Geekin' out @ Cheesecake factory

Geekin' out @ Cheesecake factory, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Taken with the LG-VX9100M - a photo of me waiting in the Cheesecake Factory browsing the web on the N810 and listening to a podcast on my iPod - I took this photo using my new phone and sent it to the N810 via bluetooth, and then emailed it to myself, and then uploaded it on my desktop here at home.

Jesus : Breaking up families since ... well, Jesus

Hat tip : Thaddeus

Most people don't realize the huge risk we are taking as atheists who have decided to "come out" to our family members. I myself haven't really "come out" to my parents or grandparents - but I have experienced a semi-fall out after revealing atheism.

This is so hard and who would have thought that that wonderful "good book" the bible would have anything to say on the matter?

Thaddeus pointed out something to me and I think this is worth a reiteration here.

Matthew, Chapter 10

10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Straight from the man's lips himself. (Or so we are told -if its in the bible it must be true) Yep thats him -gentle Jesus meek and mild.

No time

I dont really have time to post a huge post but I wanted to share this this morning.

I heard this on the DSC on Monday and it really struck a nerve with me. Please give it a listen.

Erin Livingston - Cassy & Ty

I highly Recommend:

I, like most people suffer from allergies. After cutting the lawn, exposure to cats, walking around in middle Tennessee, etc.

I cannot recommend these products enough. I have the one called "Arctic". Here are some important things to consider:

If a slight stinging sensation bothers you, this product is not for you. Here is what happens. After dropping the eye drops in the eye, it feels a bit like that feeling when you are running and sweating so much that the sweat gets in your eyes, and it kind of burns. This lasts for about 2 - 5 minutes. But after having an itchy red eye - it is a welcome sensation. You can really feel the eye drops working. The result is a very comfortable eye and when inspection in a mirror, a very clean and very white white of the eye. They managed to package a bottle of awesome.



Zyrtec-D

I had a prescription for this more than a year ago. I still use it. If your nose gets clogged from allergies use this it works. Hands down.

No screenshots

Instead of doing screenshots of the N810 I am going to start just plain taking pictures of it, and you should be able to see, what I am doing.

Been busy all morning - started cutting the lawn and it starts to rain. So I stop and then realize I am out of gas. So I go and buy some gas - the last time I bought gas for the lawn mower it was something like $2.10 per gallon. Feeling he sting from the gas pump I came back and started again. Mr. Crayfish has made some new burrows in my back yard which I have yet to take any photos of.

Going to try and spend some time doing some relaxification today.

Tonight's rant - Celebritism

Give me fucking news not fucking bullshit celebritism bullshit I dont give a fuck who the fuck Ashlee Simpson is riding the bone roller coaster with for fucking fucks sake! Grow a fucking brain and report on the goddammed war! You know important shit thats going on in the world. How about the fucking earthquake or the typhoon. Most brainwashed Americans know more about fucking Ashlee Simpson than they do - the 78,000 + Deaths in Myanmar

Get a fucking clue fucking main stream media!!!

NowPublic

I got an interesting bit of flickr mail. Someone requesting to use my Creative Commons photo in a story. I approved its use, (its good they even asked) and now I am totally loving this site. Its news, powered by ordinary people. Not just the same Cut and paste bullshit done by the mainstream media. I just wanted to give them a shout here. Go and check them out.

NowPublic.

I am going to add their rss to my google reader as well as my RSS reader on the N810.

Good stuff.

Their RSS feed

Got an email from AL

I will repost this video here:

Christians aren't perfect. They just want you to be

Another finger waving minister arrested in sex scandal.

A Plano megachurch minister was taken into custody Thursday after authorities say he drove to Bryan, Texas, to have sex with a person he thought to be a 13-year-old.

Joe Barron, a minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church, is accused of online solicitation of a minor.

According to Bryan police, Mr. Barron had chatting for about two weeks with the person that he thought to be a juvenile. "The online conversations were sexually explicit in nature," the release said.

On Tuesday, Mr. Barron asked if the girl could meet him in person, police said. Two days later, he made the three-hour drive to Bryan to meet the girl.

Undercover officers arrested him upon his arrival, police said. In his vehicle, police said they found web-cam and headset as well as condoms, police said.

How many more???

