The Nevillians Are Coming! The Nevillians Are Coming!

In 1938, Neville Chamberlain returned from a trip to Germany where he met with then German chancellor Adolf Hitler. He had negotiated a treaty, signed by both parties, promising "peace in our time." Europeans were wary (and weary) of war, having suffered greatly during World War I. In return for surrendering part of Czechoslovakia to Germany, allowing German military forces to seize control of the country, Germany promised not to wage war in Europe.

It has been said that those who do not know or remember history are doomed to repeat it. It is one thing to initiate war in a foreign country when such actions are not deemed to be just, honorable, and absolutely required to continue our way of life. It is another to capitulate entirely to a thought process which effectively distorts truth. This is what happened in Europe in 1938, where people foolishly believed war had been averted, that Germany would not break it's "promises," and this is what is happening today.

Actions speak louder than words. A movement is underway within the Islamic world, where kidnapping, torture, the mass killing of innocents, and blatent lying are all acceptable in order to initiate revolution and bring about implementation of Islamic theocracies. These actions are also practiced by our own government on a limited basis, for other means.

Additionally, an invasion is underway even as this article is written. Although not the blitzkreig attacks used by the German Army in seizing territory, it is effective just the same. The weapons these invaders use are not guns, rifles and tanks, but sheer numbers of people. I am speaking of the invasion of the United States by Mexico, where 10 percent of Mexico's population now abides within the boundaries of the United States. The Mexican government actively supports not only these invaders who enter our country illegally, but also supports the efforts of drug smugglers who poison our citizens with illegal, addictive chemicals. All in the name of money.

The Democratic party, seeking voters and support, sees this as a new source of retaining and maintaining power. They are against closing our borders. The Republican party is no better, spending vast sums of money in fruitless, materialistic, governmental endeavors, oblivious to all.

Control. Money. Power. Themes which have invisible, spiritual roots. Large sections of differing societies involved in wide movements. It's a little bit like the book Dune come to life. Truth is in the eye of the beholder. Yes, I am worried about our country changing. I am worried about actions in the world over which I have no control. Yet I have this assurance: God is in control. This does not mean I close my eyes and wallow blindly along with the masses. Rather, I speak what I see. I seek wisdom and spiritual discernment, for therein lies understanding. The spiritual roots of the above themes do have an origin: the enemy of all mankind.

Dear God, This morning I come to you humbly, for I am concerned. Forgive my lack of faith. I lack understanding. I feel a bit like a lone individual, attempting to swat the wind. I pray for Your will to be done on Earth. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Help us in our weakness. Help us to seek You, to know and love You. Have mercy on us all, oh Lord. Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. Amen.

G.Houtchens
armchair coach
amateur historian

Do You Have an Answer?

King James
1 Peter 3:15: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

Living Bible
1 Peter 3:15: Quietly trust yourself to Christ the Lord and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.

New American Standard
1 Peter 3:15: But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

The following conversation took place shortly after a prayer meeting I attended within a computer game called 2nd Life. Someone came into the church, and asked as we were praying, "Why is God invisible? Why does He not walk the Earth?"

There was a pause, and I asked "To whom are you addressing your question?"

He replied, "Anyone who can answer."

I sent him a tell and told him that I would be willing to discuss the question with him after the meeting was over. Truly, it is not often that strangers wander into churches in the midst of a service and ask such questions. I see cause behind this. The following conversation then took place at a beachfront house of a friend who has given me access to use it. I have edited the transcript for spelling and grammatical purposes (and I take liberties with the grammar, as much of the conversation used phrases instead of complete sentences.) I do not publish this account as one who has arrived; by any means, I am the least of His servants. Rather, I do so as an example, that others may see and glorify God. [Note: I have substituted the names of the persons mentioned in the article, as I do not have permission to use their names.]

