Disqus - Latest Comments for Jesse

Re: I love pearls – Pearl Paradise giveaway

Jesse — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:55:00 -0000

LOVE the Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Ring....GORGEOUS!

jesselcarter(at)gmail(dot)com

Re: Smallville: Reckoning – Somebody Really Dies

Jesse — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 09:50:57 -0000

LESS LANA, MORE LOIS PLEASE

Re: Car Commercial or Movie Trailer?

Jesse — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 19:25:12 -0000

well the first movie revolved around his BMW in the beginning, its just a different car

Re: Sponsor Thank You

Jesse — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:34:51 -0000

Ride rocks!

Re: Evolution vs. Creationism: No Contest - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Jesse — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 23:08:00 -0000

The original thread seems to be a bit lost in all the comments. Creation and Evolution, I subscribe to both. Can't deny evolution, you have to be biased to a literal reading of the creation story in order to so, in which case your science is screwy. The creation story wasn't meant to be taken literally or metaphorically, it is just a story. A story describing a real relationship between God and his creation. Why does the story have to be literal to be meaningful? It doesn't.

Re: http://igorandandre.blogspot.com/2009/04/one-week-mark.html

Jesse — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:09:00 -0000

i love you work! this may seem really random but what kind of paper do you use? for example in the video you made a while ago, where you taped your usual progress for making an image. it was really fascinating to watch. i love seeing the progress from start to finish!

Re: Community Speech

Jesse — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:14:06 -0000

hey,

my names jesse and i am a student here at inglewood high school, new zealand.

just wanted to say, that if you were ever round these 'neck of the woods' as it were, that we would be delighted and hounoured if you were to talk to us all and share in your gret wisdom.

kind regards,

jesse

Re: Community Speech

Jesse — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:34:09 -0000

hey its me again,

um yea, how comes you havent replied?

do you think its funny?

well i dont and im informing the media about this!!

your going down chuck!!!!!!

yours faithfully,

jesse

Re: Community Speech

Jesse — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:35:02 -0000

oohh, i didnt give you my email...

sorry bud

Re: Community Speech

Jesse — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:35:09 -0000

oohh, i didnt give you my email...

sorry bud

Re: Community Speech

Jesse — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:36:21 -0000

i am sooo sorry, i really didnt mean to say all that mean stuff can we still be friends????

Re: Community Speech

Jesse — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:36:23 -0000

i am sooo sorry, i really didnt mean to say all that mean stuff can we still be friends????

Re: Community Speech

Jesse — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:37:14 -0000

are you mad at me??

Re: Community Speech

Jesse — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:37:15 -0000

are you mad at me??

Re: Google Soars Near $600, Can They Hit $1,000?

Jesse — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:15:00 -0000

Here's another post that talks about Google at $1000 a share.

Re: Google To Unleash Hell on Social Networks

Jesse — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:12:00 -0000

It sounds like you're talking about the ultimate social graph. Here are a couple of articles on that topic: What is a Social Graph? and What happens when a Social Graph is compromised?

Re: Interview with Setanta Sports: EPL Talk Podcast

Jesse — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:47:04 -0000

We don't need HD, just give us widescreen. They can letterbox it like the Discovery channel does and then those of us with a HD tv can use the zoom feature to get rid of the bars and not distort it or lose any of the picture.

Re: The Sound Of Arrows – Into The Clouds

Jesse — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:10:14 -0000

another good Sweden band is Cleast Eatwood - Get Related.

thanks for the up. i have a few songs from sound of arrows that are not on there webpage anymore. I'm glad I ripped them.

Re: Whore no more

Jesse — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 14:40:16 -0000

You know.....AdSense allows you to filter out sites that you don't like. So if you had a problem with certain ads, you can block them.

Re: What is your ecological footprint?

Jesse — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 15:07:16 -0000

I got a 19, but it is mostly because only 2 people live in my house. (oh and the fact that I pour buckets of mercury and arsenic into the mississippi every morning).

Re: Dell Inspiron 9300 | A View from Judi Sohn

Jesse — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 01:16:04 -0000

Saying that a DELL laptop is "horrible in terms of quality" is not only completley untrue, but it's nonsense. Do just a simple Google search on their latest Laptops (ie. Inspiron 9300) and you'll see the most respectable critics in the laptop community singing praise. Don't believe negative propaganda that you happened to come across on some shady web site, or from some disgruntled customer, or from older models.

I ordered an Inspiron 9300 after well over a month of research and planning and I can't wait to get it! I'm also a web/graphic designer by profession and feel it will be excellent... can't wait to get out of my apartment for a change!

Re: Get me out of here | A View from Judi Sohn

Jesse — Tue, 17 May 2005 13:56:18 -0000

We live in Fairfield County as well. The cost of homes in even the dumpiest areas is stunning. I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs -- "THIS IS NOT BEVERLY HILLS!"

I don't think we're going anywhere for a while though, we need to stay close to family for now...

Re: Google deleted their own blog…it’s funny until you do it too | A View from Judi Sohn

Jesse — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 22:35:34 -0000

I do all my stuff with Pair, they rule. Although it's a bit tough to get someone on the phone, their email support is snappy.

Re: How to increase your internet speed

Jesse — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:50:37 -0000

Wow! I just upgraded to an 8Mb/sec account. The speedtest that XMission (local to Utah) offers returns 24Mb/sec! I'm getting close to 1Mb/sec upstream now too! This is freakin' awesome!

Re: How to Find Inventory of Any Item at Target

Jesse — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:05:51 -0000

http://www.digg.com/mods/Find_Out_When_the_Nintendo_Wii_Becomes_Available_in_Your_Area

Re: How to Find Inventory of Any Item at Target

Jesse — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 17:57:32 -0000

I know Target currently works - I've since found several reliable sources confirming this method. You won't see any stores having it, whether that page says they do or not though until the 21st. Target and several other stores are doing a very large launch of Wiis then and are holding them all for that date.

Re: Album Review: Britney Spears – Blackout (Times Review)

Jesse — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:15:13 -0000

Even though I got most of the leaked tracks thanks to PMA, I am going to buy the album and support her starbucks habit.

Re: Kanye West keeps Chicago glowing (5/23)

Jesse — Sat, 24 May 2008 05:40:26 -0000

I saw this in SD, and Rihanna SUCKED BALLS(maybe Jay's nuts) and NERD killed, so did Lupe. Kanye West show was cool, but a bit overrated.

Re: Make Music Pasadena: Another free festival

Jesse — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:56:28 -0000

this is free, and I am going to this. WEEE.

Re: Led Zeppelin reuniting…again…tonight?

Jesse — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:00:11 -0000

john bonhams been dead for 20 years. you're an idiot.

Re: Guilty Pleasure: Significant Other

Jesse — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:55:35 -0000

FUNNY

Re: Red Hot Chili Peppers working with Justice on new album?

Jesse — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:48:10 -0000

That is exactly what that interview stated. People just read it wrong. If you go back and look at it, it says that they where taking a break after the end of the tour. So that means last summer, which means it's been about a year now. Which means september is just about right for them to start work on a new album.

Re: Soundtrack details for BEST MOVIE EVER emerge

Jesse — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:37:31 -0000

have you guys noticed two-face is track 3? does that mean that maybe harvey dent turns early? INTRUIGE.

Re: Lolla Loopholes: The Black Keys vs. Gogol Bordello

Jesse — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:34:00 -0000

how far apart are the two main stages at LOLLA? No one seems to know the answer.

Re: http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/08/11/toadies-gear-up-for-full-return/

Jesse — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:24:02 -0000

you are missing the SD date, it's at the belly up.

Re: http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/08/18/the-hold-steady-like-touring-and-oasis-dont-like-radiohead/

Jesse — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:20:04 -0000

WILTERN, Hell yeah. I will def. be going back for a 3rd serving of the Hold Steady. Love me some boys and girls of america, and stay positive. I love Radiohead and I understand what he means.

Re: http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/08/20/album-review-the-rhumb-line/

Jesse — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:15:00 -0000

THIS IS MY SHIT RIGHT NOW. LOVE THE RECORD. NOT EVEN IF DEATH WHERE GOOD.

Re: http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/09/08/check-out-kanyes-love-lockdown/

Jesse — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:26:58 -0000

Britney is a dumb bitch, and so is MTV. Britney winning is just corporate buyout type of shit. Jonas Brothers should have won every category, damn it!!!!!!!!!! Go bunny ears!!!! Wait, something is wrong here.

Re: Street Scene

Jesse — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:05:25 -0000

SET TIMES POSTED.

Re: Album Review: Carried To Dust

Jesse — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:29:42 -0000

I was born, and lived in Calexico for many year, and I can say without a doubt that town doesn't pride itself on shit. It's a fucking dirt piss of shit town. Yes PISS.

Re: Beale Street Music Festival

Jesse — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:44:44 -0000

Jambase has 311 confirmed for Sunday the 3rd

Re: Beale Street Music Festival

Jesse — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:27:39 -0000

Memphis flyer also confirms the roots and elvis costello

Re: Beale Street Music Festival

Jesse — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:52:42 -0000

DanielB you obviously didnt see last years lineup this year is very good compared to the last few years. Ben Harper Steve Miller G Love Medeski Martin and Wood The Roots Al Green Snoop 3 6 Elvis Costello 311 The Bar Kays George Clinton James Taylor Susan Tedeschi. Please explain to me how this lineup is not appealing it has hip hop if you dont like that it has funk/soul if you dont like that it has soft rock/easy listening if you dont like that it has classic rock and if you dont like that theres modern alternative rock not to mention the blues tent anyone who says this lineup is terrible or unappealing is ignorant because they cant see the beauty of music fest in that it appeals to all crowds

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Microsoft Redesigns The iPod Packaging - A Parody

Jesse — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 14:45:12 -0000

The link is dead.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » Best Anti-Smoking Advert Ever

Jesse — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 07:13:46 -0000

Love it! One of the reasons I left my ex was cuz she started smoking again. She didnt care how I felt about it. Just sent her the pic. hahaha!

Re: On the Topic of GI Bill Momentum…

Jesse — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:10:36 -0000

Here is the press release from Sen. Akaka's office:

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Re: Ryan Beiler: Christian Peacemakers Forgive Iraqi Captors Now Facing Trial

Jesse — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:09:02 -0000

Should those who have been charged with holding us hostage be brought to trial and convicted, we ask that they be granted all possible leniency.
--What if they're convicted and then given 20 hours of community service? Would CPT be okay with this?

I guess the real issue (that they sort of allude to) is whether you believe justice often demands punishment. I read in Romans 13:4 and 1 Peter 2:14 that the government is supposed to punish wrongdoers. This statement by CPT makes it sound as if punishment and forgiveness are incompatible. They are doing their cause a major disservice if they actually believe this.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Christian Peacemakers Forgive Iraqi Captors Now Facing Trial

Jesse — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 23:48:13 -0000

Wow, I didn't think anyone would actually take my bait. But it seems that Paul and some of the others here do not believe in things like prison. If someone murders your wife or mother, I guess you'd be fine with them going free...maybe as long as they're truly sorry. It would be fun to see someone campaign on that one. I wonder if CPT agrees with you.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Christian Peacemakers Forgive Iraqi Captors Now Facing Trial

Jesse — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 06:47:57 -0000

Joseph,
The kind of psychoanalysis you're engaging in (of Kevin, Wolverine and friends) should be left to those willing to listen. I actually love reading their posts. I learn a lot from them. As a conservative, I believe I learn a lot about the religious left through these arguments and dialogues, as well. Like it or not, Wallis is becoming more and more influential in Christian circles. I like to know what he and his crew are up to.

Why am I here? Why are Kevin, Wolverine and others here? I imagine to educate themselves and to educate others. Both are worthwhile goals. Your attempts to shut them down reflect a certain closemindedness. Why are you here?>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Christian Peacemakers Forgive Iraqi Captors Now Facing Trial

Jesse — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 15:45:19 -0000

j,
"baiting" may have been a poor choice of words. I wanted to see if anyone really believed the logical conclusions of the attitudes of CPT towards punishment. These attitudes are also reflected among different columnists/posters who seem to believe that "loving your enemy" means not using any sort of government force against anyone. Apparently, people don't really get the fuzziness of their thinking in this regard. I was surprised to read some of the responses to my initial post.

While I haven't accepted any liberal ideas since I've been here, I have learned a lot. My respect for Tony Campolo has decreased considerably, though my opinion of Wallis has not changed. I also like having to think through what I believe, and this blog forces me to do that. And as I said, the religious left are becoming more influential, and I like to see what they're up to. And that's what it means to me as a "follower of Christ in today's world.">

Re: Ryan Beiler: Christian Peacemakers Forgive Iraqi Captors Now Facing Trial

Jesse — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:30:57 -0000

Herbert,
I'm sure you'd agree that thanks that is given after criticism for not giving thanks lacks a certain genuineness. Also, feel free to keep your pearls from us "swine." That's your right.

timks,

Loved your point about the left's willingness to dialogue with Iran and Syria. Why them and not us?