Kudos to Chuck E Cheese Employee

Officials: Day Care Put 38 Kids Into 15-Passenger Van On Field Trip - Orlando News Story - WKMG Orlando

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Jacksonville day care is being investigated by the Department of Children and Families after 38 children were placed into a 15-passenger van on a field trip to Chuck E. Cheese's, officials said. DCF spokesman John Harrell said 38 children from Kids Creation Child Care were stuffed into the van and were heading back to the center when a Chuck E. Cheese's employee saw the incident and called police. Harrell said the group of 4-year-olds were sitting on other children's laps, some were sitting on the floor between the seats and others were standing in the van. Police ordered the day care to get a second van, but when it arrived they found that neither driver was properly licensed -- one driver only had a learner's permit. Harrell said the day care center will likely be fined but will not face any criminal charges. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

Incredible - and you wonder why us parents dont trust daycare.

Complaining works

After being fed up with having to wait almost a whole month - from the Nokia Repair Center. I call them up on Wednesday and complain (+1 888 665 4228). I ask why it takes so long for a simple replacement etc. etc. The lady says she has "escalated" my query. So While I am listening to the iPod and polishing off a big fat lunch #3 from Las Palmas, I hear the doorbell ring (here at work we keep the door locked) and its the USPS guy. He has a shitload of mail and a box. I dont get too excited and then he says "I need a signature confirmation for Chris..." The box is the right size for an N810... hmm I start to get a little excited. I sign it and thank him. I take in into my office. I see the return address. Oh hell yes. You know these guys probably had them on hand all along.






Yes people, complaining does actually work.

1051 Explained

I was going to see if the chris1051 username was available at gmail. And no it isnt. I ask the simple question: WTF!?

Who is this guy? I suspect its SKOALMAN88

(Trust me you don't want to click on that link unless you want to go through the standard myspace AUTOMATIC music that sucks and wait for all the java and flash applets to run and bog down your system - to see a profile of a dude and a shitload of other people saying "Whats up?... not much... yeah.... cool... Read more on the death of myspace here and here.)

- an apparent farmer who uses the SKOAL product. Thats fine but I wish he would not use my unique username for his myspace. If he wants to be the SKOALMAN why not just choose skoalman@gmail.com? WTF?

Or how about the Skoalinator or similar?

I am a bit pissed - cause I didnt even like the name Chris1051 to begin with. I wanted "Chris" but since thats a pretty hard username to get I had to think of something unique. So I chose my last 4 of my office phone. Surely no one else would pick that right? Yeah I was wrong. For whatever reason this guy chose it. But I used it thinking no one else would and have been using it for every web 2.0 site I have joined over the last 4 years. A quick Google Search shows nothing but me in ALL the google links!

I was only going to start a new email so I could redirect my legitimate online persona email (social networks etc) to the real Chris1051 instead of my spam email.

Just a thought for the SKOALinator.

Technological Problem #4,080

For an early adopter such as myself, I seem to be wrought with problems. The iPod has been working fine and I am so glad that the battery has lasted from Sunday. The problem is it will only charge while being connected to the PC.

I posted a thread over at the iLounge. I will quote it here:

I came across something odd. I have used a Belkin Car charger since 2005 for my 4th Gen ipod (which later died) and it worked like a charm. Its basically a cigarette lighter plug in dealio and the other end plugs into the ipod to charge. Well lately I noticed it locked up my nano (video 8GB) and so I unplugged it and reset the nano and discarded the charger figuring something broke it. I then decide - when I get home to use a genuine apple wall adapter which came with my 4th Gen, and the firewire cable (plugged into the wall adapter) to solely use it to charge, and the same thing happens with the nano, it gets locked up, the album art (that is normally shifting very slowly is frozen. This is using a Genuine Apple wall charger and a genuine Apple firewire cable. This is truly odd. So When syncing, I am using the genuine USB cable it came with and after syncing, it finally is charging it. SO apparently only the USB it came with can charge it. Is this something they implemented with new software - to ensure no one uses 3rd party chargers? Also, My music library is on my desktop so if I wanted to say charge the ipod at work, what is the harm in plugging it in to that computer (that doesnt have itunes) is the ipod going to see that the PC doesnt have itunes and freak out? Or can I just plug it in and it will charge it?

any help is appreciated.

So I havent tried the suggestions, but tonight I was a bit fed up and just went ahead and hit "Restore" I am going to try the suggestions if this doesnt work.

So I am syncing the nano fresh and also giving it a good overnight charge.