[12:49] Ken: Well hello.
[12:49] You: Hi
[12:49] You: I dont see you hehe
[12:49] Ken: Look behind.
[12:49] You: Ah
[12:50] You: There you are
[12:50] Ken: Indeed.
[12:50] You: You ask an excellent question
[12:50] Ken: Thank you. Most replies to such a question are anger towards me.
[12:50] You: Basically, it went something like this- why can't we see God, why does He not walk the Earth?
[12:50] Ken: No. I do not believe so, for we do not truly know what he wishes.
[12:51] Ken: Err.
[12:51] Ken: I apologize. Multiple conversations. Seems that focusing is difficult.
[12:51] Ken: Continue.
[12:51] You: You are correct in that we do not perfectly understand God
[12:51] You: I am a science teacher
[12:52] You: One of the things I teach my students is to question
[12:52] Ken: Interesting.
[12:52] You: One of the things we study is DNA, what it is and how it works
[12:52] You: Its incredibly complex
[12:52] You: There is, within all living things, what I call "a spark of life"
[12:53] You: Its part of how we define what is alive
[12:53] You: Consuming food, producing waste, exchanging gases, reproducing, etc
[12:53] Ken: Ah. Makes sense so far.
[12:54] You: Well, there is a section of scripture that addresses your very question ( I don't know where it is, but I know Paul said it)
[12:54] You: and it addresses my ideas about living things too
[12:55] You: it goes something like this (very loose paraphrase)
[12:55] You: The evidence of God is all about you, in His creation
[12:55] You: (in other words, it is a reflection of His workmanship)
[12:56] You: The trees grow and move, very slowly as they do
[12:56] Ken: Hm.
[12:56] You: In other words, life itself is evidence of God
[12:56] You: It is through His spirit that all things have life
[12:57] You: and there is another life I might tell you about if you are willing
[12:57] You: to hear about it
[12:57] Ken: Of course. Knowledge is always accepted.
[12:57] You: =) well said!
[12:58] You: I wish you were one of my students!
[Although in retrospect, I would have preferred the wording, Knowledge is always questioned. However, his meaning was, the acquisition of knowledge is something to be pursued]
[12:58] You: There is a book that changed my view about things- not the bible, although that did too
[12:58] You: it was written by an atheist
[12:59] You: a college art professor
[12:59] You: He died, in a hospital in France, waiting to have an operation for a burst appendix
[12:59] You: (although now that I think about it, it may have been a ruptured colon)
[13:00] You: In any event, he had an afterlife experience
[13:00] You: and he met Jesus and asked all the questions you are asking
[13:00] Ken: And he said?
[13:00] You: May I recommend to you the book,
[13:00] Ken: Certainly.
[13:00] You: Hehe
[13:01] You: Oh gee, I am having a senior moment- lemme think
[13:01] You: Hehe
[13:01] You: Ok, I have to look it up- one sec
[13:03] You: My Decent into Death: A Second Chance at Life by Howard K. Storm
[13:03] Ken: Alright, I shall write that down. One moment.,.
[13:03] You: You can get it used from amazon.com for pretty cheap
[13:04] You: It is the Christians premise that there is an invisible spiritual life that comes alive
[13:04] You: when one believes in God, and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus
[13:04] You: I would be first to agree with you that the hypocracy found in religion is disdainful
[13:04] You: as well as the judgment of some who profess to follow Christ
[13:05] Ken: Indeed. Though I question if my beliefs would be accepted in society.
[13:05] You: I do know one thing however, my life has never been the same since I accepted and believed in Him
[13:06] Ken: Indeed. My beliefs are similar, though different...
[13:06] You: It is in this hope that I place my trust, that He died for me, in obedience to God's will in becoming a sacrifice for the entire world
[13:07] You: I have found that in my studies of life, and how all living things are related
[13:07] You: That this affirms my faith, for example:
[13:07] You: The dog who was separated from his family who moved away across the continent
[13:07] Ken: Hm. Connection does make sense.
[13:08] You: How can this dog travel 1,00s of miles
[13:08] You: er 1,000's
[13:08] You: to rejoin his family whom he loves, and who loves him?
[13:08] You: The answer is that there is a spiritual component to life
[13:08] You: an unseen part
[13:08] Ken: A soul?
[13:09] You: that goes ignored by many in their own intelligence
[13:09] You: A spirit
[13:09] You: It is this spiritual part that can connect with God
[13:09] You: and this connection is made by faith
[13:10] You: This is what we were doing in the upstairs room
[13:10] You: Praying
[13:10] You: For those who have loved ones who are sick or who have died
[13:10] You: or any other matter where we do not know the entire truth of matters, but God does
[13:11] You: I hope that my answer has met some of your expectations
[13:12] You: I am not here to spew Christian doctrine and dogma at you
[13:12] Ken: Indeed.
[13:12] You: Rather, I would let you know that there are some Christians who accept without judgment
[13:12] Ken: It has, though your friend Lance is quite the conversationalist.
[13:13] You: I am new to 2nd Life, having only been here 1 week
[13:13] You: and I am familiar with Lance, although I have not spoken with him much
[13:14] Ken: I am new as well.
[13:14] Ken: Though more so than you.
[13:14] You: You will find answers to your questions in that book, some of which may seem to contradict what Christians teach
[13:14] Ken: Of course they do.
[13:15] Ken: Ignorance can contradict. Only a book written by God would be correct to all.
[13:15] You: Jesus contradicted many of the pharisees (religious leaders) when he was on Earth, and he earned their anger for doing so
[13:15] Ken: Thank you for the conversation. It was enlightening.
[13:15] You: I am glad that you found my answers acceptable
[13:16] You have offered friendship to Ken
[13:16] Ken is Online
[13:16] Ken: Perhaps we can continue in the future. Though I am going to continue speaking with Lance.
[13:16] You: May I ask where you are from? I am in Atlanta, Georgia
[13:16] Ken: Canada. No, we don't live in two-story igloos.
[13:17] You: Hehe Happy Canada Day, btw, eh?
[13:17] Ken: Indeed it is. Thank you.
[13:17] You: Okay - take care

