits. Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity, which translates into more than $12,000 in lost income for a family of four. We could lose a generation of potential and promise, as more young Americans are forced to forgo dreams of college or the chance to train for the jobs of the future. – Barack Obama, Janaury 2009

“The federal government is the only entity left with the resources to jolt our economy back into life. It is only government that can break the vicious cycle where lost jobs lead to people spending less money which leads to even more layoffs.” – Barack Obama, February 2009

“If we are keeping focused on all the fundamentally sound aspects of our economy, all the outstanding companies, workers, all the innovation and dynamism in this economy, then we’re going to get through this,” Obama said, March 2009.

Whatever.

Another amazing archaeological find in Israel

Hundreds of gold coins from the seventh century have been uncovered just outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Monday.

The hoard of 264 gold coins was discovered Sunday by a British tourist volunteering at the ongoing dig in a parking lot outside the Dung Gate in the ancient City of David.

Bush Rewrites History – Sort Of

Rachel Maddow gets it right when she calls Bush on “re-wrting history” by claiming he never said the Taliban were eliminated.

That being said, for discussion purposes, I note the following:

1) Did intelligence at the time of Bush’s original quotes 4-5 years ago believe that the Taliban were eliminated?  If so, Bush didn’t lie then. And what he said now about the Taliban is true, they have not been eliminated yet are out of power.

2) Is re-writing history confined to lying about historical events (i.e. the Holocaust never happened), or is not remembering what you said 4 to 5 years before just that – not remembering.

3) Can a President who on one hand is criticized as a verbal Neanderthal be criticized for lying based on a lack of nuance (if he meant to say in the past that the Taliban government was eliminated  and not the Taliban as a movement)?

Rare first century half-shekel coin found in Temple Mount dirt

How cool is this?

A rare half-shekel coin, first minted in 66 or 67 C.E., was discovered by 14-year-old Omri Ya’ari as he sifted through dirt removed from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, along with other volunteers.  This is the first such coin to be found at the Temple Mount.

The half-shekel coin was first minted during the Great Revolt against the Romans. The face of the coin has a branch with three pomegranates and ancient Hebrew letters reading “holy Jerusalem.” The back reads “half shekel.”

The coin that was found in the sifting project, though well-preserved, showed some fire damage. Experts believe it was damaged the same fire that destroyed the Second Temple in 70 C.E.

“The half-shekel coin was used to pay temple taxes,” said Dr. Gabriel Barkay. “The coins were apparently minted at the Temple Mount itself by the Temple authorities.”

The half-shekel tax is mentioned in the book of Exodus, commanding every Jew to contribute half a shekel to the Temple every year so it can purchase public sacrifices.

Hooray for the racist cops! Discuss….

In federal court in Tampa yesterday, former USF Student Ahmed Mohamed was sentenced to a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison for providing material support to terrorists.

Mohamed was one of the two “naive kids” who were stopped for speeding in South Carolina in August 2007 when supposed explosives were found in their trunk.  The cops that stopped them were seen to have joked about them as “Taliban” and “graduates of suicide bomber school”.  Defense lawyers showed videotapes trying to prove that white people stopped by the same officers were not subject to the same condescending treatment.

Discuss moral conundrum, now…..

As it turns out, the “explosives” weren’t really dangerous, however….

Deputies also found a laptop with a 12-minute video that had been uploaded to YouTube, on which Mr. Mohamed demonstrates how to convert a remote-controlled car from Wal-Mart into a bomb detonator. He speaks in Arabic, saying he wants to teach ”martyrdoms” and ‘’suiciders” how to save themselves so they can continue to fight invaders.

Local Group Continues To Show Hunters Have Big Heart

I thought this story might have been about donating meals from hunted animals or somehow hunting with more thought about how hunted animals might suffer, but no….it’s about keeping people’s hunting skills up while they’re serving in Iraq and teaching more people hunting skills.  All in the name of Christ.

For those who don’t hunt, it isn’t hard to pigeon hole those who do. Having a mistrust or prejudice about what you don’t know is common.

But for every comment about drunken slobs shooting up the country side, there are many stories, true stories, about what is right about hunters and hunting.

I am not anti-hunter the way my wife is, as I think I understand the family traditions involved and the morals that many hunters do exhibit when they make use of the animals they kill.  However, my “prejudice” is not that all hunters are drunken slobs.  it’s just that I imagine that they actually enjoy killing things which is something my brain is hard-wired not to understand.  I mean if they didn’t enjoy it, why spend all the money and time on it?

It’s one thing to look at it as a job perhaps, and a job well done on a clean kill.  But when I see a guy with a targeted deer on a t-shirt with the quote, “Now this is gonna hurt!” it makes me want to lock the guy up, not say “God needs more men like him to make the world a better place”.

Now, a hunter may never convince a vegan that killing animals is good idea for whatever reason, and I’ll never hunt because it’s against my religion, but I’m still willing to be convinced that it’s all a matter of perspective.  The article I linked to doesn’t make me feel any better about hunters or the religion that supports hunting as a pathway to God.

Thomas Friedman agrees with Phil Gramm

Phil Gramm, July 9, 2008 – “You’ve heard of a mental depression; this is a mental recession“.

Jon McCain – “A lot of this is psychological. Because I agree the fundamentals of our economy is still strong.”

Thomas Friedman, November 24, 2008 – “What ails us right now is as much a loss of confidence – in our financial system and our leadership – as anything else.”

Which statement is different from the others, and why? Discuss.