I think RTY got it right about forgiveness. Forgiveness of someone for murdering my wife is more about me and letting go of any bitterness I may have than it is about letting the murderer go free. I can forgive someone and also want them to be punished.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Christian Peacemakers Forgive Iraqi Captors Now Facing Trial

Jesse — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:36:38 -0000

I don't see them advocating anywhere that their kidnappers should not be punished, should not be imprisoned, should be set free, or any of the other exaggerations that have been sarcastically thrown out here in response.
--They say a few times that they do not wish for them to be punished. If they only mean that they do not want them to be executed--but they do think they should go to jail--then they do a poor job making this point. As it reads, it looks like they are opposed to any punishment, even waving any "rights" they have to it.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Christian Peacemakers Forgive Iraqi Captors Now Facing Trial

Jesse — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:57:53 -0000

Eric,
I agree with you that CPT would probably not be opposed to their kidnappers being sentenced to prison...however, the way in which they spoke about "punishment" is what really bothered me. If they truly desire justice, then they should WANT punishment of their kidnappers. They speak as if forgiveness and desire for punishment are incompatible. I just strongly disagree with this.

And I've seen this sort of theological/moral error before among critics of the death penalty (I'm fine with people being against it, btw...I'm just not fine with unsound thinking). I've heard some argue that they believe in mercy, and that's why they oppose the death penalty. Others (including Sojo) have argued that the death penalty is a form of revenge, and is, therefore, un-Christlike.

But my response is "why wouldn't prison be form of revenge? A sign of mercilessness?" Kidnapping, if you think about it, is a lot like prison. Keeping someone in a confined space against their will because they kept you in a confined space against your will could seem like revenge--if you believe the death penalty is a form of revenge. But it's not. It's retribution for an injustice. And that retribution is very consistent with biblical understandings of justice.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Christian Peacemakers Forgive Iraqi Captors Now Facing Trial

Jesse — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:39:02 -0000

it's hard to advocate FOR the death penalty without some element of "what they've done is so horrible they deserve to die", which is very much a revenge-oriented statement.
--And I think this is the heart of the issue. Is there a difference between retribution and revenge? I think a close reading of scripture would lead to the conclusion that God's justice is retributive. People are punished because they deserve it. That's how I view jail, as well. Rapists, murderers, theives, etc. should be imprisoned not only because it will deter crime or possibly lead to rehabilitation. I think it should happen because justice requires it.

I actually used to be opposed to the death penalty till I read an essay by CS Lewis called "The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment." It made me rethink my position...right now, I'm kind of neutral on the issue. It's a very interesting essay that relates to all that we have been discussing here. I recommend it to everyone: http://www.angelfire.com/pro/lewiscs/humanitarian.html .

Nice discussing these things with you.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Christian Peacemakers Forgive Iraqi Captors Now Facing Trial

Jesse — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 04:35:36 -0000

Esther,
Sorry, I should have been clearer...I'm not married, and I've never had a wife. I was just using that as a hypothetical example.>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:03:59 -0000

I think the progressive pilgrims and emergent conservatives seek unity at the expense of adherance to scripture and orthodox Christian doctrine (McLaren is a prime example of this).

When they try to be "above the fray" and "look past minor theological differences", this is an expression of their own theological/moral positions. They are saying, in effect, that belief in Jesus as the divine savior of the world through which salvation is gained--is not important. They are saying sexual purity and commitment to holiness--is not important. They are saying that all the issues that divide are not important...what matters most is *unity*. Sorry, but I think these issues are a lot more important than these emergent pilgrims. I prefer obedience to God over unity.>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:04:29 -0000

Jessie - on the other hand other African leaders in the Anglican Communion have expressed their support for the ordination of Robinson. So the issue of unity is local as well as global.
--I believe the message of support was confined to South Africa, no? This is not too surprising since it is basically a Western country in terms of ideals. My impression with the past couple of Lambeth conferences was that the conservative theology voices (primarily Asia and Africa) far outnumbered the liberal ones (primarily US and UK).>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 23:39:52 -0000

Joseph,
I apologize if I've shown any sort of rudeness towards anyone on these blogs. I sincerely feel that I have stuck with the facts and the arguments on nearly every post. It's very strange that you choose to post your comment on this blog. Where has there been any disprespectful or even heated exchange?

All the names you mention are people I enjoy reading. I'm here to discuss things with them and others (like the pleasant discussion I had with Eric on one of the last threads).

My message to Kevin, Wolverine, timks, and others: post on. I like reading you (but you already knew that =).

My message to Joseph: stop trying to stifle dissent and show some respect.>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 02:46:43 -0000

I have hardly seen a single thread on this blog from its inception where certain people have not been uneccessarily disrespectful to those who write for this blog -- calling them dishonest, heretics, hypocrites and who knows what else.
--I don't think I've ever called anyone dishonest, a heretic, or a hypocrite (or any other names). I've definitely made the case that things that were said were dishonest (e.g., Campolo's slander of religious conservatives, Wallis falsely claiming that he is prolife), and I've called out instances of hypocrisy but I've always said WHY different claims were dishonest or hypocritical. If you do see me being disrespectful towards anyone, please call me on it. That's not my intention.

I was mainly speaking of this particular thread--not this blog. Who on this thread has treated anyone harshly? Who has shown disrespect? I only see people arguing things out. Nothing unusual.

I should say that over the past few threads different people have attacked the faith of others and have called people "trolls." However, it wasn't any of the conservatives mentioned above who were doing this.>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 04:17:40 -0000

most people aren't here to argue. as kevin says, you guys are coming at this with an agenda - you don't like what's being written and you want to say why what's written is wrong. fine, but that's not a discussion. a discussion involves listening and learning, not simply providing a point-by-point critique of what the last person said.
--Of course, I'm happy to air my disagreements with different posts. But that isn't all. I'd also like to become familiar with how left-leaning Christians think. I like to debate these individuals because it forces me to think through my own beliefs and I also learn how people with different views from me think. This is important to learn because I know a number of Christians w/ liberal political leanings. I don't really like debating politics with my friends, to be honest (most of whom are liberal, actually).

I also learn from just reading different debates between left-leaning and right-leaning christians. I've really liked reading posts from people like kevin. I'd also like to think that my posts may be causing people to rethink their own beliefs.

In sum, there are a lot of reasons for me (and others) to come here.>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:14:59 -0000

okay, so you're here to argue and to teach. can you not see the arrogance of that? can you not see how that's going to rub people the wrong way?
--Actually, I'm here to argue, to persuade, and to learn. Conservatives and liberals are here for the same reasons. And I don't see the arrogance of that.

Jim Wallis was attacking a straw man in his post (which I later clarified). And I never said Sojo didn't care about the troops in Iraq. I said that they didn't support those who were there (because they are opposed to their decision to be there). I think most troops would interpret the fact that Sojo only gives positive profiles about conscientious objectors the same way I have interpreted it.

You obviously haven't been reading anything I've been writing to reduce it to "baiting". When I used the word "bait" before, it was more out of surprise (with a hint of sarcasm) that people really were arguing against the idea of imprisonment. I was actually feeling kind of perturbed at the time that someone had just said that my allegiance to the US is greater than my allegiance to Christ. I would think that if anything on the posts should be criticized, it would be that kind of nastiness. I see your grasping onto the word "bait" and running with it, but that's hardly a substantive argument.

if your goal is to convert "liberals", i would argue that there are more appropriate forums for that where you'll find plenty of people willing to argue with you until you're all blue in the face.

--Different people have different goals in being here. Sojo (and many commenters here) most definitely seek to "convert" conservatives and "seekers" who come here to take more liberal perspectives on issues. And that's totally fine with me...I see nothing wrong with it.

I think the main problem you're seeing with all of this is that debate on these boards is bothering you. It also seems like you want to limit the discussion to seekers and liberals.

And people have disappeared from here for different reasons...some, I'm sure, left due to the partisan blogs that Wallis and others had posted...and their disappointment that this blog did not live up to its name. Others left perhaps because they didn't want to debate. My main concern is if people left because I treated them disrespectfully... something I hope not to do.>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:41:01 -0000

and there's my point - back it up with facts. not attacks. and for the last time, i'm not a "liberal".

--Well, you have only criticized conservative posters for being "absolutist" and "seeking to convert" when liberal posters have defended liberal positions with the same zeal. I don't think I said you were a liberal. I said I think that you have a problem with conservatives being here who defend conservative positions. I may be wrong, but your comments certainly read that way.>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:43:37 -0000

they, by their own words, are here to argue, not to learn.

My own words: "Actually, I'm here to argue, to persuade, and to learn."

Are you here to listen, j? It really doesn't seem like it. And repeating the word "bait" again and again is not really convincing me of anything. I'm not here to bait...I'm here to debate and learn.>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:06:17 -0000

your own words were something to the effect of "i haven't learned anything here except that i have less respect for tony campolo".

j.,

Please cite where I have said this. Losing respect for Campolo is definitely a consequence of SOME of the things I have learned, but I never said this was the only thing I learned. I'm afraid you misread me.>

Re: Diana Butler Bass: Beyond Two Party Paradigms

Jesse — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:36:29 -0000

Interesting article on the "Episcopalian Revolt" in yesterday's NY Times: ">http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/us/17episcopal.html?em&ex;=1166590800&en;=ed559000e01cc756&ei;=5087%0A>

Re: Jeff Halper: Yes Virginia, It Is Apartheid

Jesse — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:40:27 -0000

What's interesting about these last two posts is that they mainly consist of appeals to authority. This post quotes an "Israeli Jewish peace activist" who agrees with the point Sojo supports (Israel is an oppressive country). Because he is "Israeli" and "Jewish" and a "peace activist", he must have some special, impartial view that we should all respect. The last post mainly consists of criticism from a respected Republican (Powell) who somewhat agrees with the point Sojo is trying to make (Bush is wrong).

I guess I don't need to tell you that this is form of argumentation is kind of lazy and is not very convincing.>

Re: Jeff Halper: Yes Virginia, It Is Apartheid

Jesse — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:33:20 -0000

However, Jesse does not refute any of the content of the posts. Therefore, Jesse's post is pointless and ineffective. Point goes to Pro
--My point, of course, was that the posts were lacking in any depth of content.>

Re: Jeff Halper: Yes Virginia, It Is Apartheid

Jesse — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:34:40 -0000

The fact that some Jews blame all the middle east's troubles on Israel is not very meaningful. Many Americans blame most of the world's troubles on the US. You'll find those kind of people in every country. Jeff Harper writes on his website, "Let s be honest (for once): The problem in the Middle East is not the Palestinian people, not Hamas, not the Arabs, not Hezbollah or the Iranians or the entire Muslim world. It s us, the Israelis . . . This is just childish...does anyone really think that Arafat, who made millions off of the Palestinians' suffering, didn't negatively impact the situation in the middle east? Does anyone seriously believe that suicide bombers do not negatively affect the middle east?

Also, the fact that you've seen Palestinians who have suffered gives you a unique pespective. But so would someone who's spent time with Israeli families who live in fear or who've had their children killed by suicide bombers. Or those who've witnessed Palestinian prayers for Israel's total annihilation.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Conservatives Cash in on the War on Christmas

Jesse — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:48:50 -0000

And just a few days ago, I got an email from Sojo offering the "perfect gift this Christmas season!"

How is one group cashing in on Christmas while the other is just...what?

Sojo uses religious appeals all the time in their fundraising. Forgive me for being completely underwhelmed.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Conservatives Cash in on the War on Christmas

Jesse — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 14:46:13 -0000

Oohh, just saw the Psalm 23 bracelet ad at the bottom of the screen. That's rich! Yes, the word I'm thinking of rhymes with "mypocrisy."

Merry Christmas, everyone!>

Re: Duane Shank: Politicizing Ford’s Passing?

Jesse — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:38:03 -0000

Actually the "embargoed interviews" were more likely due to the fact that it has traditionally been considered in bad taste for past presidents to criticize current administrations (Jimmy Carter has been the one exception).

To believe he intended to use his death to take shots at Bush is pretty ridiculous.

I do appreciate the more bi-partisan nature of your comments here, though. I think you at Sojo should realize that a lot of people reading this blog think of you as partisan Democrats (not just the conservatives). I've never heard one word of praise from Wallis or anyone else for Bush or any conservative policy. I've also never heard one word of criticism for the Democrats or any specifically liberal policy.

You guys clearly have a long way to go if you're trying to get to a "moral center.">

Re: Duane Shank: Politicizing Ford’s Passing?

Jesse — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 20:30:47 -0000

Wolverine,
I agree that you'd probably find a conservative commentator or two contrasting Reagan's presidency with those of Carter and Clinton...but you could probably even see then that the main objective of their commentary was to praise Reagan (though I'd probably have preferred they leave jabs at Democrats out of it altogether).

It just seemed that the overriding goal of Shank's last post was to criticize Bush. As you said, criticism of Bush, conservatives, and the religious right has become so routine at this site that it's become easy for one to take a more cynical view of Shank's "eulogy" for a Republican president. In fact, he said nothing positive about Ford at all in that post...he just said "Ford's words" were his best legacy and then used those words to attack Bush.>

Re: Duane Shank: Politicizing Ford’s Passing?

Jesse — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 21:13:07 -0000

BTW, I wonder if this blog will post anything about Sadaam's execution which is expected this weekend. It would seem that a site that is so strongly anti-death penalty would have something to say about so high profile an execution. Though Sadaam would probably not be the best individual to use in order to make a case against the death penalty.>

Re: Duane Shank: Politicizing Ford’s Passing?

Jesse — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 21:48:12 -0000

Duane,
Thanks for your response. In the current atmosphere, my political convictions (grounded in faith) are seen as being "conservative and Republican", as well. If only people would come around to my Christ-like way of thinking ;).