Biggest Church in town

Biggest Church in town, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

It seems these churches are always trying to outdo each other. Which is fine by me but they need to have their tax exempt status revoked - make them compete with the rest of the business world. Just because they are in the God industry doesn't mean they should get a free pass when it comes to taxes.

Dothan Impressions - A Great Divide

(For geo tagged info on the photos click them and you can browse the geotag in flickr)

I left Nashville on Monday for a nice road trip. I was in the "new" company truck this time its not an extended cab, and also doesn't have a tool box for extra storage. So things were tight. I had "Mr. Garlic" seated in the front seat - something I promised my daughter I would do, is to take him with me.



The ride down was very long but a nice ride. Here are the snaps of the ride down:



















Once there I checked in and dipped in the pool as it was nice and hot. The view from my room:



Dothan, AL is a strange place. I came in on the Montgomery Highway on Monday - a perfect example of the Amerification of cities all over. That is - a main street with multiple stop lights and lined with the customary Best Buy, Circuit City, Dicks Sporting goods, Wal Mart, Every Fast food joint under the sun.

I check in to the Holiday Inn Express - which also contributes to the recent Amerification.



Brand new hotel - and even with the state of modern pest control I found a dead roach on the floor near the courtesy PC's - next to the Breakfast room. You just can't escape these bastards. The hotel is nice though. Great for business trips.

Which brings me to the point of the whole trip. Without actually disclosing who I work for and what it is exactly that I do, (I am a CEI - figure that out) I am in town to take a cert course. Being that I have no experience in Traffic signals, I was pretty overwhelmed. The instructor was good, however he was pushing for us to take the exam on the Tuesday. After 4 hours of instruction. I told him I was pretty unfamiliar with the subject matter, and felt more comfortable taking the exam the Wednesday morning. (I really wished I could have taken it this afternoon [WED]) but I had to take it this morning. I spent 3 hours in the TGI's after dinner sipping on a few beers and studying my ass off. The TGI's were dead anyway. The exam, was ok. 100 questions, but I admit I was stuck on a few questions and am really nervous about the result. I came to a point sometime this morning during the last minute studying, that these people really mean business and - it was a shame I didnt have more time to study.



So I am sure I passed (>70%) but its kind of nerve racking. And when done - I handed the guy the exam and he said ok well let you know within 8 weeks. I am thinking to myself WTF!? So that was it. They told me I could leave. Saying everything except "Get the fuck outta here" In a nice way. This seemed odd to me. I really would have liked to have heard my results today. Oh well.

Back to Dothan. The weather is beautiful. The trees are wonderful - the same can be said of the state of Alabama, which - before this visit - I was not generally impressed with.



It was so nice to see Palm Trees again. Though being 87 miles away from the coast was a bit teasing, -especially because I couldn't go down there. But Anyway, yes the environment was nice. The town itself has loads of big peanut sculptures. I tried to take as many pictures as I could of them (there are lots of them scattered throughout town) but only managed to get 3:







This was cool, and added a unique flavor to Dothan - thereby downgrading its Amerification ranking.

There was no observable middle class. I saw either rich white people or very very (emphasis on the word "very") poor black people. I saw rich white people driving around in their Air conditioned SUV's and BMW sport cars, and I saw black people sitting on the porches of their run down dilapidated houses - this was truly the poorest of the poor. I have never been to Louisiana but I am told it is a similar situation there. There really are 2 Americas.



What isn't run down and standing on one wobbly leg is either shut down, or razed.

I would have loved to have eaten in some cool independent restaurants for a real feel of the local cuisine but I just couldn't find any that weren't shut down. Maybe I was ill informed. So I had to go with the tried and tested restaurant chains. Monday night it was Olive Garden.



And the next night it was TGI's Which happen to be right next door to the Olive Garden.




For lunch on both days I ate at Atlanta Bread. Didnt even bring my Laptop in. Wishing I had my N810 - which is another blog post altogether.



And tonight I am probably going to go back to olive garden. I know I suck.

After the exam, I decided to hang by the pool again, fucked around and got sunburnt on my legs and face. -Owwwww. It burns it burrrrrrns! I fell asleep listening to the iPod - which doesn't charge unless its hooked up to a PC. (suck) so I have 1/2 a battery left after 3 days lets hope it holds out for the road trip tomorrow.

