On Outsourcing

Amy Welborn brings up a subject that I've wanted to rant about for a while now: outsourcing. Particularly, outsourcing IT jobs to places like India.

Just to give you an idea where I'm coming from, I work in the IT field as an application developer. Could my job ever be outsourced? I don't know. I'm inclined to think not, since there are issues involved (issues I can't go into) that would make this unfavorable at this time. However, I can never be sure what might happen in the future. I don't like to get complacent about things like this.

Many conservatives and libertarians believe outsourcing is just wonderful...a whole new world of discovery in our global economy. These are the people who have told us, "Get an education. Be the best you can be. Build a better life." Okay you do that, and what do you get in return? Your job shipped overseas to people who will do it cheaper. And how do many conservatives and libertarians respond? "Tough! Go get a job flipping burgers or digging ditches, you whiner! You were overpaid and you probably sucked at your job anyway!"

And these corporations don't seem to care about the corporate knowledge they are throwing away. They don't seem to care about quality. You get what you pay for. I think that's true with employees as well as consumer goods.

Some people say, "People in India need jobs, too!" Well, that's not very helpful to an American who has lost his job and needs to pay his mortgage and feed his family. I'm sorry, but our own should take priority over people in other countries.

What will this do to America? Will we become a nation of low-paid, low-skilled service workers? Should anyone bother with getting an education anymore? I got my B.S. in Computer Science. That was the hot field in the late-eighties. I went into it because I enjoy working with computers and have a knack for it. However, I would now discourage any college-bound person from going into the IT field. Apparently, there is no future in it...unless you live in India.

When I commented about this on Amy's post, I was accused of being "elitist" and not respecting that there is honor in all work. Well, I do respect that. And I don't think someone wanting to acheive more in their life makes them an elitist.

My Dad was a letter carrier. He wanted to do more in his life, and he was capable of more, but he didn't have the education. I think this always frustrated him and gnawed at him. He wanted his children to get educated and have a better life. All parents with any sense want that...it's only natural. I don't think it's elitist to want things to be better for yourself and those you love.

Ideal vs. Reality

Somebody sent me this: 2004 AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SELECTOR

My Results:

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Bush, President George W. - Republican (77%)
3. Libertarian Candidate (52%)
4. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (44%)
5. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (42%)
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (38%)
7. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (38%)
8. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (28%)
9. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (28%)
10. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (26%)
11. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (10%)

I'm kind of embarrassed that Kookcinich registered as high as he did. Where did I go wrong?

Obviously, I support President Bush. Yes, I could chest-thump and say that I refuse to support anyone who isn't 100% in line with my beliefs, who isn't purer than Ivory soap when it comes to conservatism. But I don't think that's very productive...or smart.

An apostate "Christian" saw The Passion...

And of course, he hated it:

I thought "The Passion" was really perverse and really depraved.

So says one Rev. Mark Stanger. Plowing through this snotty, condescending crap would be impossible without Joe Carter's terrific commentary.

An Episcopalian from San Francisco...I wonder what Christopher Johnson would say about this...

(Via Jen Speaks.)

Update: Salon has more, and Joe Carter has more commentary. Salon labels Hugh Hewitt, who is a center-right Christian talk show host and blogger, as a "Right-wing Christian ideologue". Well, I guess he would seem that way to those who think Rev. Stanger is in any way representative of real Christianity.

Update 2: I knew Christopher Johnson would have something to say about this!

"I gotcha now...ya scum!"

What MST3K Villain are you? by Krankor.com

Did I ever mention that the MST3K episode featuring Prince of Space is one of my all-time favorites?

(Via Daimnation.)

Hugh Hewitt on The Passion of the Christ

Here's just a little of what he has to say:

The Passion of the Christ is a phenomenal work of art; a moving and inspiring film that will certainly be shown again and again for generations to come. Though I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I do not believe that one needs to be a believer in the divinity of Christ to appreciate the majesty of the movie and its extraordinary commitment to authenticity and an objective recounting of the story of the passion and death of Christ as relayed through the Gospels.

If you do believe that Christ is the Son of God and that his death and resurrection are historical facts, the film will impact you because it assists faulty human understanding to grasp the immensity of the suffering and death of Christ that was required for our salvation.

Now go read the whole thing!

Update: Another must-read: Paul Harvey Deacon Keith A. Fournier comments on The Passion.

Update 2: Here's the original source of the Fournier commentary.

Blogging Mars

Unlike a lot of people, I still have a sense of wonder about space exploration, and I think we should do more of it. I just happened to stumble upon this: Mars Rover Blog.