Nicholas Kristof said Bush has done more for Africa than any president before him. I must have blinked when you were praising Bush for his efforts there.

According to USA Today, "Spending on social programs, from education to veterans health care, has risen faster [under Bush] than at any time since the 1960s." http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-04-02-federal-spending_x.htm

I would have thought that Sojo would have appreciated these increases...yet not a word.

Mind you, as a Christian, I very much disapprove of these spending increases, as I believe they harm taxpayers, the economy, and the poor over the long-term. I, along with millions of devoted Christians (and Nobel prize winning economists), believe the poor are best served through having a small government and a healthy economy. Many of us also believe that peace is often best achieved through the use of military force.

Let us have the good sense and humility, then, to realize that we, as Christians, can have the same goals rooted in scripture, but our own opinions about how best to achieve them can vary greatly. The wisdom and humility that recognizes this reality will lead to civility, will encourage dialogue, and will increase unity in the body of Christ.

The moment you say "if you are a dedicated Christian, then you must support policies A-Z" you do great damage to the church and harm her witness. I hope you and others at Sojo will resist this temptation.>

Re: Duane Shank: Politicizing Ford’s Passing?

Jesse — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 15:19:10 -0000

I believe that it is easier to make a conservative compassionate than a liberal moral - just a little robsturism for 2007 (LOL)

--That was robsturific ;). Happy New Years to all of you.>

Re: Duane Shank: Politicizing Ford’s Passing?

Jesse — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:31:33 -0000

As someone who is from New Orleans, I can say that if you don't think there is lots of "sexual perversion" there, you haven't been to Bourbon street.

Also, if you don't think many of those who left New Orleans are better off for leaving, you didn't see it before Katrina.>

Re: Duane Shank: Politicizing Ford’s Passing?

Jesse — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 04:33:27 -0000

Few in New Orleans believe DC was to blame for the levees breaking. The levee board (packed full of cronies--you'd think an engineer or two would be appropriate) was too busy spending money on casinos...they had how many years (and how many presidents?) to prepare for this? Anyways...that's a whole other story.

If you know anything about Louisiana politics, you know it's the most corrupt of any state. Gov. Edwards is in prison right now.

I'm beginning to detect a theme, here...I suspect justintime believes the Bush administration is responsible for everything bad that ever happens in the world. Though I don't think we're aware yet of his true feelings about them.

What do you think of Bush, justintime?

Brother Butch, I prefer "Black Letter Christian" to Republi-nazi, but you may call me whatever you wish.>

Re: Duane Shank: Politicizing Ford’s Passing?

Jesse — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 12:25:40 -0000

I think my new band is going to be called "The Eminent Domain Seizures." ;)>

Re: Brian McLaren: How Does Saddam’s Execution Make You Feel?

Jesse — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 01:33:05 -0000

While moral feelings are definitely important, they cannot be our only guide to making moral judgments. I think most parents feel bad when they discipline their child, for example. Also, if McLaren is trying to convince Christians who support capital punishment to change their position, comparing them to sex addicts is not the best way of doing this!

I'm not really in favor of capital punishment, but I find most of the arguments against it to be unconvincing. The truth is God's justice IS retributive, and there are passages supporting capital punishment PRIOR TO Israelite law. So, throwing out these laws along with those on, say, menstruation is a little disingenuous. Also, saying that the government should "turn the other cheek" would make all forms of punishment invalid (including prison). I assume that none of you support doing this.

I used to be very much opposed to capital punishment before I read this famous essay by CS Lewis on the Humanitarian Theory of Punishment: http://www.angelfire.com/pro/lewiscs/humanitarian.html

It gives a good defense of the retributive theory of punishment. Very good stuff.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Dirty Deeds Not Done Dirt Cheap

Jesse — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:16:19 -0000

An interesting counter to this Rumsfeld-Hussein picture, of course, is this one with Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Yalta_Conference.jpg

The US and many other countries have sometimes had to cooperate with tyrants to meet their foreign policy objectives. This is nothing new, "Republican", or even necessarily wrong in all cases.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Dirty Deeds Not Done Dirt Cheap

Jesse — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:47:36 -0000

Jesse - a very flimsy analogy. The difference between the two is enormous: we didn't put Stalin on trial, and calim to be the moral authority, after allying with him.
--The US didn't put Hussein on trial, either...that was the Iraqi govt.

So, do you think it was morally wrong for Churchill and Roosevelt to have dealings with Stalin?>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Dirty Deeds Not Done Dirt Cheap

Jesse — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:51:53 -0000

There is no moral justification for national governements to intervene in foreign affairs.
--jurisnaturalist...are you of the opinion that the US shouldn't have intervened in Europe during WWII? are we not morally justified when the holocaust or aggressive takeovers are occurring to other countries? why would it be unjustified, in your view?>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Dirty Deeds Not Done Dirt Cheap

Jesse — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:57:31 -0000

splinterlog,
in both cases we supported tyrants whom we later battled (though the cold war was, of course, a different kind of battle).

in both cases the support indirectly led to the oppression of some people...

these are important similarities.>

Re: Ryan Beiler: Dirty Deeds Not Done Dirt Cheap

Jesse — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 23:16:21 -0000

splinterlog,
we supplied stalin with massive amounts of aid which included weaponry. in so doing we contributed a great deal to his oppressive reign.

my point is...leaders often cooperate with brutal dictators, and one's ally can turn into one's enemy. it's happened throughout history...not just to the US and not just to Republican presidents. i know this site and many of the commenters are very much committed to painting the bush administration and republicans in the most negative light possible...but things are a bit more complicated.

i see you're still not willing to acknowledge that the Iraqi people tried and executed Sadaam. why not?>

Re: David Cortright: Soldiers Say ‘No’ to Escalation in Iraq

Jesse — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:47:34 -0000

But a fancy label does not a good product make, am I right?
--Amen!

Now, please let us never again hear "quagmire", "budgets are moral documents", "Bush thinks Jesus is pro-war, pro-rich, and pro-America only", "the monologue of the religious right is over", "pro-woman, pro-choice" etc., or any of the other labels suggested by Wallis or George Lakoff.>

Re: David Cortright: Soldiers Say ‘No’ to Escalation in Iraq

Jesse — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:05:46 -0000

Daniel,
I'm sure you read Wallis' debate with Ralph Reed. In it, he said that the problem with Democrats wasn't their position on issues but how they talked about them. He also calls himself "prolife" even though his position on abortion is no different than John Kerry's. As much as he tries to deny that he is for "substantive change" rather than "repackaging", you must admit that there's a reason why Democrats love him and want him to give their radio addresses.

Both sides play the framing game.>

Re: Jim Wallis: State of the Union - Reactions in Davos

Jesse — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 02:09:45 -0000

Joseph,
Wallis has said many times (including during his debate with Ralph Reed on this website) that he opposed "criminalizing a desperate choice." In Soul of Politics, specifically, he said he opposes legislation prohibiting abortion because rich women would be able to get safer abortions than poor women, who would be more likely to go into back alleys.

It's easy to get confused with Wallis's position on abortion, because he always calls himself "prolife." But his position on abortion does not differ at all from Obama, Kerry, or any other politician who calls himself pro-choice. At least they are honest.>

Re: Voice of the Day: James Baldwin

Jesse — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:33:52 -0000

Baldwin here is explicitly refusing to "ever forgive" certain people, whom I assume would be Bush and his administration. Since when does a Christian website celebrate un-forgiveness??

Re: Rose Marie Berger: Poetry and the Language of War

Jesse — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:15:33 -0000

The "complexities of truth" must not let us forget the great evil that is Bush. Or make claims that all conservative policies are evil, or unbiblical.

Re: Rose Marie Berger: Poetry and the Language of War

Jesse — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:15:55 -0000

e.e. wolverine, priceless!

Re: Rose Marie Berger: Poetry and the Language of War

Jesse — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:35:59 -0000

Ah Wolverine and Jesse - as usual you have nothing constructive (or intelligent) to contribute so you both pour out scorn instead. You are both examples of the kind of people I hope I never turn into. --Sorry to upset you, splinterlog. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity to use lame poetry to point out a certain hypocrisy that often appears among the left (decrying "simplistic thinking" yet bolding declaring Bush's policies to be either evil or unbiblical). Surely both sides can fall into simplistic thinking. Wolverine's poem was awesome.

Re: Video: Jim Wallis on Tucker Carlson

Jesse — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:06:52 -0000

Democrats aren't rethinking their views on abortion, as Wallis claims. They're just talking about it differently. We can tell the difference.

Re: Video: Jim Wallis on Tucker Carlson

Jesse — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:12:05 -0000

I love how Wallis states that abortion rights are in the Democratic party's plank, and "that's not going to change." I'm sure he'd be just as accepting of any Republican party plank, as well.
For those calling for "common sense solutions" on abortion that everybody agrees on, let me ask you a question...what if all of the policies for reducing abortion are enacted that the Democrats are proposing--what if they lead to a decline of a few thousand abortions a year? Then what? Let's face it...no one believes any of the proposals being debated will dramatically reduce the abortion rate. Most Republicans are supportive of these policies, btw. There would still be over a million a year, over 3,000 a day. Most Democrats want abortion to be paid for by the federal government. What if they get their way? Research has found that restricting government funds for abortions will reduce the abortion rate. Covering abortion in their health care plans will only increase it.

The truth is the only way to dramatically decrease abortions is to pass laws which restrict it. Democrats will do everything in their power to keep democracy from working on this issue, even using it as litmus tests on every judge they appoint.

Their extremism on abortion needs to be challenged, and Wallis doesn't have the guts to do it.

Re: Video: Jim Wallis on Tucker Carlson

Jesse — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 03:51:17 -0000

Gary, You must know that the "health of mother" exception for the partial birth abortion "ban" includes "emotional health" and is basically meaningless. One abortionist who performed many of them came forward in the NY Times and said he "lied through (his) teeth" about it being medically necessary.
Of course, those who oppose making abortion illegal for all the problems it might bring should note the fact that illegitimacy INCREASED once abortion was legalized. Abortion rates also increased with each year it was legal (up until about 1980). Law affects culture, too.

Re: Becky Garrison: Bathroom Humor

Jesse — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:59:48 -0000

Looks like a great church, Rick.
Becky, does a church have be female-led to be "innovative"? Having an ethnically and economically diverse congregation would be innovative, but I don't see how simply having a female or minority leader qualifies as innovative at all.

Re: Brian McLaren: Joseph, Noah, and Pre-emptive Preservation

Jesse — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 04:43:42 -0000

If you're interested in the science (published) behind global warming skepticism, you should view the Great Global Warming Swindle, a film shown on Channel 4 in the UK. It can be seen online here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9005566792811497638&q;=The+Great+Global+Warming+Swindle&hl;=en Leading scientists also express their concern about the exaggerations in Al Gore's movie tomorrow in the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/13/science/13gore.html?_r=1&pagewanted;=print&oref;=slogin.

Re: Brian McLaren: Joseph, Noah, and Pre-emptive Preservation

Jesse — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:22:23 -0000

Butch, Do you not see risk in regulations provoked by alarmism that significantly hinders development and economic growth in third-world countries and in the West? Poor people need jobs, too.
Some interesting aspects of the film were its discussion of natural emitters of greenhouse gases. Volcanoes and animals emit far more CO2 than anything man-made. Shouldn't we be talking much more about vegetarianism than SUVs and alternative energy?

Re: Brian McLaren: Which Holy War?

Jesse — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:05:29 -0000

This is vintage McLaren. Why can't we all get along? Get past the petty disagreements? The problem is that McLaren's ideas about "agreeing" means everyone becoming liberal (as kevin said).
The reason we can't agree is because there are honest differences of opinion about the way in which good can be accomplished. To take one of the author's issues--racism. People like Jesse Jackson believe the solution is through racial preferences. Conservative Christians, on the other hand, tend to view such policies as unjust...we see them as fueling racism in the long run.

Though there are differences of opinion on the manner in which good can be accomplished, the important thing to remember is that the church and the kingdom of God are much bigger and more important than politics. Some of the names from this list (and some of the posters on this blog) do not realize this, unfortunately.

Re: Ryan Rodrick Beiler: Tell Us the Mission

Jesse — Tue, 01 May 2007 18:45:30 -0000

I've never been a fan of spoken word, though I guess it's a matter of personal taste. When you're listening to poetry slams, you can't really talk to your friends cuz you have to be quiet. It's not that social of an activity (like seeing a band). Also, when applied to heavy topics like politics it just tends to reduce complicated matters to (seemingly) clever rhymes.
This guy kind of scares me, too.

Re: Ryan Rodrick Beiler: Tell Us the Mission

Jesse — Wed, 02 May 2007 04:36:02 -0000

the Bible isn't Mad Libs --This would make for the best sermon title ever.
I'm snapping my fingers for you, Brother Wolverine.

Re: Jim Wallis: Sam Brownback Says ‘The Poor Will Save Our Souls’

Jesse — Wed, 09 May 2007 21:41:58 -0000

Brownback is a decent guy, but I really don't think this qualifies as "some of his clearest statements ever" on poverty. What does "the poor will save our souls" mean?