In the Morning I am going to hit the road back to Nashville. Its been an interesting week. Thanks for reading.

Blog Lapse

Will blog about my Dothan, AL experience later. I just now spent the last 2 hours -poolside at the hotel. Now a tad hungry and will think about going to Atlanta Bread Company for lunch again. Then go out and take some photos of Dothan. THEN finally come back, blog, and post to flickr, etc.

Now going to have a shower, check my sunburn and then head out to eat.

Currently listening to :



No scrobbling. Will do that when I get back home. (The track is from the iPod not YT)

Day 15

15 days after sending the N810 off for "repair" I still have no idea when a replacement is going to arrive. Looks like I will have to take my road trip (MONDAY) without it. :(

This sucks. I would have hoped that since these guys can't repair it, and therefore need a replacement, would just cut out the middle man, and send me the replacement directly. I couldn't even be so lucky as to have that kind of logic working behind the process.

At least I have Google Earth's Flight Simulator to occupy me. And Starcraft.

WTF

I dont really have anything to blog about except of how annoying stoopid cars like the above are still showing up on the roads. Especially in states who have no safety inspections, (i.e. Tennessee) I don't mind seeing a professional racing car, or a car thats professionally done, (with a wing that isnt too stoopid) but these DIY fucktards are still annoying, as they were in 1999.

I don't know if the photo above was meant to be a joke or not, for the sake of the peopla who happen to be driving near it, I hope it is a joke.

New Haircut

New Haircut, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

I am skeptical. I thought this would make a good contribution to the "I doubt it" post by Phil Plait.

Lyrics ring true

Dumbass

Man accused of trying to cash check for $360,000,000,000

Hat tip from John C. Dvorak.

Roadside Beauty

Thistle 108, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

I started a set on flickr. Since I am on the road a lot working. I can see loads of wonderful things. I have yet to organize my previous roadside photos.

Let Down

So far:

26 November 2007 - I hear about the N810 and drool.
15 March 2008 - I come to the realization that I can and should purchase this device.
20 March 2008 - I purchase the N810 online and pay $437, The device is back ordered.
28 March 2008 - After waiting for 8 days, The N810 Arrives via FedEx.
21 April 2008 - I get Rickrolled and the device fatally crashes.
22 April 2008 - I send in the device, Pay $23 to have it shipped via UPS to the repair center.
23 April 2008 - Repair center receives the device.
28 April 2008 - I find out that they cannot replace the device and have to replace it.
1 May 2008 - They apparently still can't get a device shipped to them - to replace (you would have thought they would have had these things on hand.

Today's Screenshot:

Norway

Credit : found here.

Beyond Tacky

Came across this this morning. I don't oppose States' rights to make such plates, if 100% of the money goes to the state. But as a separation of church and state advocate, I cry foul when the money goes towards furthering the Christian agenda.

Florida's specialty license plates require the payment of additional fees, some of which go to causes the plates endorse.

One plate approved in 2004, displaying the motto "Family First," funds Sheridan House, which provides family programs but also sees its purpose as "sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Bible" and "information about the Christian faith."

Looks like they are challenging it though, as we should.

Can't Park

Can't Park, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

So There is a spot available but the rude boy/girl in the Explorer (left) parked on the line. So I back mine in level (equidistant on both sides) and if he/she had a problem getting in thats their problem heh heh.

But as it turned out I had to leave at 8:30 and when I left the Explorer was still there. :(

Rickrolled

You Have Been Flick Rolled!, originally uploaded by l0ckergn0me.

Funny graphic found on flickr

I got seriously Rickrolled

But its not what you expect. I got Rickrolled a while ago, and thought the whole idea was so funny. That song in particular was one of my favorites from my childhood. Last night I was humming the tune and Daniella asks "What song is that?" So I wanted to show her. No problem I pull out my N810, go to You Tube and go to this video. It plays the opening tune and then locks up. huh? que? I go and look and the screen is dead. And thats the last time there was life in my N810. After hours of troubleshooting, and a phone call to Nokia, I am to send it back for repair/replacement. This is incredibly disappointing. I will document the process and publish it here. Tonight I am going to FedEx/Kinkos at Vandy to ship the device to Huntsville, AL. I have never dropped the device, never allowed a drop of water near it, I have treated this device as if it were made of crystal. (out of respect for the device and all its power) And look at how the gadget gods repay me.