Obama Does Not Get It

[Above: Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, speaks at a campaign stop in New York, Friday June 22, 2007.]

Sen. Barack Obama told a church convention Saturday that some right-wing evangelical leaders have exploited and politicized religious beliefs in an effort to sow division. "Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart," the Democratic presidential candidate said in a 30-minute speech before the national meeting of the United Church of Christ."Faith got hijacked, partly because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, all too eager to exploit what divides us," the Illinois senator said. "At every opportunity, they've told evangelical Christians that Democrats disrespect their values and dislike their church...."

I know of someone else who divided a lot of people in his time. His name was Jesus of Nazareth. Our faith is based on scripture, for faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Scripture discusses pagan societies that sacrificed newborn babies to their gods. Man looks at the outer appearance, but God judges the heart. Do you know what this means, Mr. Obama? It means that I doubt God makes a distinction between helpless newborn babies being thrown into the fire and unborn babies being butchered in abominable ways. With our tax dollars, without our consent.

Evil triumphs when good men do nothing. I cannot help but speak out against this atrocity that our country has embraced. Which is more disrespectful- to push a national agenda of infanticide, or to speak truth?

There is one God, He is Holy, there is one Lord over everything. There is one king. He is Jesus, king of glory, strong and mighty. He said "In as much as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me." Think about it.

Dear Jesus, I am upset this morning. It is not just abortion that condems us, but my own sin. My sin. My sin put you on the cross, yet I regard it so flippantly. I rant about societies ills, but ignore my own. Please forgive me and cleanse me. Here is my sin. Please take it from me in my weakness and help me to see clearly. Please help me, a spoiled rich man. I can do nothing on my own. Awaken your Spirit within me. I love you. Glenn

Spore Part One

Ok, I have been wanting to write about this for a while, but have put it off until now. The subject today is an up-and-coming release from Will Wright, creator of The Sims, Sim City, Civilization and various other simulation type games. He is quite famous in gaming circles and his products have moved the industry and made billions. [Above: Will Wright demonstrating Spore, which is under development]

The name of the game is called Spore. You begin the game as- get this- a microbe. A small bacteria swimming (or drifting) in the water trying to find a way to survive. As you travel, you happen upon certain different types of food source, which can help in different ways. You also have to try to avoid getting eaten. Some rare foods include ways of making your cellular structure more complex. There are choices involved here. Do I make myself more resistant to predators with an improved cell wall? Do I give myself a better means of locomotion? Do I obtain a better method of acquiring food? Do I increase the complexity of my DNA? This is simple evolution of a sorts, and is part of what makes it so fascinating to me as a science teacher. Additionally, all graphic animations are magnificently detailed and are drawn by the computer procedurally. In other words, as you play the environment is instantly developed and maintained by the computer with no lag.

