Month: September 2007

Two Politicians and the Bible

From New York Times Blog:

In the final moments of the Democratic presidential debate here last night, after nearly two hours of wading through their differences on Iraq, health care, tax policy and a variety of other weighty matters, the candidates were asked a crisp question: What is your favorite Bible verse?

Two answers intrigue me . . . .

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton:

“The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I think that’s a good rule for politics, too.”

I wonder how many Clinton targets from over the years are looking a little bug-eyed at that one.

Representative Dennis Kucinich:

“Prayer from St. Francis, which says, ‘Lord make me an instrument of your peace.’ ”

That’s a Bible verse?!

HT: WorldMagBlog

Axis of Cement

First, there’s the dust-up involving Israeli planes and Syrian targets:

“Operation Orchard” came three days after a North Korean ship docked at a Syrian port, officially carrying cement.

Now we have this involving Iran and Venezuela:

Iran and Venezuela cemented an alliance aimed at countering the United States….

Here cement, there cement, everywhere cement.

If Syria got “cement” from North Korea, and got a subsequent visit from the Israelis . . . .

And if Iran got “cement” from Venezuela, will the Israelis pop in for a bit there also?

But maybe I’ve getting my cements all mixed up.

NASA Aims

Everybody take cover!

No, no, I don’t really mean that.

Here’s the full headline:

NASA aims to put man on Mars by 2037:

NASA aims to put a man on Mars by 2037, the administrator of the US space agency indicated here Monday.

Ahoy, NASA! Please aim for 2017. That gives you a whole ten years. And if you miss by ten years, you’d still be ten years ahead of the above schedule.

Besides, in 2037 I would be 78, if I’m still here. I’d rather be younger.

I think.

Rush. My Brother?

Early in the second hour of today’s show, Rush Limbaugh self-identified (sorta in passing) himself as a Christian.

I found that interesting. Very interesting, in fact.

I don’t suppose that’s his first such proclamation.

I just don’t recall hearing him say it that plainly before.

Rush, I’m sure you don’t read this blog, but I’ve got a question anyway:

What makes you a Christian?

Oh, I discovered I have a second question:

Are you known as a Christian by your fruits?

For the record, the questions are just as applicable to me.

My Computer, My Personal?

Microsoft updates Windows without users’ consent

Microsoft has begun patching files on Windows XP and Vista without users’ knowledge, even when the users have turned off auto-updates.

[…]

In recent days, Windows Update (WU) started altering files on users’ systems without displaying any dialog box to request permission. The only files that have been reportedly altered to date are nine small executables on XP and nine on Vista that are used by WU itself. Microsoft is patching these files silently, even if auto-updates have been disabled on a particular PC.

It’s surprising that these files can be changed without the user’s knowledge. The Automatic Updates dialog box in the Control Panel can be set to prevent updates from being installed automatically. However, with Microsoft’s latest stealth move, updates to the WU executables seem to be installed regardless of the settings — without notifying users.

When users launch Windows Update, Microsoft’s online service can check the version of its executables on the PC and update them if necessary. What’s unusual is that people are reporting changes in these files although WU wasn’t authorized to install anything.

If my personal computer is that accessible to Microsoft for this particular purpose, how accessible is it to them for other purposes?

And how accessible to others for other purposes?

How about your personal computer?

Important Lesson: Beware of the personal stuff you keep on your personal computer — it all may not be so personal and private as we may have assumed.

By the way, should McAfee protect me from such unauthorized intrusions as Microsoft’s?

Above all, love God!