Will keep updating here. It goes in a box tonight (2008-04-22) after receiving the N810 on 2008-03-28, It breaks down on 2004-04-21.

Will take extra precaution to document the process.

I wish I could buy this

Not possible in America. Why?

DRIVING PLEASURE

Looks like a good breakfast

IMG_8437, originally uploaded by Barack Obama.

BIG waffle in a diner.

Allergies

Dogwood Blossoms, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Are at it again.

Moon becoming full again

evening moon crop, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

I took some moon photos last night but they haven't been uploaded to flickr yet.

This one was from Tuesday.

Power Thirst

Rural House Revisit

Alone 4, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

China

China, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Quit buying shit from China. I mean, come on people. Try this. Go into Wal Mart or Target and try and find something that ISNT made in China. First one who finds something not made in China wins.

1/4000 Semi-Truck

1/4000 Semi-Truck, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Another 1/4000 Exposure - this time at a semi truck going about 80mph. Click on the Original Size to see a reflection of me taking the picture in the tire rim.

slooooow

slooooow, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

As promised.

UNACCEPTABLE

at&t - the monopoly that was broken up in 1983 but later has gobbled up company after company and has been allowed to get as big as it was - has internet service that is flat out unacceptable. We use the service, and the only thing the dial tone coming in to the house is used for is the Dish Network receiver dialing out each morning at 3 A.M. Anyway on or about the 5th of April I discover that there is no dialtone. This is the same time that my internet connection is becoming incredibly slow. I place a trouble ticket with them. Leaving aside the pain in the ass voice menus and voice commands I have to deal with in calling their customer service number, I have heard no word from them at all. So I call them again tonight and I get confirmation someone is going to come out and fix the phone line. And after that, I am going to see if that fixes the intertubes. Right now I am so slow I can't upload a .jpg thats 46.7KB. (a screenshot of a speed test I did tonight) Why? because My goddammed upload speed is 2.52kbps. Yep you read that right! 2.52 KBPS

Talk about WTF! My Download speed is 1.32MBPS This is UNACCEPTABLE. I uploaded my flickr photos at work.

When I get a chance I will upload the screenshot showing the pathetic upload test.

at&t had a revenue of $118.9 Billion in 2007 and you would think these assholes would use some of that money to fix their goddammed network. And also hire some goddammed people to talk on the helpdesk instead of this "Please say your account number" .... "I'm sorry I didnt quite understand that. Please say your account number" bullshit!

JesusFish

JesusFish, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Stuck in traffic this morning I saw one of the many car Jesus Fish emblems that are so copious here in Tennessee. Funny definition of "Truth" these people have. Be sure and see the close-up photo.

Saw this and thought it was cool

I will never understand...

Irony?, originally uploaded by drmatthew.

...how selfish someone could be to still smoke while pregnant. While walking back from Subway today I saw not one but 2 women who were obviously pregnant and also smoking.

Really sad and they belong in the "People Who do not deserve to have kids" camp. If you are wondering why I included a news clipping, look at the womans hand in the photo. And she "worries about the effect on her unborn child from the sound of jackhammers." LOL!

Hamburger Flavored chips wtf?!?

Hamburger Flavored chips wtf?!?, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Some odd shit in East TN

I hate Microsoft

Reason # ???? why I hate Microsoft. The retarded "updates" they keep pushing. I realize I can set the PC to not automatically install updates but I think I have it set to the middle setting not the top setting still this shit automatically restarts my machine while I am trying to scrobble tracks (the last.fm plugin only works about 4% of the time). No prompting, Microsoft just thinks it is necessary to shut down the PC at will. Which of course is bullshit.

'Get out of here, atheists!' by PZ Myers, Pharyngula - RichardDawkins.net

'Get out of here, atheists!' by PZ Myers, Pharyngula - RichardDawkins.net

Reposted article Shows how Atheists are unwelcome even in today's cosmopolitan society.

The governor of Illinois has been playing some games with state money, shuffling a million dollars to benefit a Baptist church, and an atheist dared to testify to the legislature against this. The response from one legislator was unsurprising: she shrieked at the atheist to get out.

Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) interrupted atheist activist Rob Sherman during his testimony Wednesday afternoon before the House State Government Administration Committee in Springfield and told him, "What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous . . . it's dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!

"This is the Land of Lincoln where people believe in God," Davis said. "Get out of that seat . . . You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon."