Also, Daniel Morris has done lots of blogging on the Mars exploration lately (and about space in general). In this post, he explains why a certain picture from Mars gives him shivers. That's a pretty awesome thing; it would give me shivers too...

Speaking of weight...

I've now lost 35.5 pounds since July. My weight-loss sort of stalled out over the holidays. However, I only gained about a half pound after Christmas and New Years, as opposed to the usual five or ten pounds. So, I think I did okay.

Supersized

I got this article in an email the other day. Here it is online:

New York Post - ARCH ENEMY

Last February, Morgan Spurlock decided to become a gastronomical guinea pig.

His mission: To eat three meals a day for 30 days at McDonald's and document the impact on his health.

Scores of cheeseburgers, hundreds of fries and dozens of chocolate shakes later, the formerly strapping 6-foot-2 New Yorker - who started out at a healthy 185 pounds - had packed on 25 pounds.

But his supersized shape was the least of his problems.

Within a few days of beginning his drive-through diet, Spurlock, 33, was vomiting out the window of his car, and doctors who examined him were shocked at how rapidly Spurlock's entire body deteriorated.

"It was really crazy - my body basically fell apart over the course of 30 days," Spurlock told The Post.

His liver became toxic, his cholesterol shot up from a low 165 to 230, his libido flagged and he suffered headaches and depression.

My thoughts on this -- well DUH! Of course eating fatty food for every meal for thirty days will cause you to pack on pounds and cause your health to go down the toilet. Why is this surprising?

Spurlock charted his journey from fit to flab in a tongue-in-cheek documentary, which he has taken to the Sundance Film Festival with the hopes of getting a distribution deal.

"Super Size Me" explores the obesity epidemic that plagues America today - a sort of "Bowling for Columbine" for fast food.

Oh, boy...we have the true agenda behind this revealed here. This guy is a Michael Moore wannabe. The same sort of muckraking, except this time it's McDonald's rather than the NRA.

Despite making dozens of phone calls, Spurlock fails to get anyone from McDonald's to agree to an on-camera interview.

A spokeswoman for McDonald's told The Post yesterday that no representatives from the corporation had seen "Super Size Me."

"Consumers can achieve balance in their daily dining decisions by choosing from our array of quality offerings and range of portion sizes to meet their taste and nutrition goals," McDonald's said in a statement.

Well, actually, that's true. There are other things to eat at McDonald's besides burgers, fries and milkshakes. As you may know, I've being going to Weight Watchers for the past six months. When I do go to McDonald's on occasion, here is what I usually get: a grilled chicken caesar salad (4 Points), with croutons (1 Point) and low-fat vinaigrette dressing (1 Point). I may also get a fruit and yogurt parfait, which is 3 Points (2 Points if you leave off the granola never mind, granola makes no difference).

Now, if Mr. Spurlock were to have eaten salads with low-fat dressing and parfaits for every meal for thirty days, I doubt that he would have ended up with all those health problems. However, this would not have made a very good expose on the evils of McDonald's.

"He was an extremely healthy person who got very sick eating this McDonald's diet," Dr. Isaacs told The Post.

"None of us imagined he could deteriorate this badly - he looked terrible. The liver test was the most shocking thing - it became very, very abnormal."

Spurlock has since returned to normal health. "The treatment was to just stop doing what he was doing," Dr. Isaacs says.

Again, DUH!

Spurlock, a film producer who grew up in West Virginia and studied ballet for eight years, was spurred to make his first feature film while watching TV on Thanksgiving Day, 2002.

"I was feeling like a typical American on Thanksgiving - very bloated and happy on the couch - and at some point on the news they were talking about two women who were suing McDonald's.

"People from the food industry were saying, 'You can't link kids being fat to our food - our food is nutritious.'

"I said, 'How nutritious is it really? Let's find out."

What did he find out? That eating high fat McDonald's food for every meal (Who actually does that?) for thirty days (Again, who actually does that?) will make you fat and ill. Sorry to keep repeating myself, but all I can say to that is...DUH!

Does Mr. Spurlock want some sort of food police to keep people from making bad choices in their eating habits? Should corporations be sued because people choose to stuff their faces with burgers and fries all the time and get fat? Please show me where McDonald's is holding a gun to anyone's head and forcing them to eat Big Macs.

Incidentally, I've noticed that Fr. Bryce Sibley and Mac Swift have also mentioned this story.

Now that's agility!