Re: Brian McLaren: My Questions for the Democratic Candidates

Jesse — Tue, 15 May 2007 15:16:03 -0000

As Jim Wallis announced last week, we're pleased to be hosting a forum of the leading Democratic presidential candidates at our Pentecost 2007 conference (and hoping to do a Republican candidates forum later this year). --Are they seriously hoping to host a forum for Republican candidates? Wouldn't that kind of be like the Heritage Foundation hosting a Democratic debate? I'd be very surprised if this happened.

Re: Jim Wallis: The Ever-Widening Evangelical Agenda

Jesse — Tue, 15 May 2007 16:24:33 -0000

You guys, It's always problematic to extrapolate from other countries to apply to the US. There are many differences between the US and Canada besides just health care. The important question is what policies IN THE US have led to significant reductions in abortion rates. Outside of different pro-life laws, e.g. ending Medicaid funding of abortion, informed consent, etc., I'm not aware of any. No one really thinks that the 95/10 Democrats for Life policies will have much of an impact on abortion rates (despite their bi-partisan support).
It's also telling a small part of the story to say that Clinton reduced abortion. The fact is that the economy was good during his two terms, and that had an impact, no doubt. But wouldn't that just say that improving the economy (the goal of Republicans, as well as Democrats) should be most important in reducing abortions? This also leaves out the Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision in 1992, which led to a flood of prolife laws passed on the state level. These had an impact, as well.

Lastly, I do not doubt that poverty is linked to abortion, but there's also a few third variables that could account for the relationship...lack of male support, increases in unintended pregnancies, etc. I'm not convinced that if all those living below the poverty line were given, say, $30k a year that this would lead to dramatic decreases in abortion...it could actually lead to increases in male abandonment, which could then lead to greater abortion rates in the longterm.

In sum, lack of economic support is not the ONLY reason women give for having an abortion...there are usually several reasons (lack of partner support being even more significant, I'd imagine).

Re: Jim Wallis: The Ever-Widening Evangelical Agenda

Jesse — Tue, 15 May 2007 21:03:47 -0000

I agree with Moderatelad, The evangelical church I attend has spoken about abortion possibly twice since I've been attending it (and I've been there 5 years). They've spoken numerous times about helping the poor and needy. I'd say this is likely true for most evangelical churches, which, if anything, tend to be more seeker-sensitive these days. Mind you, I'd like to hear them speak on abortion more often, but a lot of churches steer clear of such "hot-button issues"...(and then many of their members go on to have abortions, sadly)

Re: Video: Jim Wallis Announces Candidates Forum on Larry King

Jesse — Wed, 16 May 2007 06:06:36 -0000

Squeaky, I actually made a comment at the top that was removed (that Kevin was responding to). I was basically imploring Sojo to either say nothing about Falwell or at least not say anything that is distasteful. It is a little bizarre that this comment was removed!

Re: Video: Jim Wallis Announces Candidates Forum on Larry King

Jesse — Wed, 16 May 2007 15:04:15 -0000

Mike, Debate on this blog happens all hours of the day...having people wait hours (or even days) for their comments to be screened and then appear would make debate impossible.

Re: Brian McLaren: Correcting Media Myopia

Jesse — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 16:52:03 -0000

I think he meant Franklin Graham.

Re: Video: Highlights from Candidates Forum

Jesse — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:21:36 -0000

"Solidad O Brian s questions, on the other hand, were designed quite obviously to create a newsworthy sensation." --This is very true. The question about whether Hillary's faith got her through her husband's infidelity was the major example. What is Hillary supposed to say to that? "No, my faith did not get me through it..." Yet her answer made its own AP story. Very much an example of how news is made by the people who report news.
The Republican candidates would never agree to a debate held by Sojo for obvious reasons (just like the Democratic candidates would never agree to a debate held by the Heritage Foundation).

Re: Duane Shank: What is Sojourners?

Jesse — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:56:55 -0000

Sojourners is a "liberal Christian organization" or "liberal religious organization". Wallis, McLaren and most other contributors have a theology that is much more mainline than evangelical, and most of their political positions are in line with or to the left of the Democratic party's positions (even on abortion, Wallis is pro-choice). Those who deny Sojo's liberalness are simply redefining what "liberal" means.

I also think it is fair and appropriate to call Sojo the Religious Left, as the "Religious Right" is a term often used for their conservative counterparts like FRC.

Re: Ryan Rodrick Beiler: CT on ‘Bush’s Heresy’

Jesse — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:51:26 -0000

Mod,
I suppose the graphic is fitting, since Roman emperors were champions of democracy, too. That makes sense.

Re: Daoud Kuttab: Good News for Palestinian Christians

Jesse — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:54:53 -0000

re: Robertson and the popular media assumption that he is the leader of christian conservatives or evangelicals, it is worth pointing out that polls have shown that most evangelicals have a negative view of him and were actually more likely to have a positive view of pope JP II. also, I think it's safe to say that most evangelicals have not heard of Hagee, and he represents a small minority of evangelicals.

Re: Daoud Kuttab: Good News for Palestinian Christians

Jesse — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:18:38 -0000

"Jesse, How could 'most evangelicals' have a negative view of John Hagee if they have never heard of him?"
--Most have a negative view of Robertson, not Hagee. Most haven't heard of Hagee.

Re: Sanctuary Movement Activist Arrested and Deported
/by Patty Kupfer/

Jesse — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 07:42:51 -0000

Finally if this is truly a border security issue (really a political smokescreen) and not a racial issue, why aren`t we building walls on our Canadian border?
--Because umpteen million Canadians are not crossing over to live in the US illegally.

Re: Words, Not War: Building a Bridge to Peace Between the U.S. and Iran
/by Jessica Wilbanks/

Jesse — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:01:50 -0000

The nasty little Bobby Jindal ad also goes against Sojo's talking points about conservatives "high-jacking" their faith. Ditto with Rep. Harold Ford's statement last year that Republicans don't love God. You'd think that a website devoted to politics and religion would see fit to report or comment on such high profile incidents. It's obvious they would do so if a Republican were saying such things. Is partisanship "prophetic"?

Re: And the Killing Will Go On (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:23:30 -0000

And because there has been no political reconciliation because of the surge, it is so far a policy failure.
--I get the logic...nothing our military does can result in any good, and everything bad happens because of our military.

This site's been up for almost a year and I have yet to see Wallis provide any serious plan for resolving the conflict in Iraq. I can understand that he is a functional pacifist, but his "tone" here comes across as "so" "obnoxious."

Do you understand that Sadaam was removed from power years ago and we are presently there at the behest of the Iraqi people? Don't you believe we have a moral obligation to help Iraq? Is it so horrible to assist people who want us to help bring stability to their region? Do you oppose police forces in our own country who do the same thing?

This slandering of Petraeus' character based on ambiguous charges is also remarkable to see coming from a minister. But these are the kind of partisan rants I've come to expect from Wallis.

Re: And the Killing Will Go On (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:25:40 -0000

neuronurse,
i'm having the same problem with posting comments (without url's). what gives? so much for this "so-called democracy" ;-)

Re: And the Killing Will Go On (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:50:12 -0000

Re: The Global Church and America’s War (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:07:17 -0000

But let's turn from politics to theology and, even, ecclesiology. The vitriol against Christian Iraq war dissenters from the handful of neocon war promoters who regularly clog the comments to this site forget both.
--The monologue of the Religious Right is over! Let the new monologue begin!

Who's attacking whose faith? Who's calling who names?

I don't know whether I'm a "neo-con" or not. As far as the war in Iraq goes right now, I'm a pragmatist, and my goal is the best possible outcome for the Iraqi people. They want us over there to help them out. I think we have the moral obligation to help their government bring peace. This is, of course, completely consistent with Christian peacemaking principles.

Re: The Global Church and America’s War (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:17:51 -0000

"Many American Christians are simply more loyal to a version of American nationalism than they are to the body of Christ."--Jim Wallis

"how sad to read the excuses and gross "Christian morality" of these bloggers."--rgv

It is noteworthy that the people attacking the faith of those with whom they disagree politically are mainly liberal on this site. Wallis, of course, does this more than anyone. For all the complaints left-leaning people have made about conservatives telling them that Christians can't be liberals, a lot of people on the left seem happy to commit the same mistakes.

Re: The Global Church and America’s War (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:14:11 -0000

Rev. Alterman,
Polls matter little--it's unsurprising that many of the public want us to leave but they would likely not like the consequences of us leaving. These polls reflect ambivalence. The Iraqi government wants us there now, and if they wanted us to leave we would. I obviously do not think that peace should be achieved at all costs. I also believe that war is sometimes the best way to achieve peace (and believe history and the Bible are on my side in this regard).

For those of you defending Wallis' name-calling, you show little understanding of Christian charity or the concept of grace. Wallis' vitriol in this post reflects an attitude that wishes to see his opponents in the poorest of possible lights (it's equivalent to me calling him a "flaming liberal" or an "abortion-lover"). He impugns the motives of every he disagrees with. Whatever happened to just honest differences in opinion? I try not to judge a person's faith on all their political positions.

Re: The Global Church and America’s War (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:47:20 -0000

They are no more mutually exclusive than the statements "I am against abortion" and "I am pro-choice." In fact, when fully correlated, most polls show that 75% of Americans hold these two seemingly contradictory views.
--Not true at all. Most polls show Americans about evenly divided on the legality of abortion. The public and the news media at large also know what the term "pro-life" means, which is why politicians who are pro-choice do not refer to themselves as "pro-life". Wallis uses this trick with words in order to broaden his appeal to pro-life individuals who don't know his views.

I think Trent gave a good rebuttal of your uncharitable views on name-calling above. Wallis frequently throws around the word "neo-con" like another N-word...in a way that is meant to dehumanize and disregard the people he is referring to.

Re: The Global Church and America’s War (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:15:17 -0000

I see that the same voices who have been so offensive in the past are now playing the offended ones- I guess that it will have to be that way and so be it. Their absurdity is manifest.
--I doubt any of us are offended (I'm not). We just wanted to point out the hypocrisy we're seeing from a minister on a Christian website who decries our "vitriol" one second and then attacks our faith and calls us names the next.

I would also like to see the religious left not demonize, insult, and treat unlovingly the people with whom they disagree. I have a number of Christian friends who are into Sojo, and for the sake of the body of Christ, I hope they would not emulate the rhetoric seen here. The church is made of Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between. If we truly care about the church, then attacking each other's faith over political disagreements is the last thing we should be doing.

Re: Iraq and Christian Identity (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:14:56 -0000

Jim,
I respectfully urge you to consider the weak logic of appeals to authority. This post is essentially that. First, you appeal to Christians around the globe, then you appeal to three different sources. This is one of the classic logical fallacies. The validity of a claim does not follow the credibility of the source. I can take these appeals into consideration, but I won't find them wholly persuasive.

Re: Iraq and Christian Identity (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:38:47 -0000

if folks personally witnesses something that directly contradicts your agenda, do you then dismiss eyewitness accounts?
--Not at all, but this isn't totally about eyewitness accounts--or the degree to which it is, it's about different eyewitnesses (Petreaus is one and Wallis isn't, actually).

Re: Iraq and Christian Identity (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:29:03 -0000

I really don't think Rev. Wallis is guilty of appealing to authority, unless of course you mean the Supreme Authority to whom we all have to give an answer some day.
--When he appeals to scripture, he is appealing to the "Supreme Authority", but here he is only appealing to "the majority"--fallible people who will not be judging us. When he does appeal to scripture, I think he tends to have sloppy exegesis, but that's another matter...

Do you not think that a majority of the world's evangelicals disagree with Wallis on an issue or two? Do these disagreements carry the same weight in his eyes? Wallis told Jon Stewart and his audience that you just need to take care of the poor to get to heaven. Wallis also has liberal views on abortion and homosexuality that are likely not shared by most evangelicals. What to make of this? He must be wrong since most of the world's evangelicals disagree with him, right?

Re: Irresponsible Democrats (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:38:59 -0000

I hate to point this out again, but...

...Jim is basing his argument purely on appeals to authority!

Instead of addressing the substantive criticisms listed above, he basically says "since it has bipartisan support and must be implemented."

I wonder if he remembers that the original decision to overthrow Saddam also had bi-partisan support?

Re: Cynicism, Hope, Discipleship, and Democracy (by Tim Nafziger)

Jesse — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:21:30 -0000

The heart of a lot (if not most) of the debates on this blog is whether good Christians can have honest disagreements over political policy. Some people think there can be honest disagreements; others believe that those who do not agree with them politically are in sin--even lifting America above Christ.

I've been on this blog for over a year, and I don't think I've ever read Kevin, Wolverine or Moderatelad attack anyone's faith for having liberal positions on issues. Indeed, when they (or I) respond to posts, it is generally with a call for nuance...to give another side of the issue, and say that things are not as simple as Wallis and others would like to make them out to be. The point some of us make is that good Christians can come to different conclusions on issues. These are not tests of faith.

It is kind of funny, though, to see people judge each others' faith just on the basis of their views on politics (Note: almost no one here is even INVOLVED in politics). Politics and political debate is such a tiny part of most of our lives (we vote every 2 years??)...strength of faith and obedience to God involves so much more than what positions you defend on a blog. It's silly, really.

I know this is kind of stating the obvious to some, but it's something worth saying again and again on this blog: those who judge the faith of others only on the basis of what political views they hold really need to grow up.