Disbelief in religion means you have "no right" to speak to members of government? Wow. And note the "D" after her name — she's a member of the party most (but definitely not all!) American atheists lean towards.

There's more on this exchange: it looks like Sherman kept his cool, while Davis spewed her hate.

Listen to the audio!

[on the website]

People who do not deserve to have kids #4081 & #4082

link

I will republish here in case the content goes away.

YORK, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A 2-year-old girl died after being beaten with a video game controller by her mother's boyfriend, police said Tuesday.


Darisabel Baez died Monday. Her mother's boyfriend said he beat the 2-year-old but didn't explain why, police said.

Darisabel Baez's mother overheard the beating Sunday but did nothing until she realized the girl was unconscious, police said. The girl was pronounced dead late Monday at Hershey Medical Center, police Lt. Ron Camacho said.

Homicide was added to the list of charges against Harve L. Johnson on Tuesday; he was already in jail on counts including aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.

The girl's mother, Neida E. Baez, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

It was clear from the bruises and other injuries on the little girl's body that Sunday was not the first time she had been abused, Dauphin County coroner Graham Hetrick told WGAL-TV. He said it was one of the worst cases of child abuse he has ever seen.

Baez, 19, called for an ambulance Sunday and said Johnson had brought the unconscious child to her, limp and wet from an attempt to revive her in a bathtub, a police affidavit said.

Johnson, 26, acknowledged beating the girl with a video game controller but did not say why, police said. Baez said that Johnson had abused the girl in the past and that she heard the girl scream after Johnson beat her Sunday, according to the affidavit.

Detective Dana Ward said Baez was charged because she did not intervene or try to get help for Darisabel.

Johnson and Baez remained in custody Tuesday. His bail was set at $200,000; hers was $25,000.

Through police, family members declined requests for interviews Tuesday. Court officials said they did not know whether Johnson and Baez had lawyers to speak for them.

Religious nutbag of the day

I came across this in my RSS reader tonight while chilling on the couch with my N810 and just had to blog about it.

story is copied here just incase it doesn't get cached.

Page last updated at 00:51 GMT, Tuesday, 8 April 2008 01:51 UK

Hundreds leave Texan sect ranch
Members of the sect stand outside Fort Concho, where the people removed are being housed
The women and children are being housed in an old frontier fort.

Authorities in Texas have removed more than 400 children and 130 women from a compound belonging to a polygamist sect as part of a child abuse inquiry.

They moved in on Friday after a teenage girl phoned to say she had been abused at the ranch in Eldorado County.

Women and girls in long dresses with their hair pinned up in braids could be seen leaving the ranch voluntarily.

State troopers were still holding an unknown number of men inside as they searched the 1,700-acre compound.

It is still unclear whether the girl who sparked the search has been found. Those removed are being housed at Fort Concho, an old frontier fort.

The sprawling ranch is located about 160 miles (260km) north-west of the Texan town of San Antonio and includes large housing units, a medical facility and a temple. It is not known how many people live there.

It is owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a breakaway branch of Mormonism.

The sect's prophet is Warren Jeffs, a self-confessed polygamist who was jailed last year for being an accomplice to the rape of a 14-year-old girl who married her cousin.

Church built at the FLDS's compound in Texas (2005)
Sect members believe men must have at least three wives to get to heaven

Authorities have kept the ranch under surveillance since it was bought by the sect five years ago.

The 16-year-old who phoned said she had been sexually and physically abused.

She also said she had given birth at the age of 15 to a child fathered by her 50-year-old husband.

It is illegal in Texas for girls under 16 to get married.

One person was arrested at the ranch for obstructing the search.

"For the most part, residents at the ranch have been cooperative," said Tela Mange, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety.

Authorities describe it as the largest child welfare operation in the history of the state.


Officials have been authorised to remove computer hard drives, CDs, DVDs and photos.

Picture of Warren Jeffs taken after his arrest by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Warren Jeffs led the breakaway Mormon sect from 2002

Jeffs was convicted after he forced a 14-year-old girl to marry her cousin.

The self-proclaimed prophet is currently awaiting trial in Arizona on charges of being an accomplice to four counts of incest and sexual conduct with a minor stemming from two arranged marriages.

His 10,000-strong sect, which dominates the towns of Colorado City in Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, split from the mainstream Mormon church more than a century ago.