Eventually, your little critter becomes a protist, a slightly larger creature which resembles a tiny dot swimming in a glass of pond water. Here, one can manipulate genes (obtained from the last growth phase) in order to purchase certain body types. Then the next phase of the game begins, this time with your customized little "swimmie," once again evading predators and trying to find food and obtain genetics which will allow it to mutate and adapt even more. At each stage in this process, more choices are made. Should I spend my development points on better brainpower? (A swimming brain is nice, but its kind of hard to survive when you can't move well, have no defenses, and no way of attacking food which now has developed ways of avoiding you.) One has to consider the payoffs and drawbacks in designing their creature.

After this phase is complete (and you have proven yourself successful at surviving in the environment) your little creature develops a backbone, and then it gets interesting. The mutation screen allows you to play with your creature as if it was a combination of Play Doh and Mr. Potatohead. There are all kinds of eyes, ears, legs, arms, tails, noses, grasping appendages, methods of eating, stingers, etc. Each is sizable, mutatable, rotatable and can go on any part of the body you want. You can put eyes in the back of its head and have its nose located directly over its rear end. You can have 1, 2, 3, 4 - heck even 12 legs. Each of these things costs points, but the great thing about it is that based on the number of legs and the spinal configuration, these creatures are brought to life by the computer and they move in the manner in which you designed their body. Make a one legged armadillo, for example. Because it hops to move, and cannot move fast, the only way it can protect itself is to spin and drill itself into the ground.

However, you don't have to leave the water. You can develop a race of giant, talking underwater squid, like the aliens from The Simpsons. More about that next time though. In the meanwhile, here's some video goodness from Will Wrights Spore presentation at E3, for those of you with high speed internet. Enjoy. (approx 35 minutes)

Spore Part Two

Eventually, one enters a tribal phase where your successful species will interact in group settings [see above.] More complex social interactions are available for purchase, such as religion, the ability to produce music or fire, and various other cultural landmarks. Other cultures of different organisms will be in competition with your own. They have will different physical and cultural characteristics. And always, there will be predators that can eat you if you should stray too far from home, where group protection is afforded.

Cities become available, and the game changes again as societies compete for conquest or survival. This is all one game, mind you.

Eventually, inter-stellar travel is developed and one can visit other worlds in other solar systems where players from around the world have uploaded their worlds and their creatures!

Spore was supposed to be released on October 1st, 2007. I was counting down the months from Christmas of 2006. In April though, as often happens in the gaming industry, the release date was bumped all the way to April of 2008. This was to effectively remove computer bugs and glitches and to put finishing touches on the game. So often, companies will push product out the door in order to recoup the tremendous investment they have made developing a game. Although I am personally dissappointed by this, I realize that Wright chose to do this so that he would not have to say, "Well, we wanted to implement this feature into the game, but did not have time to get it in before publication."

Now I am counting down the months until next year, when Spore gets released, and I will be able to populate an entire planet with clones of Sherilyn Fenn. It's all about creativity, which in my book translates into fun!

Here's more video embedded goodness =) (18 minutes)

I Am Not a Number

In 1966, there was a show that questioned the thinking of society. It was the first show to challenge the idea that the government is always on the side of the people it represents. Not only that, it suggested that it is the government's will to subjugate, depersonalize and supress the identity of the individual. Such ideas were unheard of in 1966. We never learn the name of the protagonist (hero) for the entire run of the show. He is always referred to as the number assigned to him by his captors, Number Six.