Re: Cynicism, Hope, Discipleship, and Democracy (by Tim Nafziger)

Jesse — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:55:05 -0000

Kevin Wayne,
I suppose I bring it up now because Rick's rhetoric was getting especially heated here, and, frankly, I don't believe Rick can post without attacking the faith and motives of all conservative-leaning people here and elsewhere. That's the kind of obnoxious judgmental attitude I wish would stop. Rick has clearly been wounded by some conservatives who have done this to him in the past. I hope he will not continue to contribute to this cycle.

I should also say that Wallis in almost every post cannot acknowledge genuine disagreements others have with him and attacks the faith of others in many of his posts. How can any sort of "dialogue" occur when you attack the motives and faith of everyone who disagrees with you from the get go? The stated purpose of this blog is to promote dialogue, yes? On this, Sojo is failing miserably.

Payshun,
Both sides question the other's faith as Kevin and Wolverine do regularly. They believe the left's use of the government to right social and historic wrongs is wrong. They believe us leftists trust the government too much. They don't want us to use it to the extint that my green party roots dictate.
--Sorry, but I consider these honest disagreements, and I'm sure they would agree that good Christians can come to different opinions on this matter about the proper role of government. That is my complaint with Rick, Wallis, and some of the others who post here.

Re: Cynicism, Hope, Discipleship, and Democracy (by Tim Nafziger)

Jesse — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:21:59 -0000

Squeaky,
I think every conservative-leaning person posting here has admitted at one time or another several Christian conservatives often equated their own politics with God's in the past. We've acknowledged that that was wrong. However, none of us have ever said that we had God's politics.

We're quick to point out that the left is not above committing the same error today. There is nothing new under the sun, and Sojo and Wallis are proof positive in this regard.

Re: Cynicism, Hope, Discipleship, and Democracy (by Tim Nafziger)

Jesse — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:37:40 -0000

You have things like supply-side economics, which essentially took from the poor and give to the rich and allowed the rich to buy more politicians. Constant tax cuts for the wealthy, which drain (among other things) the treasury so that things like infrastructure and transportation cannot be funded properly. Cutting back on social programs, including college loans and grants and job-training programs -- and then dumping the responsibility onto churches, at least theoretically. The attempted demonization of affirmative action, never mind that folks are often still "locked out" of school, jobs or promotions because of who they are, how much they make or where they live. And that's just for starters.
--Rick, you do realize that affirmative action, college loans, high taxation of the rich, etc. did not exist really in any government prior to the 20th century? Were all those governments sinful up until God showed us his politics via Wallis and friends?

Re: NYT: ‘A Pro-Lynching Movie That Even Liberals Can Love’? (by Gareth Higgins)

Jesse — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 08:37:29 -0000

neuronurse,
I think kevin was making reference to the crying game (one of neil jordan's other movies). funny.

Re: Stan Guthrie’s Red Letter Blues (by Tony Campolo)

Jesse — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:50:23 -0000

There are many problems with RLC's, one of which is their inflated self-righteousness (as Eric pointed out). Other Christians don't follow Christ's teachings, get it?

The other, of course, is they pretend there are no disagreements about how to interpret Christ's teachings as applied to the govt. If we are truly obedient to Christ's teachings to care for the poor, then we must use the govt to do this in a specific way (bearing a strong resemblance to socialism). If we are truly "peace-makers", then we must be pacifists, etc.

The whole enterprise is based on dishonest assumptions. There is no room for moderate or conservative Christians in their flock, for their religion is their politics and vice versa. I've heard Tony say that politics and religion mix like doodoo and ice cream. If only he believed what he was saying! Sorry, Tony, you are the Religious Left.

Re: Stan Guthrie’s Red Letter Blues (by Tony Campolo)

Jesse — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:32:39 -0000

Don,
I think it would be great if we could be "just christians", too. But the truth is that two people equally committed to Christ can approach the Bible and come to very different conclusions about the best way to help the poor, care for the environment, etc. Campolo doesn't think so. I don't believe my opinions on politics are infallible, so I can't agree with him.

Re: Stan Guthrie’s Red Letter Blues (by Tony Campolo)

Jesse — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:03:39 -0000

Don,
I'm afraid you missed my point. I labeled Tony part of the "Religious Left" because he's saying his liberal politics are Jesus's. This is what makes the Religious Right what they are (saying that Christianity and conservativism are synonymous).

I'm not dismissing him or his politics because they are liberal. I'm just saying he's showing arrogance for thinking his politics were handed to him from on high. I don't think my political views are infallible. He does.

Re: Stan Guthrie’s Red Letter Blues (by Tony Campolo)

Jesse — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:52:52 -0000

Don,
Where does Tony Campolo say that? Give me a citation. And is that really what he is saying or is it your interpretation, informed by your own biases and presuppositions?
--He says other RLCs who share his political views are staying true to Jesus's teachings. Is there any other way to interpret this? The RLC label is explicitly political (read their manifesto elsewhere on this site). It's not just "anyone who appreciates Jesus's words above all others." If you are for limited government or a strong defense, you cannot be a RLC and, therefore, you are not truly adhering to Jesus's teachings.

I'm not dismissing Campolo or his politics. I just have a problem when he says that his politics come from Jesus and mine do not.

Re: Who Has Betrayed Us? (by Brian McLaren)

Jesse — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 05:10:35 -0000

Is the truth subject to an individual's political inclination?
--In both McLaren and Wallis's world saying that someone is a conservative AND also supports their point of view means that their point of view must be true. They add the "conservative" in there to give more weight to their argument. But most of what passes as arguments by bloggers on this site are nothing more than appeals to authority.

Re: Campolo’s Letter on CT with Guthrie’s Column (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

Jesse — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 07:13:07 -0000

"Campolo and Wallis try to pretend like they are above the political fray and disingenuously talk about finding another way, when really they are just trying to get more Democrats elected to public office."
--"Disingenuous" is the word I also like to use that most aptly summarizes this whole enterprise. I would also add that by pretending there is no real debate about political issues, they are only contributing to much of the vitriol and polarization found in our present political climate. Their view of Christianity leaves no place for right-leaning believers at the table.

Re: Campolo’s Letter on CT with Guthrie’s Column (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

Jesse — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:05:28 -0000

"Worry not, Jesse, you can play in our sandbox any time you want. Do you know of any politically and theologically conservative blogs that would let me post my liberal opinions? I haven't found any."
--I and I, I think you miss my point, which had nothing to do with a blog (very small significance) and everything to do with our faith (of the utmost significance). If you missed the part about Wallis and Sojo saying that conservatives aren't obedient to Christ (which is the whole reason for the existence of RLC's), then you haven't been paying attention.

Re: Campolo’s Letter on CT with Guthrie’s Column (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

Jesse — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:52:46 -0000

Rick,
We've had this discussion many times. I'm very much open to having my political views critiqued. Wallis, Campolo, and Sojo, however, go further than this by saying that true obedience to Christ involves support of liberal politics and a rejection of the conservative ideas of governance I adhere to. Surely you know how this feels and what it looks like because you've had the same things done to you by conservatives in the past. In response, you and others claim either that a) Wallis and Sojo are not doing this; or b) the politics they're supporting aren't really "liberal", they're just Christian. And that's when I think of the word that sums it up best: disingenuous.

Re: Campolo’s Letter on CT with Guthrie’s Column (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

Jesse — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:52:07 -0000

Don,
I already gave you examples (including quotes) from the RLCs (see Campolo's original column). You can choose to ignore them if you wish. You may also remember when Wallis claimed that the Republicans' proposals for reforming social security was breaking one of the 10 commandments (to honor your parents). Does that work, too? Honestly, Wallis and Sojo do this so frequently...he also said that those of us who support our military efforts in Iraq right now our guilty of putting our nation above Christ. That's cute.

Rick,
Of course, they'll never come right out and SAY "Christians cannot be conservatives", but it's certainly implied in their many articles. Besides, haven't you said again and again that conservativism is idolatry? How is this not saying You've been doing the same things, brother.

Re: Campolo’s Letter on CT with Guthrie’s Column (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

Jesse — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:54:19 -0000

My comment was just held up. Is this because I mentioned Jam Willis?

Re: Campolo’s Letter on CT with Guthrie’s Column (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

Jesse — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:22:40 -0000

Don,
You can check my comments in Tony's original post, if you like, where I addressed specific quotes and instances. Other instances of Sojo attacking others' faith: when JW said that I and other commenters who support our current military efforts in Iraq put our country above Christ; saying Republican efforts to reform social security were breaking the commandment to honor father and mother; when JW repeatedly claims that christian conservatives believe in a Jesus who is "pro-war, pro-rich, and pro-America only." Is there another way to interpret this besides as a nasty attack on our faith? Honestly, they do this so frequently on this site, but you can refuse to acknowledge it, if you wish...

Rick,
Of course, JW, Sojo, et al. will not come out and say "Christians can't be conservatives," but it's an obvious implication of all their writings. You've said several times that "conservativism is idolatry," which of course carries the implication that we're all idolaters. That's cool...

Re: Holy Spirit Sustainability (by Brian McLaren)

Jesse — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:28:12 -0000

"Please, after having two children, have yourself spayed or neutered."
--I'm guessing that McLaren would not support this sentiment, given that he has four kids.

Re: Video: Jim Wallis and the Evangelical Electorate on CBS

Jesse — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:36:22 -0000

As far as Christians influencing policy, one thing you have to give conservative Christians is that they have actively influenced Republicans on abortion, gay marriage, and other issues important to social conservatives (e.g., judicial nominees). They have been an effective influence. In what way is Wallis hoping to influence the Democrats? Aren't they already supporting the causes he supports? Does he disagree with them on any issue? In what way does he hope to influence Democratic politicians? He's certainly not going to influence any Republicans (nor do I think he intends to). Is he simply hoping to turn more Christians into Democratic voters?

His comments about "evangelicals can't be in any party's pocket...they need to come to us and conform their agenda to ours rather than vice versa" brought this to mind.

Re: Video: Jim Wallis and the Evangelical Electorate on CBS

Jesse — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:36:25 -0000

Rick,
So are you saying that you would still vote for "perfect candidate" on every other issue if he also supported slavery, genocide, anything else??

"many of the folks who oppose abortion do not care about anything else."
--Baseless and irrelevant to the point I was making.

Re: Video: Jim Wallis and the Evangelical Electorate on CBS

Jesse — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:57:44 -0000

Trent,
I would still distinguish abortion from those issues because: 1) our government is first and foremost responsible for protecting its own citizens ("punishing wrongdoers and rewarding those who do right"...see 1 Peter)...if they don't do that, no one will; 2) I find it a dubious proposition that our government should be an international charity (indeed, I think this idea goes against the biblical idea of charity, which is a gift freely given--rather than coercion via taxation with the threat of imprisonment); 3) if our government doesn't take care of things abroad, private charities can and should step in; 4) the belief that abortion can somehow "magically go away" without any legal measures passed is based on the assumption that sin (read: the desire for sex without consequences) will go away on its own...those who claim otherwise have a poor understanding of history, the data (abortion rates in the US pre- and post-legalization) and human nature; and 5) a society that accepts the killing of unborn children in their legislation and funds it with taxpayer dollars (which is what every Dem candidate proposes) is a calloused society that will come to see all dependents as disposable and unwanted...laws reflect our values.

Re: Robertson for Rudy (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:18:50 -0000

"Is there evidence that there are fewer abortions when conservative judges are in power than when non-conservative judges are?"
--Yep, see Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Harris v. McCrae, and other rulings where conservative judges voted to allow some laws (e.g., parental notification, informed consent, 24 hr waiting periods) and the liberal judges voted against these things. Heck, in Harris v. McCrae the liberal judges voted to make taxpayer-funded abortions a constitutional right! (that was a narrow 5-4 decision)

I don't have much respect for Robertson and I think he hurts the cause of Christ and conservativism in general. However, his support for Guiliani at the very least should help put to death the idea that there are only two issues of importance to conservative Christians.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:46:56 -0000

I am interested in seeing these data broken down further by family structure. How is mobility among single parent families vs two parent families? A black/white X one parent/two parent family analysis would be interesting to see.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:29:33 -0000

James Taranto of the WSJ has an interesting criticism of this study, which actually seems to tell a different story than the one provided here. I quote below:

"The main story here has nothing to do with racial inequality--and while the AP presents all the relevant facts, it puts them in no particular order, so that you have to puzzle out what's actually going on. To get a clearer picture, go to the original study and look at Figure 1, on the sixth page of the PDF.

According to this chart, the median personal income for white women in their 30s was $4,021 in 1975. For black women in their 30s it was $12,063. In 2005, the figures were $22,030 for white women and $21,000 for black women.

So black women in 1974--just a decade after the Civil Rights Act--were making three times as much as their white counterparts? How can that be? The footnote gives away the game: "All men and women ages 30-39, including those with no personal income, are included in these estimates."

It seems clear that in 1974 a much higher percentage of black women than white women had paying jobs, and that in the subsequent three decades huge numbers of white women entered the work force. In this sense the real story is a closing of the gap to the detriment of whites, as necessity forces more white women to work."

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:37:27 -0000

"Not much difference, probably, because blacks, even two-parent families, are not represented among the "super-rich." They generally don't own stocks and bonds and are not large employers. When eliminating the estate tax on those folks were hot, Bush tried to sell it to the black community -- until it turned out that it would affect only double digits."
--This may partially account for rising inequality, but it doesn't account for lack of mobility, which was my main point.

How mobile are the children of families with two parents vs. one parent? Is the lack of income mobility among black children explained at least in part by the absence of fathers?