Go to this site and click on the guy in the red shirt. Then watch for him to start dancing (about 45 seconds into the video). Unreal!

(Via Boortz.)

Getting something off my chest...

I've been noticing lately that some pro-lifers are complaining that President Bush isn't doing and saying enough on the abortion issue. Well, here's a little rant that I posted in Mark Shea's comments. I'm probably going to make some people mad, but I've gotta be me:

What do you want Bush to do? Declare himself dictator for life and ban abortion? It seems nothing he does is good enough to suit some people. He would be condemned if he didn't sign the PBA ban, but yet some pro-lifers condemn him for signing it because it was overruled by a court. If he doesn't mention abortion in every speech, he's "stiff-arming" pro-lifers. If he does mention it, he's just "paying lipservice". It seems he can't win, no matter what he does.

And to add to the above, let me say that with the attitude of some pro-lifers, I don't blame Bush if he "stiff-arms" us. One word comes to mind: ingratitude.

And, looking at things in a purely pragmatic way, Bush does have to get reelected. He can't do anything if he loses, and if he does lose, it will be to one of the ardent abortion supporters of the Democratic Party.

Are you really so deluded that you think a majority of people in this country support at total ban on abortion? Well, I've got some sad news for you -- they don't. After all, somebody is having those million or more abortions a year. They aren't all NOW members or radical feminists. Support for legal abortion is very ingrained, even among people who don't like abortion and think it's wrong. This not going to change overnight. The only thing pro-lifers can do is be patient and work incrementally.

Interesting Question

Should Protestants oppose contraception?

Abortion: Striking at the Root of the Problem

Sadly, with the ascension and acceptance of principles espoused by Margaret Sanger and Planned Parenthood, pro-life Protestant Evangelicals now reflect the same worldly fears and rejection of pregnancy that motivate women to seek an abortion -- inconvenience; interference with the pursuit of happiness or possessions; undue stress added to the marriage, etc. Today, most pro-life Protestants would readily acknowledge certain types of contraception might be wrong, but they would bristle at any suggestion all contraception is wrong.

I'm a pro-life Protestant and this is one of those issues where I'm kind of on the fence, although lately I find myself leaning more towards the anti-contraception side.

Any thoughts on this?

(Via Fructus Ventris.)

Beyond Sickening

Completely disgusting item of the week (or perhaps the month or even the year):

A Wichita abortion clinic will commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision by offering free services.

Women's Health Care Services, led by Dr. George Tiller, will offer free third-trimester abortions to Medicaid patients Saturday. The anniversary is Thursday.

In a statement, Tiller said the free abortions were his way of thanking Wichita for support during 1991 and 2001, when anti-abortion advocates staged large-scale protests in Wichita.

Be proud, Wichita -- this is a real honor! So step right up and get your FREE* abortion, ladies. But hurry...this Roe v. Wade anniversary special is available for ONE DAY ONLY!

*Medicaid patients only. Not responsible for physical and emotional consequences or for unintended live births.

(Via Thinklings.)

Crusty Old Bird

Winston Churchill's parrot is still alive and cursing a blue streak.

(Via BuzzMachine.)

Update: Oops...looks like this story is a hoax.

It's all a conspiracy!

I thought it might be fun to play conspiracy theorist with the help of this site. (Via Rosemary.)

[Kook Mode]

Tin foil hat is on and adjusted...

George W. Bush rigged the 2000 election so that big corporations, white men, SUV owners, and gun owners could conquer Michael Moore.

George W. Bush lowered taxes so that big corporations, Republicans, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and SUV owners could steal from welfare recipients.

George W. Bush allowed 9/11 to happen so that The Jews, oil companies, and the Christian Coalition could offend Muslims.

George W. Bush invaded Iraq so that oil companies, SUV owners, and gun owners could upset The French.

George W. Bush gave Iraq reconstruction contracts to his friends so that big corporations, oil companies, white men, and SUV owners could oppress The United Nations.

George W. Bush caused the Cubs to lose to the Marlins in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series so that Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and white men could oppress women.

George W. Bush had Michael Jackson arrested so that The Jews, white men, and the Christian Coalition could invade minorities.

George W. Bush has not captured Osama bin Laden so that big corporations, oil companies, Republicans, and gun owners could kill liberals.

Let me add that Bush is a big, dumb doodyhead who has kept me from reaching my true potential. I hear black helicopters overhead, so I've gotta run...

Tin foil hat off.