Members believe a man must marry at least three wives in order to ascend to heaven. Women are meanwhile taught that their path to heaven depends on being subservient to their husband.

Polygamy is illegal in the US, but the authorities have reportedly been reluctant to confront the FLDS for fear of sparking a tragedy similar to the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian sect in Waco, Texas, which led to the deaths of about 80 members.

why science is better than religon

Another Obama smear campaign

IMG_6696, originally uploaded by Barack Obama.

I was reading just now (I dont even have the link) where someone said Obama, when after having been asked about his awful bowling skills, said he would tear up the bowling alley in the white house and install a basketball court. And what people should have taken as a lighthearted joke - and it probably was - is being twisted into some kind of reality. I am sure the right-wing blogosphere is buzzing with it. And of course you are going to get a segment of the population who really are going to believe he would demolish the bowling alley in the White House. I am not sure myself, but I believe there already is a basketball court somewhere on the White House Property. But middle America, "Red-meat" America is going to look at it and frown on his choice of words..

...sigh

Lethargic

Made the mistake of eating a big ass lunch (left overs from last night)and now am tired as hell. I am seriously about to pass out.

Internet Posse Busts 'The Claw,' Canada's Dumbest Car Thief

Internet Posse Busts 'The Claw,' Canada's Dumbest Car Thief

Priceless

The original thread

People who do not deserve to have kids #4,080

CNN Video

WTFF!

N810 criticisms

Let me first start out by saying this is a WONDERFUL device and I am so glad I bought one. Before I get into the criticisms, I would also like to point out, that I am a pedantic frequent complainer.

The first usual complaints I have run in line with the rest of the community that has bought one of these.

1) The top row keys are a bit hard to hit properly.
2) The keys themselves are small but I have gotten used to using them.
3) The battery life is a bit short however I have tried to remedy this by buying the BP-5L and using the original one as a spare.

4) The routing in the map is for an additional charge. The map is great but this kind of sucks.

5) The car mount... WTF? Thats all I have to say.

Now into the nit picking:

6) On the map you can't use the format you want. Like using decimal instead of dms.

7) You can't choose the format of clock you want. I like 24 hour format. Apparently you have to change your locale from UK english to German or something which is incredibly stupid.

8) The Email client. WTF!>? I mean, I set it up, I even set up a dummy forwarding account from GMail and yes it does work but I constantly see "connecting" at the bottom. It is seriously bogged down. I don't know if thats because of a bug, or what, because I haven't really read through the forums yet.

9) The internal space could be a little more than what it is. If the thing is using a Micro SDHC - Why can't they use that solid state tech and put a bit more memory like my iPod Nano? I like the expandability of having a micro SDHC and I as of yet haven't bought an additional one.

I don't really have any other complaints at this time. I realise its a new product and the kinks haven't really been worked out yet. Again, I am glad I bought it.

Charging

Charging, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Uploaded a few photos of the Nokia N810 unboxing. There will be more to come.

And this happens yet again :(

Link

Incredible

A Clackamas County, Ore., couple are facing second degree manslaughter and criminal mistreatment charges after their 15-month-old daughter died from what the state medical examiner said were easily cured illnesses.

The infant girl, Ava Worthington, died March 2 from bacterial bronchial pneumonia and an infection, both of which could have been cured with common antibiotics, the medical examiner said.

But police say that instead of going to a doctor, 28-year-old Carl Worthington and his wife, Raylene, 25, opted to pray for their daughter.

The two surrendered to police at Calackamas County Jail Friday night. Bail was set at $250,000 apiece, and they were released hours later after each posted $25,000 bond, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office spokesman Det. Jim Strovink said.

They are scheduled to appear in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Monday.

A reporter from ABC News affiliate KATU-TV in Portland, Ore., went to the Worthington's home before they turned themselves in, but the couple declined to comment.

The Worthingtons are members of the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, that has a history of shunning medical care in favor of faith healing.

A decade ago the church received national attention after KATU reported that the state medical examiner believed approximately 20 children whose parents belonged to the church, had died from untreated illnesses that were curable.

Where is God? Why didn't God heal the poor innocent child?

Lets re-read something:

the state medical examiner believed approximately 20 children whose parents belonged to the church, had died from untreated illnesses that were curable.

Are you kidding me? So my question is, if God exists, why didn't he save at least one of these poor innocent children? Why would he make them suffer so?