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:57:48 -0000

Rick,
My proposal (that family structure can explain at least part of the inequality) can easily be examined through the use of data. You wave off this proposal very confidently as if to state that racism is the entire story. I believe it is part of the story, but it certainly isn't everything. Having a father around definitely matters. Even the Urban League (see the original story) admit as much.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:59:25 -0000

"My point is that economic disparity is causing the kind of dysfunction that you bring up, not the other way around."
--If economic hardship was causing fatherlessness among blacks, the illegitimacy rate would have been much higher in the early to mid-20th century. In fact, the reverse is true. Black Americans, as a group, have never had as much rights and prosperity, yet the rates of fatherlessness, sadly, are higher today than they ever were. Denying these facts and playing the regular "blame white conservatives" game might make you and liberal politicians feel better, but it's only harming the black community in the long-term.

"If white conservatives were willing to work for the rights and freedoms of everyone we wouldn't need this conversation -- but since the conservatives on this blog are not, you really don't have much standing."
--Yeah, we're interested in denying black people their "rights and freedoms." You figured us out.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:17:46 -0000

"it must be lack of parenting skills and rap music, right? i mean, i can't do anything about that!"
--Sorry, but this is actually what you call a straw man. Not lack of "parenting skills"...lack of a parent. If you think this is not a fundamental contributor to economic hardship and crime among black Americans, then you're arguing with an abundance of social science data. This is the side of the story being neglected and/or ignored by Wallis and this study.

The question is this: is the goal to help black Americans progress in society or to make ourselves feel better and alleviate white guilt?

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:22:58 -0000

"If you spent any time in the black community you wouldn't spout that nonsense."
--It's easier to write me off as some heartless conservative, I know, than debate my main point, which is that these data indicate that poverty and economic hardship are NOT causing illegitimacy, as you claimed they were. You can keep ignoring the data and tell me that I'm ignorant white boy if that makes you feel better. But don't think it's getting you any closer to the truth.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:37:40 -0000

Payshun and Rick,
Both your posts ignore my point about the causal direction of fatherlessness and poverty and how fatherlessness has increased dramatically among black Americans over the past 30-40 years (despite the fact that overall income has increased). Anecdotes can support any position. I'm more interested in data.

"group's social ills are the root cause of their inequality (which is actually more of a darwinian argument than a christian one), as opposed to, oh, i don't know, slavery, for starters."
--I won't argue with the fact that slavery has caused many of the problems in the black community today. However, you have not provided any data to persuade me that fatherlessness and illegitimacy is not THE major (or A major) contributor to poverty among blacks at present. It is also worth noting that black families in the early and mid 20th century were more likely to be led by two parents than those today.

You do realize that no less than Bill Clinton agreed with me about fatherlessness: he said illegitimacy was the #1 domestic problem in the US.

BTW, I did grow up in New Orleans in a racially diverse environment. My job involves interaction with low-income blacks everyday. So, I'm not as sheltered as you think.

Peace.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:43:27 -0000

"Ok Jesse I call you ignorant because you don't understand what you are talking about. I am a black man and I have a sister. She's pregnant and not marrying the baby's father. He is a good father and takes excellent care of his first son. Now he will add another child to the mix. Is that the traditional American family model? No.

But it is what it is. He is there working his butt off to make time for his children. I am not saying that there is not a lack of positive black male role models. We need more. No argument there but if you think that fatherlessness is the main contributing factor to this then you really are unaware and it has nothing to do w/ you being white or even being conservative (but that doesn't help much.) The truth is that fatherlessness has been a problem in the black community for nearly 200 years. This is not new or original. It has not gotten better and in some circles only worse.

I would highly recommend you learning about our shared history and the rates of "fatherlessness" during slavery and then examining what's happening now. It would shed some light on this most complex issue."
--Payshun, I agree that the causes of fatherlessness and irresponsible men are complex (though I'd argue that the data show fatherlessness has increased dramatically recently among black americans). But their effects are actually very simple to understand. A single mother is going to have a very difficult time supporting and raising a family. I wish your sister well.

Re: Hospitality for ‘Ugly Enemies’ (by Brian McLaren)

Jesse — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:45:51 -0000

This reminds me of the protests Sojo celebrated that occurred at Bush's graduation speech at Calvin College. I agree that the Columbia president acted rudely towards M.A. in his introduction. It was inappropriate, because it's not how you should introduce someone you've invited to speak. But to say that the US delegation's exit during M.A.'s UN speech is somehow rude or "inhospitable" is to say that all protests are inhospitable, which is kind of silly.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:05:29 -0000

"Data mean nothing without the history behind them, and in fact you have completely turned things around to make them mean something completely different than reality -- because the "anecdotes" don't support your position."
--I don't understand what you're arguing here. You stated previously that poverty causes illegitimacy rather than vice versa. I gave you data showing that this is untrue. Your anecdote didn't say anything about my position, which is that illegitimacy is one of the major contributors to poverty.

I'd like to think that maybe we're arguing past each other. I strongly believe you need opportunities, too, which is why I support improving education and having economic policies that create jobs. I just also know that illegitimacy is a big problem. Bill Clinton and Marc Morial agree with me. You seem to have a different position than Clinton, Morial, and myself.

"Even so, Clinton knows that "moral reform" isn't the only answer -- that's why he believed in government programs that actually help people effectively (and, in fact, most do)."
--I never said moral reform was the only answer. But you're still ignoring the important point Clinton agrees with me on--that illegitimacy is the biggest domestic problem in the US and (more specifically) among black Americans today.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:51:12 -0000

"Again, jesse, you did no such thing -- you interpreted the data according to your preconceived agenda, and that's why your analysis falls short. Given more exhaustive studies that have been done, it is simply more accurate to say that lack of opportunity will eventually produce illegitimacy (but not directly)."
--I'd be really interested to see these studies. Because history tells us that blacks were given rights and opportunities in 1965, and illegitimacy for whatever reason has skyrocketed since then (from around 20% at the early part of the century to nearly 70% today).

Regardless of the reasons for illegitimacy in the black community today (and I do believe slavery and past oppression were major contributors), it is undoubtedly a major cause of poverty at present. And I have Bill Clinton, Marc Morial, and other liberals on my side. You can argue with them, with social science research, and whomever else.

"However, jesse has offered a thesis, some of us shot it down and he still wants to believe what he says. That's no way to have a conversation."
--Yes, I agree that when I present facts and you present insults, ad hominem attacks, and GBA games, that's no way to have a conversation.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:57:33 -0000

"That's not the issue. As I mentioned, even if illegitimacy were to disappear overnight the problem with black poverty would not disappear."
--No one said it would disappear. We just said it would be substantially reduced if all children were born into two parent homes. To deny this is to deny decades of social science research and to deny the basic math of having another income-earner/nurturer/ disciplinarian around who also happens to be biologically related to your children (and is statistically less likely to abuse them). We're not having an honest conversation if you deny this. Are you??

Again, just in case we're arguing past each other. I believe PAST oppression/lack of opportunity is one of the major contributors to black illegitimacy today, though CURRENT lack of opportunity is only a small contributor. Lack of opportunity may lead to fatherlessness in a minority of cases, though in general illegitimacy and fatherlessness/male abandonment are caused by either one or two people behaving irresponsibly (with sex, with men not taking responsibility for their family, etc.). As far as poverty and illegitimacy goes, the causal relationship is primarily in one direction, with illegitimacy leading to poverty, crime, and many other negative indices. However, the direction of this relationship doesn't have to be completely one way. It is rare that these types of behavioral relationships are 100% uni-directional. It is also helpful, however, to examine the directions in which they are primarily pointing.

Anyways, I think I'm beating a dead horse at this point.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:25:01 -0000

"In saying this, you reinforced one of the points I tried to make earlier. In the 'hood, there are very few, if any, men available who can or will do that, and that has to do with lack of access to educational or economic resources."
--Why, then, did they stick around in the early to mid-20th century, when illegitimacy and fatherlessness rates were low and blacks had far fewer rights and opportunities? It seems that if you are trying to establish the causal relationship in the direction you're proposing (current lack of opportunities causing current fatherlessness), you must explain these historical data. Why do you think fathers were sticking around prior to 1965?

Mind you, as Mick pointed out earlier, the effects of fatherlessness on poverty, crime, etc. are similar for other ethnicities, as well. It comes as no surprise that they would have similar effects among the black community.

Re: Race and the Wealth Gap (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:32:32 -0000

BTW, I apologize to Rick, Payshun, and anyone else here if I was insensitive in any of my previous posts. I am a social science researcher by trade, so I can sometimes become too passionate about data and arguments without being sensitive to others' feelings and life experiences that have shaped their opinions. I realize that when some of my arguments are made, all that some people hear is condemnation. But that is not my intent. I truly believe the problems I am raising are essential to overcome if there is to be substantial progress among black Americans. I also believe that leaders have been neglectful in addressing these problems.

Re: A Prayer for Annapolis (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:08:59 -0000

As tragic as this story is, the only hopeful outcome would be the bomber's mother apologizing on behalf of her murderous daughter, and the Israeli woman accepting her apology.

If Palestinian terrorism ended, peace and a Palestinian state (which most Israelis support) would come. If Israel laid down its weapons, it would be destroyed. That is your realistic narrative.

Re: A Prayer for Annapolis (by Jim Wallis)

Jesse — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:03:45 -0000

Trent,
I think I'd find myself somewhere between optimism and pessimism--and I'd agree that both bear some responsibility, though the proportion of responsibility would definitely vary between the two. I join you in praying for peace in this region.

Re: What Evangelicals Need to Know: More Thoughts on the Beliefnet Roundtable (by Brian McLaren)

Jesse — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:19:32 -0000

I've always found it odd that people supporting the 'pro-gay' interpretation of the Bible cite the story of David and Jonathan as a Biblical message of the acceptability of homosexuality. If David and Jonathan were lovers and that was okay with God, then he would also be fine with adultery, as both men were already married to (and even lusted after) women.

So, if the story of David and Jonathan supports the pro-gay position, then it must also support a pro-adultery position. Are you in favor of adultery, as well?

Re: No Religious Tests (by Diana Butler Bass)

Jesse — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:21:25 -0000

"Huckabee surged because Chuck Norris decreed it."
--So true. I had my doubts about Huckabee before a roundhouse kick to my head brought me to my senses.

Ms. Bass, you are one of the more thoughtful posters on this site, but I have to disagree with you that there is some hard distinction between the pandering in the Sojo 'interviews' and the YouTube debate. The candidates are ALWAYS trying to best each other and they knew they were giving answers that would be made into headlines the next day. These headlines were read by Christians and non-Christians alike.

If you were unimpressed with the answers in the debate, you must be unimpressed with the questions. I see no blame here attributed to CNN.

I was confused by your quote, "Such information is in the realm of freedom of speech." Was there anything in the Youtube debate NOT in the realm of freedom of speech? Anything they said that should be illegal to say?

Re: Voice of the Day: Thomas Merton

Jesse — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:37:43 -0000

"New Seeds of Contemplation"

Re: Guestbook

Jesse — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 09:07:18 -0000

Name: Jesse
From: Phoenix, AZ
E-mail: jesse.munch@pvmail.maricopa.edu

I have been listening to your broadcasting since the very first episodes of SpaceMusic. I feel I need to apologies for never giving you feedback until now while I've been enjoying the most excellent sounds you have been sharing with us. It is a lot of work and obviously takes massive skill to produce such incredible broadcasts! So, THANK YOU, thank you, thank you, for sticking to it and sharing your spirit. I have found new artists to enjoy thanks to your broadcasts, like James Bernard. I look forward to enjoying calmness during work, and being a computer technician I need that. Also, being an artist I find your sounds inspiring in the studio. Did I say thank you?.... Ok, I'll stop... much appreciated. Namaste, Jesse from Phoenix, AZ.

Re: YACHT – Summer Song, It’s Boring/You Can Live Anywhere You Want

Jesse — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:02:49 -0000

Totally agree with the LCD Soundsystem comparison.

Re: 'I Ride My Bike, I Love Nature,' Say Turkish Cyclists

Jesse — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:22:07 -0000

Anonymous is correct.

It should be: I love my bike, I ride nature. ;-)

Re: Need For Speed : All PS3 Themes

Jesse — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:44:44 -0000

55612155

Re: http://www.aeropause.com/2006/08/the-anatomy-of-a-fanboy/

Jesse — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 10:24:09 -0000

LOL I laughed my ass of, so freakin true!

Re: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Announced

Jesse — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:40:51 -0000

I saw Deejay Knight on a gamer spotlight for XBL and i just wanted to say, that this website is amazing. All the news i want about games. Simply amazing Modern Warfare 2 will be amazing. I dont see why they didnt go directly to a Modern Warfare 2 right after COD4 COD World At War is good and all, but not nearly as good as COD4

Re: 10 Ways You Can Use ETFs

Jesse — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:55:34 -0000

I look forward to the newsletter.

Re: Radiohead! Nude! Holy Fuck! Remix!

Jesse — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:36:56 -0000

I love this one!

Its gonna win!

Re: Assignment Tracker [Updated 0650 1/30/07]

Jesse — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:14:15 -0000

go to box.net and login as sylarpage@yahoo.com, password: sylar and there you can see the sylar page if you want to see the pic. I made this account, it has nothing to do with the arg.