[/Kook Mode]

New Skin: Steel Rose

I had a long weekend this weekend, and I thought to myself, "You know, I'm going to do something that I really want to do -- something just for me, for my own enjoyment. All this other stuff can wait for a while." So, I created a new skin I called "Steel Rose". It's very simple and clean, using shades of gray on a white background, with a little bit of pink. It's in the drop down menu on the sidebar and will be added to the gallery soon.

BTW, the Christmas skin is now in the menu, too. I'll also be adding that one to the gallery.

This is wild!

Check this out. (Warning: it might take a while to load.) See that "image" of colored pencils? It's not an image...it's all done with CSS. Here's how it was done.

(Via Rodent Regatta.)

Social Conservatives and NRO

Recently, Joe Carter and Mark Shea rightfully took exception to this load of BS published in NRO. Here is the false dichotomy that ends the piece:

Except Playboy really does have something to do with freedom, and these days maybe that's worth remembering. A society that allows Playboy is not a society that allows women to be stoned to death for adultery. Human nature being what it is, we're probably stuck with either burkas or naked balloon breasts forever. I know which I prefer.

I've noticed this same libertine libertarian attitude in blogosphere for a long time. The premise is, "Pr0n is good, it's the American way, and anyone who objects is a big, prudy square who may as well go join up with the Taliban." I've seen other bloggers says stuff like, "We should airdrop Playboys and beam pr0no movies into their countries...that will bring them into the 21st century and show them that women have rights and yada, yada, yada..."

That whole attitude, that whole premise, is a bunch of ignorant crap! Is that the best we have to offer as an alternative to Islamofascism? I think we have better things to offer than the most corrupt filth of our popular culture. And I don't see how you counter women being degraded by radical Islamists with women being degraded by the pr0n industry. That makes no sense whatsoever. I'm sorry, but I reject both Islamofascism and pornography. I'll take a third way, thankyouverymuch.

Needless to say, many are disappointed with NRO. Not just for the Seipp column, but also because of they believe that social conservatism takes a back seat to other concerns at NRO. Ramesh Ponnuru responds to Shea's and Carter's criticism. Ponnuru makes a good point here:

But I would remind these guys that National Review editorializes consistently and runs articles regularly against gay marriage, abortion, cloning, euthanasia, illegitimacy, divorce, day care, and gender integration in the military. Do social conservatives control so many editorial offices that it is wise of them to attack those allies they have? Is there, for that matter, any national publication of comparable circulation and prominence that has taken these positions? That has argued for the Federal Marriage Amendment as often? On cloning, the Standard might tie with us, but I doubt it.

The thing is, I've seen other bloggers complain that NRO is too socially conservative. Once again, it seems like there's quite a bit of friction between social conservatives and pro-defense, economic conservatives who are socially liberal.

BTW, if you need an antidote to that Seipp piece (or even if you don't), read this.

Blockage

I have stuff I want to post, but no time to post it. I have stuff to say, but no time or concentration to pull my thoughts together and say it. I've got several ideas for new skins swimming in my head, but no time to sit down and work on them (this is especially frustrating).

So anyway...sorry for the continued lameness. I have no idea when it will end.

Yes, I've got a lot of problems*. I'm approaching burnout. Hopefully, I can avoid complete despair. I can deal with adversity. I know my limitations and I won't succumb to bitterness.

*I've got that Demotivator on my desk at work.

I'm Envious!

Jen got a chance to see The Passion of the Christ and has some thoughts on it. The more I hear about this movie, the more I look forward to seeing it. I've never gone to see a movie the day it opened. In fact, I don't go to see movies in the theater very often. Most of the time, I wait until they come out on video. But I would like to see this movie the day it opens (Ash Wednesday, February 25), if humanly possible. Since I always go to Ash Wednesday services at my church, I may take off work to catch an afternoon showing. Whatever the case, if it's playing here in town, I'm so there...

Update (1/15/04): The Passion of the Christ will debut on 2,000 screens. (Via Joshua Claybourn.)

Fallen Warrior

I agree with Jeffrey Collins -- PFC Sheldon Hawk Eagle deserves a moment of your time.

WMDs

The past few months, the anti-war crowd and the Iraq War skeptics have been doing the superior dance all over their blogs and in blog comments because of the (supposed) lack of WMDs found in Iraq.

One has to wonder why Saddam simply wasn't more cooperative if he was innocent of having WMDs. He could have prevented the whole war, and he could be still living in palaces, funding terrorism, torturing people, feeding them into plastic shredders and burying them in mass graves with impunity. (All while the good pacifists wipe away their crocodile tears and look the other way, as they usually do.)