Re: 7 Accomplishments of a Month Old Blog

Jesse — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:38:00 -0000

Your blog won't turn to life if you weren't that active in socializing with other blogs. Failing to socialize with other blogs was a mistake I have done. Now, I'm making up with the things that I have missed. :D

Oh yeah, about that problem of yours regarding the 'share this', There's an easy-to-install plugin for wordpress (self-hosted). I'm not sure if there's a social media plugin thing here in blogger.

Re: 7 Accomplishments of a Month Old Blog

Jesse — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:43:00 -0000

Oh yeah, I added you to my Blogroll. :D Cheers!

Re: 2008 Has Left the Building: Happy New Year Folks

Jesse — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:02:00 -0000

Happy New Year Dude! XD

Re: God's Gift To Jessica

Jesse — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:57:00 -0000

If the Lady just listened to God before she got married, chose whoever God destined for her, things should be at its best.

You see, God has someone destined for us. God already chose for us and it's most definitely the best for us. It's only up to us (our freewill) to choose: The best, the better, or the good.

Nice Post!

Re: God's Gift To Jessica

Jesse — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:59:00 -0000

@I am a lover of children's literature:

Lol. Just feed thyself to hobos. Hahahaha: just like the the thing that happened to the guy in the movie 'Perfume'.

Re: The Man Behind The Blog

Jesse — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:16:00 -0000

It's in the author's choice if he/she would reveal his identity; maybe sharing about his/her life, family; or maybe, eventually sharing about the deepest secrets of his/her.

Writing is a form of expression. As writer, you can express your feelings, thoughts, ideas, life, and almost every thing that's related to you and what you know. The more you exercise this form of expression, the more you master the things that are related to what you write. Also, you, maybe unconsciously, are shedding light to the people who reads your blog.

If you tend to write a personal blog, or maybe a blog that is intended to be read by people, you should at least let them see at least a glance of who you are. This is really important for it gives the readers the feeling that someone is running the blog and is not made by some sort of automatic posting software. If you don't want to let them see, even just a little glance like showing them your personality when you write, then I don't recommend making a personal blog or a blog that's intended to be read by people. It would only lead to epic fail.

Remaining anonymous isn't bad. It's just that you just have to show them, even just a little, who you are.

Re: Blog Love Award

Jesse — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:06:00 -0000

Huwaw! Thanks for the award dude! ~XD

Re: Zapping 10 Facebook Friends For A Whopper

Jesse — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:11:00 -0000

If I just at least had 50 friends in facebook, I could have done that, a very long time ago.

Haha. I'd sacrifice my irritating friends who keeps on throwing stones, spamming stuffs, and etc. for the sake of the ever tasty Whopper. LOL. (Well, I could delete up to 100 friends if it's chili's who's doing the 'promo' giving away stakehouse burgers.)

Re: Obama and Other Mind Bogglers

Jesse — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:25:00 -0000

Hahaha! Whata-Mayor. He's being a total ass by saying that to the 'teacher'.

Anyway, Since I've posted a comment here, maybe you won't mind if I ask your opinion:

Do you thing that Racial Discrimination in the US would stop at this point in time having that Obama is the president of their country?

Oh yeah, changed my domain name to:

http://jpanganiban.net/

Cheers!

Re: "Permission To Make Myself Scarce, Sir!"

Jesse — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:58:00 -0000

Man! My brain's still loading.

Re: Aw Shucks – Darren Rowse Killed My Blog

Jesse — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:04:00 -0000

Jan, as early as now, you are already making your name here in the blog sphere. I don't think that the self-hosted WP would be necessary to have your voice heard in more parts of the internetS. You already have this great dictionary of thoughts and insights that I believe is a catalyst to your blogging success.

By the way, you'll get your self-hosted WP blog soon. I assure you that.

More power to you!

(Wow, Nice blog design you have there)

Re: ScribeFire, eh?

Jesse — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 18:24:00 -0000

hmm... nice find - will have to check it out.

Re: Crunching Numbers

Jesse — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 18:31:00 -0000

you and me both man.

we are bad asians...

Re: New Skin

Jesse — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 08:47:00 -0000

oh sooo sexy!

Re: Type A or B?

Jesse — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:22:00 -0000

another new skin?

looking good buddy ;)

Re: Alright, Fine, I’ll Take That.

Jesse — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 03:01:00 -0000

happy birthday buddy!

Re: Aw, son of a BITCH.

Jesse — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:36:00 -0000

hmm that reminds me - ive got a clean install coming up too...

Re: Cutler gets the nod

Jesse — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 18:53:02 -0000

I'm excited to see what Cutler can do. Plummer has already hit his peak and is diminishing game by game. There's not much too lose anyway.

Re: Coaching carousel commences

Jesse — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 01:04:26 -0000

The hiring of Jim Bates has me excited. I think he may be the missing piece to the puzzle on defense. Denver has too much talent to be beaten in the passing game, especially when teams with less well known or talented athletes are allowing more impressive numbers. I bet most people couldnt name the Oakland Raiders secondary, yet defensively they are a strong squad. Something has to give and I believe its defensive philosophy! If players truly "adore" Bates, we may see our talented defense blossom into a powerful defensive force! Anyones thoughts on Denver luring Jason Taylor over to Denver to be reunited with Bates?

Re: http://blog.inc.com/the-eco-capitalist/2008/06/newsweek_target_and_terracycle_1.html

Jesse — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:57:41 -0000

What a great idea for a magazine cover.

Ken - Turning those plastic bags into an attractive reusable cover is a much better option than having them pollute the environment. They already exist so why not have them do something useful?

Re: Little Big Screen

Jesse — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:36:53 -0000

You know if you used "typo":http://typo.leetsoft.com it would slide, right?

Re: Little Big Screen

Jesse — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:37:28 -0000

Wait it, does slide. Very nice. :)

Re: Britney Spears Womanizer Challenge: Go To PopSense.com, Timid Tiger

Jesse — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:07:49 -0000

Woo! I can't believe all of these bands are responding to your call! This is great.

Re: Mick Boogie Presents… Adele: 1988

Jesse — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:37:26 -0000

This is fucking cool! Thank you for the download.

Re: She & Him – I Put a Spell on You

Jesse — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:18:53 -0000

These songs are so good. I definitely liked Bat For Lashes' song better though. The musical arrangements are incredible.

Re: Time To Grow, Cut and Use More Wood

Jesse — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:03:16 -0000

Further thoughts to share in the discussion:

1) In the U.S. salvage logging is exempt from certain environmental laws. Would imagine the same for Canada. Correct me if I'm wrong.

2) "Planting trees for fuel" doesn't seem to make sense unless we go Khmer Rouge style, back to a Little House On The Prairie. But reality tells us that there is not enough forests to sustain such a habit unless we replace indigenous forests with silvaculture. Imagine a whole forest of coppiced stumps, enough to make you sick and long for the virgin landscape it replaced.

3) After the 1973 energy crisis, wood-burning was all the craze, for a while.

4) A boost in the Canadian timber economy will only leave more people out of work when the windfall is gone. Furthermore, prices of Canadian timber will fall. So more Jobs, then less pay, and subsequently less Jobs. A funny succession, I know, but true in a certain perspective.

5) Harvesting timber has become more computerized and mechanized than most people think, requiring one machine & one man to fall a whole hillside. Gone are the notions of "Sometimes a Great Notion" when a man had a chain saw and a house to save from the river.

Re: The Pluses and Minuses of Vinyl

Jesse — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:52:19 -0000

You'll find this interesting...

Although, as a designer, I love to support my local wood window manufacturer, this is worth noting:

Anderson windows now has a new line of composite windows made from sawdust & polymer. I'm not plugging the company, I just think this is very pertinent to the discussion.

http://www.andersenwindows.com/100-series/index.html

Surprisingly, you may not believe, but it is not sloppily molded and there are no ugly corner welds. It has density & rigidity, feels more like fiberglass.

Unfortunately, the Anderson windows have a profile that mocks wood, which I find completely insulting. And a proper assessment of the environment impact of making such composite windows needs further review.

I'm not sure what other kinds of composite windows are out there, but regardless, I think there will be an emergence of new window-sash materials. Vinyl will be a thing of the past - or reserved as replacement windows for historic buildings???.

Re: China Reveals Plans for Green-Colored "Suburb City"

Jesse — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:35:49 -0000

Ha! pretty funny, very clever

Re: 7 Foods Banned in Europe Still Available in the U.S.

Jesse — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:10:33 -0000

In reference to the chicken chlorination point, I think that the author is merely suggesting that Americans should have at least some emotional reaction in regard to how food is processed. It is really a matter of values, and frankly, I think that Americans in general don't care how chicken is washed as long as it's cooked. If this difference in values does indeed exist, then we (Americans) could borrow some courage from the Europeans.

Re: Swine Flu Reveals: What's Bad for the Environment is Bad for Human Health

Jesse — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:02:15 -0000

Smaller pig farms, in general, promote:

Isolated cases of viral outbreaks vs. the pandemic proportions of large industrial sites.

Better treatment to animals.

Natural feed, healthier meat.

Less antibiotics that lead to tougher strains of viruses.

Less distance from farm to table.

Improved way of life for the farmer.

The list goes on and on...

What is the defense of large farms?

"Stop biting off the hand that feeds you."

That is not an argument, that is a demand. It is like saying, we don't want to change our operations so shut up.

And good call by Garrett: there is a difference between confirmed deaths and suspected death attributed to the outbreak. And this distinction must be attached to numbers.

Re: Quote of the Day: How a 'Green House of the Future' Can Impede Environmental Progress

Jesse — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:34:52 -0000

What happened to the planners bible, "A Pattern Language?" How we were swept away with its Utopian message. Like a lonely woman with a romance novel. The hours we spent lying there, dreaming in a meadow somewhere of a holistic way of managing growth and renewal.

The text was put down, almost forgotten.

And now, I propose that it's time to dust if off (again) and (this time) swear to follow is precepts.

We can keep comparing concepts like ecovillage vs. urban renewal, or we can understand that they are one in the same. Part of a holistic system that is better than what we've got.

Re: No Longer Endangered, Gray Wolves to be Hunted by the Hundreds

Jesse — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:08:57 -0000

When you begin your comment to others with "...you people," you are not coming from a place of respect. Then you end with "...the dribble you write..." Again, a lack of respect. In fact, the overall point from the comments of Captain Morgan or Quackkiller is to try to convince us that they are somehow more civilized, well rounded men than the rest of "us urbanites (of which I am not)," simply because they hunt and don't compost.

Re: Would the Human Race Survive a Zombie Attack? Scientists Say it's Unlikely

Jesse — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:17:23 -0000

I'm curious, is the question mark pronounced? Like, do people always have to raise an eyebrow inquiringly and slide the tone of their voice upwards when they say his name?

Re: Canadian Forest Agency Proposes Climate Strategy: 'Sharpen The Chain Saws'

Jesse — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:04:12 -0000

Why the attacks on the author? Is that why you logged in, so that you could get your daily steam off? And that comment about how there is no time to review the matter, the forest needs to come down now, sounds alot like "drill, baby drill!" Scientific reasoning should never ever be circumvented by popular opinion. Let's hope our humble opinions, our intuition, our interests don't decide the fate of Canada's last forests. Like the author said, fear should not drive the climate discussion, and our opinions are latent with fear.

So, by putting our own interests aside, we may find that the solution here is simply: " What is best for the forest?" Is that not the healthiest solution for us? And the whole economic argument: using this beetle phenom as an excuse to stimulate the construction industry and provide housing is simply a moot point, propagated by industry, which itself has no other interest than to reap whatever bounty that has been left unguarded.

Re: World Jump Day is Coming!

Jesse — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 15:59:17 -0000

It's true that you can't effect Earth's orbit by jumping, however, we can change our axis of orbit if everyone in the Western hemisphere runs north and everyone in the Eastern hemisphere runs south at the same time!

As long as people don't need to go back to where they ran from. *shrug*

Re: Cut Your Gas Consumption in Half in One Day

Jesse — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 11:51:18 -0000

Ecotech has changed their address:

http://ecotechhydronics.com/

Re: Green Home Features Passive Cooling & Automation

Jesse — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:19:15 -0000

Wait, this is killing me. I can't take it any more.

This is a 4,500 SF house for THREE people. It has a four car garage. Yeah it has publicly subsidized PV on the roof, but this house is a pig. A pretty pig, but a pig nonetheless.

http://architecturalrecord.com/projects/residential/archives/0609HotM-1.asp

Key quote: "This house was an opportunity for me to practice what I preach,” Heinfeld says of the 4,500-square-foot home he designed for himself, his wife, and their teenage daughter. “It’s hard to sell green if I don’t live it."

I'm an architect myself, and I can't take this crushing wave of monster houses with a thin veneer of bamboo flooring getting passed off as "sustainable". It's not. No matter how you slice it, 4,500 SF to house 3 people is not a sustainable way of living on this planet.

Aargh. This is not a new argument, I know, but this type of house doesn't need any more publicity.

Re: Fight For Your Right... to Dry

Jesse — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:36:13 -0000

Icheck the North Carolina law. The one that ended up passing had the clothesline portion taken out.

Re: Fight For Your Right... to Dry

Jesse — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:36:13 -0000

Icheck the North Carolina law. The one that ended up passing had the clothesline portion taken out.