As Steve H. points out, a mobile bioweapons lab was found several months ago, but this find was quickly pooh-poohed and swept under the rug by the anti-war/war-skeptic crowd. Dean Esmay says the same thing will happen with the latest WMD find. Dean also reminds us that the WMDs were not the only reason for going to Iraq. I admit that the WMDs loomed large in my own mind at the time. But now, with all the other things that have come out, I realize that there were many more reasons why Saddam's regime needed to be taken out. I truly believe we did the right thing.

I'm as frustrated as Steve and Dean are. They're right...no matter what is found in Iraq, the same crowd will just ignore it. They will also ignore the torture, mass graves and terrorist funding. And they will keep doing their superior dance. So, to hell with them.

Update: Could the WMDs have been moved to Syria?

Update (1/15/04): Well, the Danish find wasn't WMDs. The superior dancing continues...

Update (1/17/04): Previous update corrected. My apologies to the Danish for calling you Dutch. ;-)

Congratulations are in Order

Joel and Amy Fuhrmann have a beautiful new daughter named Rebecca!

Thanks for clearing that up!

Wesley Clark has finally answered a question that many have pondered and argued over: When does life begin? According to Clark, "life begins with the mother's decision". Well, that settles it then. A baby is only alive if his mother decides that he's alive. I'm glad we have people like Clark to answer these age-old questions. [/sarcasm] (Via Boortz, who no doubt would call me a "zealot".)

And speaking of Clark, that towering intellect Madonna has weighed in with her Very Important Endorsement™ of Clark. According to McDonna, terrorism isn't a threat, but Dubya is:

“I am writing to you because the future I wish for my children is at risk,” notes Madonna. “Our greatest risk is not terrorism and it’s not Iraq or the ‘Axis of Evil.’ Our greatest risk is a lack of leadership, a lack of honesty and a complete lack of consciousness.”

Madonna then goes on to slam the Bush administration. “Unfortunately our current government cannot see the big picture,” she writes. “They think too small. They suffer from the ‘what's in it for me?’ syndrome.”

This from a woman who built her whole career with a "What's in it for me?" attitude. (Via Midwest Conservative Journal.)

More Reports on The Passion of the Christ

Maripat at Right We Are (which is back in service, BTW) has a post about some reactions to a recent private screening of The Passion of the Christ in Hendersonville, TN. Here is a news article about that screening. And, the two letters posted at RWA can also be found here and here.

If these reactions and other reactions I've read are any indication, this looks like it may be one of the most important films ever to be released.

Vexation

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. As I said a couple of weeks ago, I'm busy. (And yes, I'm still busy.) I also have been sick on and off. And discouraged about life in general. Work is frustrating. I've got some family-related worries. My faith in God isn't what it should be right now.

Not to mention my cable modem is acting up and my car is in the shop.

I'm also disgusted by stuff like this. I can't believe this insane amount of irrational hatred. I know some of my disgust has shown itself lately in the tone of my blog posts and comments on other blogs. If I've offended anyone, I'm sorry. I don't apologize for disagreeing, only for being disagreeable.

Not all is bad, though. I saw Return of the King yesterday. (My opinion -- two thumbs up!) I also finally got a new DVD player after my other one went kaput a few months ago.

I know I have a lot to be grateful for, and that things could be much worse. But I don't feel grateful for some reason. I probably shouldn't post when I'm in the kind of mood I've been in lately. So don't expect to hear a lot from me until things settle down a bit.

I've got some stuff to do...

So here's your moment of Zen for today.

(Via Rev. Mike.)

Stupid and Ugly

Discoshaman on anti-Americanism.

Revenge of the Nerd

A rather strange story from Canada:

National Post: Truth about high school - Unpopular boy makes valedictory speech: 'A lot of you were jerks'

"A lot of people in our grade, the grade that elected me, do not know my name," wrote Mr. Ironside, 18. "They just know me as that blond kid with the freaky eyes."

Mr. Ironside, who had his own page in the yearbook, had been elected valedictorian in a vote carefully orchestrated by his peers and designed to embarrass him.

But when graduation night arrived, he gave a speech that transformed a malicious high school joke into an ad libbed sequel to Revenge of the Nerds.

Good for him! (Via E-Pression.)

One thing, though -- I didn't know valedictorians were "elected". I thought it was just whoever had the highest GPA in the class. That's the way it worked when I was in high school. It seems that electing someone to that position leaves things wide open for abuse, such as what happened to this kid.