-----------------------------

author's note: Good call Jesse. The version that passed nixed the specific clothesline language in favor of a ban on "energy devices based on the use of renewable resources." According to the Christian Science Monitor article, Project Laundry List is looking for a test case to make this provision applicable to clotheslines specifically.

Re: License To Car Pool

Jesse — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:55:41 -0000

Even better is the Carpool app on Facebook. There are tons of rides listed and you can see profiles and interact on facebook before sharing a ride. Kind of eliminates the need for the panic button...

Re: Students Protest Lack of LEED

Jesse — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:39:54 -0000

The Ohio State University Extension Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center recently opened and it is the first "green" (currenlty pursuing LEED certification) building on Ohio State's Campus, hopefully the first of many to come. It really is a magnificent building. Here is a link to the website:

http://www.ohio4h.org/<br />
There have been over a dozen new buildings erected in the past two years, with several more under construction. There have been many questions raised as to why only one of them is "green".

Re: Greenwash Watch: 12 Ways Vinyl Siding is Green

Jesse — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:54:24 -0000

Vinyl love: I'm not feeling it, are you (out there)?

I would like to ask Kevin Clive to give one example of an "artificial, green" product that surpassed it's "natural" counterpart in sustainability. I'm not attacking, just trying to open didactic dialogue.

As for vinyl, let's try to analyze the impact: Look at its embodied energy, its extraction source, its pollution trail, its recycleability, its off-gassing, as Lloyd (thanks for standing up) has begun to do. Then make a comparison to metal or wood. I'll admit it may win in performance, but then it fails in most other categories.

But houses aren't race cars, are they? Therefore the term "green" -- when related to the components that clad our intimate places of habitation -- must not exclude the fact that there are real human visceral responses and sensitivities to materials in there context. Our experiences do impact our kids, nature (the thing that keeps us alive and human), and (if you have any) spiritual beliefs.

(Imagine a vinyl-sided church, or better yet, teahouse)

Re: How Much Wood Would A Tree Hugger Burn, If A Tree Hugger Would Burn Wood?

Jesse — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:17:47 -0000

If you burn wood make sure you have a good stove, one with a catalytic converter to cut down on the heavy airborne particles.

The fact that someone is burning 2 cords for the winter, and another, 7, is testament to the need for proper energy design and conservation. If you can't do it yourself, hire somebody - like a passive solar designer or an energy savvy architect.

Re: How Bad Is Taking a Cab to the Airport, Compared to the Flight Itself?

Jesse — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:41:45 -0000

I think some may have missed the point of this article. The idea is that knocking off 1% of your carbon emissions for a trip is hardly measurable progress. Progress sounds more like cutting the amount of trips you take in half. This way you save 50% emissions. Then if you want to do better, then compare the environment impact of Train vs. Plane, and come to an educated decision about which is better. Do this quietly, too, by not insulting those whose opinions you find inferior to yours.

Re: Bright Built Barn is Built, Bright and Beautiful

Jesse — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:37:38 -0000

As to the air conditioning in Maine, we don't need it. We only have 2 hot weeks every year, and most people don't even consider them very hot.

When you are trying for a fossil-fuel free / no combustion building, your energy source is going to be electric, and the best use of electricity is a heat pump. We look at it that we are heating the building with the heat pump, and getting the AC for free...

One of our other goals was that this building be able to be purchased and set in other climates than Maine's. The east mid-atlantic of the US has such high humidity that mechanical dehumidification is tough to be without, and that influenced out design. We wanted this building to travel...

Jesse Thompson

Kaplan Thompson Architects

Portland, ME

Re: Canadian Forest Agency Proposes Climate Strategy: 'Sharpen The Chain Saws'

Jesse — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:04:12 -0000

Re: Time To Grow, Cut and Use More Wood

Jesse — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:03:16 -0000

Further thoughts to share in the discussion:

1) In the U.S. salvage logging is exempt from certain environmental laws. Would imagine the same for Canada. Correct me if I'm wrong.

3) After the 1973 energy crisis, wood-burning was all the craze, for a while.

Re: The Pluses and Minuses of Vinyl

Jesse — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:52:19 -0000

You'll find this interesting...

Although, as a designer, I love to support my local wood window manufacturer, this is worth noting:

Anderson windows now has a new line of composite windows made from sawdust & polymer. I'm not plugging the company, I just think this is very pertinent to the discussion.

http://www.andersenwindows.com/100-series/index... />
Surprisingly, you may not believe, but it is not sloppily molded and there are no ugly corner welds. It has density & rigidity, feels more like fiberglass.

Unfortunately, the Anderson windows have a profile that mocks wood, which I find completely insulting. And a proper assessment of the environment impact of making such composite windows needs further review.

I'm not sure what other kinds of composite windows are out there, but regardless, I think there will be an emergence of new window-sash materials. Vinyl will be a thing of the past - or reserved as replacement windows for historic buildings???.

Re: China Reveals Plans for Green-Colored \"Suburb City\"

Jesse — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:35:49 -0000

Ha! pretty funny, very clever

Re: 7 Foods Banned in Europe Still Available in the U.S.

Jesse — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:10:33 -0000

Re: Swine Flu Reveals: What's Bad for the Environment is Bad for Human Health

Jesse — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:02:15 -0000

What is the defense of large farms?

"Stop biting off the hand that feeds you."

That is not an argument, that is a demand. It is like saying, we don't want to change our operations so shut up.

And good call by Garrett: there is a difference between confirmed deaths and suspected death attributed to the outbreak. And this distinction must be attached to numbers.

Re: Quote of the Day: How a 'Green House of the Future' Can Impede Environmental Progress

Jesse — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:34:52 -0000

The text was put down, almost forgotten.

And now, I propose that it's time to dust if off (again) and (this time) swear to follow is precepts.

We can keep comparing concepts like ecovillage vs. urban renewal, or we can understand that they are one in the same. Part of a holistic system that is better than what we've got.

Re: No Longer Endangered, Gray Wolves to be Hunted by the Hundreds

Jesse — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:08:57 -0000

Re: 'I Ride My Bike, I Love Nature,' Say Turkish Cyclists

Jesse — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:22:07 -0000

Anonymous is correct.

It should be: I love my bike, I ride nature. ;-)

Re: Would the Human Race Survive a Zombie Attack? Scientists Say it's Unlikely

Jesse — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:17:23 -0000

I'm curious, is the question mark pronounced? Like, do people always have to raise an eyebrow inquiringly and slide the tone of their voice upwards when they say his name?

Re: The History of Jobs In America

Jesse — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:43:23 -0000

Any ideas what happened to actors in the 80s? They practically disappeared.

Re: http://robs-blog.crickers.com/2005/10/lexus-navigation-hack.html

Jesse — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 08:58:00 -0000

That sounds like a video game cheat code. Sad they couldn't make it easier, or at least make it an "advanced" menu option to enable it.

Re: http://robs-blog.crickers.com/2005/09/spam.html

Jesse — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 08:39:00 -0000

Turn on word verification:
http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=1203

Helps a lot.

Re: http://www.crimene.ws/2009/07/li-teacher-busted-for-having-sex-with.html

Jesse — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:30:34 -0000

I know Danny and he couldn't be less of a typical LI douche. He is humble, sad and respectful of people (I guess just not of himself or the law) I can't defend him, but he is not some greasy, over-gelled, Gotti-wannabe. I would probably look like a douchebag in my mugshot too.

Re: http://www.crimene.ws/2007/08/joshua-innes-sentenced.html

Jesse — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:54:23 -0000

dude, I could never agree with you on anything cuz there is NO defence for being a pedophile/pervert and obviously you disagree in your distorted and irrational thinking.
i'm done with you dude cuzz you creep me out. seriously...

Re: http://www.crimene.ws/2007/08/joshua-innes-sentenced.html

Jesse — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:37:23 -0000

"When he was arrested, police found 181 pornographic videos on Innes's computer, depicting children as young as two." - Edmonton Journal

hmm... guess this is part of the prank huh??

Re: http://www.crimene.ws/2007/08/joshua-innes-sentenced.html

Jesse — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:00:54 -0000

boo hoo...cry me a river but i KNOW who the victims are in this...

Re: http://www.crimene.ws/2007/08/joshua-innes-sentenced.html

Jesse — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:23:01 -0000

and for those in denial, guess this shit runs in the family...
probably a family thang.

Re: http://www.crimene.ws/2007/08/joshua-innes-sentenced.html

Jesse — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:18:29 -0000

guess it's true, the justice system does benefit the guilty...
anywho, this dudes a pervert/predator and the whole world knows it whether some accept it or not.

Re: http://www.crimene.ws/2007/08/joshua-innes-sentenced.html

Jesse — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:42:56 -0000

umm, guess he found what he was looking for in prison huh??
bet he was "nicky" in there, the perv...
a 26 year perverted man pretending to be a 16 year old girl.... i don't see the prank part of this.

Re: GameDay #35 vs. Braves

Jesse — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:14:00 -0000

Pirates get off to a slow start then turn it on and win. And by the way there will be a crowed though there is a pens game. Last time there were both on friday the stadium was still filled.

Re: GameDay #37 vs. Braves

Jesse — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:06:00 -0000

Pirates win their 6th in a row in walk-off fashion. This will give all the mothers something exciting to watch.

Re: New Player Bio: Andrew Christian LaRoche

Jesse — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:37:00 -0000

Well that and maybe that there is less pressure especially right now

Re: learning

Jesse — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:42:20 -0000

yeah right sure yep uhuh okay sounds good yep sure okay yes great! huh? oh, right. of course. absolutely. um, sure. okay. maybe. right. yes. definitely.

Re: learning

Jesse — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:42:20 -0000

it's fine, i've just been accused of having all of my conversations this way

Re: http://hgamer.blogspot.com/2009/05/24-million-dollar-arsebiscuits.html

Jesse — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:13:00 -0000

Buttcookies?

Re: TWITTER GIVEAWAY: TiVo HD!

Jesse — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:03:11 -0000

In it to win it!

https://twitter.com/JesseJacobsss

Re: http://www.weekinrewind.com/2008/07/dark-knight-movie-review-2008.html

Jesse — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 04:37:00 -0000

As pure entertainment, it fails, though it had some "cool" moments. What's left is a thesis movie. Time and time again, we have characters stating different philosphies on timely subjects, but in the situations they are in, these philosphies and decisions don't make sense to have at that moment. All that is "deep" in this movie is, in one word, "contrived".

Re: Finished in five … again

Jesse — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:16:52 -0000

Carmelo at this point in his carreer is more of a Scottie Pippen type Player. He can be a leader on certain Nights but not day in and day out. We have yet to have a David Robinson, Hakeem Olojuwan Micheal Jordan, Magic Johnson, or Larry Bird type of player.
While we lacked depth on the bench in the playoffs The bench did well before the Allen Iverson trade. The Answer was not the answer and the Coach is the one that assembles the lineups or best chemistry to play against opponents. He is not a big game winning coach. To his credit he is a good coach not a verry good one or a great one. He has been an over achiever since his days in Seattle. He relys on having enough good players around him to make him look good. He has had alot of personal distractions in his life and he just can not figure out how to use His Bench. The players play the final outcome of the game. So yes they are partially to blame. I Say management should be part to blame for not being able to trade for Chauncey Billups who might not be a scoring machine like A.I."The Answer" but the kid from Parkhill has a much better rounded game then A.I. which would better suited for the Nuggets and he would put J.R. Smith in good situations. Think of it; Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith, Carmelo, Camby and Nene the best Power forward Denver has ever had in existance. The people you would have to trade are Allen Iverson and Kenyon Martin Not because they are bad players they just are not the right fit for the Nuggets championship team that everyone wants. Karl is not the right coach for this Nugget championship team that everyone wants.

Re: http://mikalatos.blogspot.com/2006/10/arizona.html

Jesse — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 14:42:00 -0000

lost again
I’ve found my own way; so I thought
learned I’ve learned nothing

searching for meaning
maybe a soulmate
seems I’m wrong just when I though

weren’t you with me holding my hand
you let it go, it seems not
quick to find a soulmate

still now I press on
through dreaming day’s night
with me holding my hand

Re: http://www.thebearbunch.com/2009/07/top-10-reasons-i-am-excited-to-stay.html

Jesse — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:56:41 -0000

Hey, I hope youse guys have a good time next week. Love to all.

Re: Directions

Jesse — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:30:54 -0000

does anyone know approximately how many oranges it takes to make 2 L of orange juice (leaving some room for water)?

Re: Famous

Jesse — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:51:29 -0000

En STOR bild också!
Heja, heja, heja dig och Reza!
Jag vet inte om du kommer slå Mariett...
Men jag hoppas på dig & Reza i finalen.
Men tror det blir Mariett & Reza...!

Re: Tjenaaa

Jesse — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:48:06 -0000

Du var bäst igår och jag röstade på dig 2 gånger!
Du kommer nog att vinna hela Idol 2oo9!!

Hela min familj hejar på dig också!!!!
SCORE :D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Re: http://www.anneoncollege.net/2008/12/link-referral-sites-are-they-effective.html

Jesse — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:16:00 -0000

There's those people who just click and close the cheap way. That's one problem these type of link sites always have. But there are still a lot of users on Link Referral that comment and read over and review blogs. I found your blog through link referral. Most of these programs do take a little time.

But nice blog :)

Re: http://www.anneoncollege.net/2008/12/link-referral-sites-are-they-effective.html

Jesse — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:16:00 -0000