It is the story of a secret agent, a british spy, who decides to resign and go on a long and well deserved vacation. Spies have valuable information. The government does not want that information falling into the wrong hands. So they abduct him and hold him prisoner in a bizarre, nightmarish village resort of sorts, one that he can not leave. The populace there are subject to periodic psychological tortures until they cave and give their abductors the information they desire. Number Six calls these sheepish citizens of the Village "rotten cabbages." They have no will. No desire. No individuality.

By contrast, Number Six is vibrant. Alive. Unwavering and unwilling to submit to the system. "I will not make any deals with you. I've resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own. I resign." His rebellion against this system is re-affirmed in each show's opening theme:

"Where am I?"
"In the Village."
"What do you want?"
"Information."
"Whose side are you on?"
"That would be telling....
We want information.
Information!
INFORMATION!" (Some fans hear "In formation!")
"You won't get it."
"By hook or by crook, we will."
"Who are you?"
"The new Number Two."
"Who is Number One?"
"You are Number Six."(May be an answer - You are, Number Six)
"I am not a number — I am a free man!"
(Laughter from Number Two.)

Note the double meanings. Explanations are not forthcoming. Much of the appeal arises from unanswered questions, character intrigue, excellent pacing and compelling scriptwriting, not to mention the acting. In one episode, not one line of dialog is uttered for the first 23 minutes of the show. This is not the meaningless, blathering idiocy that one receives from "24," where each ticking second of the clock I wait with baited breath for Jack Bauer to get blown up. 24 reminds me of a show designed and scripted for ADHD coffee addicts. Three split screens of non stop action. [gag] Not that there's anything wrong with that. I actually care about the lead character in this series because I understand and empathize with him.

The show was called "The Prisoner," and it was the brainchild of Patrick McGoohan (who some of you may know as King Edward the Longshanks from Mel Gibson's Braveheart.) McGoohan had complete artistic control over his show as creator and lead star, and the budget for the show was greater than for any other show in its day, approximately $200,000 per episode. (Compare with Star Trek, with a budget of $150,000 per episode in 1969, including special effects.) Such opportunity is exceedingly rare.

In my own not-so-humble opinion, "The Prisoner" is even more meaningful and apt today. We are taxed by our social security numbers. Nearly everything we buy is numbered for inventory purposes, and if we use plastic, a record of what we bought, when and where is recorded and stored somewhere. Every number we call. Every account we have. School numbers. Employee numbers. Utility ID numbers. Car tags, license numbers and VIN's. Don't believe me? Run for political office somewhere and watch what happens. I have a freind that used to be involved in political campaigning, and he left when he discovered what dirty, crooked business is done in order to obtain "power."

Big brother is watching. Can ya hear me, ya bastards? I admire Number Six for his intelligence in observing this pattern and his bravery to stand up against what is wrong. By the way, for those of you who are government agents keeping tabs on me through my writings, I have found the buffet at Golden Corral to be particularly good.

Thanks to Mom for getting me the series for my birthday =).

Linkage goodness:
http://www.theprisoneronline.com/
http://mcgoohan.ytmnd.com/

Simon Cowell vs. Chef Gordon Ramsey

Sorry for my lack of posts- I am on summer vacation. To whet your appetite for more thoughts from my unusual brain, I decided a post on two tv reality villains would be in order [if you will pardon the puns.] What would happen if two of the most difficult of critics, Chef Gordon Ramsey and Simon Cowell were to meet and become critical of one another? Read on, dear reader, to discover what happens!


Chef Gordon Ramsey: Well, I can't believe we're on the same stage, here at Hell's Kitchen.

Simon Cowell: You belong nowhere near a stage.

Chef Ramsey: What???

Simon: Perhaps your simple mind cannot comprehend honesty. I said....

Chef Ramsey: [turning bright red] Oh, I HEARD what you said, I just can't believe it. What gives you, a gibbering, simpering...

Simon: You not only have no talent, you have negative talent. They should ship you to Iraq to feed the troops. Better yet, perhaps the local McDonalds has an opening.

Chef Ramsey: [Sneering] You little... tart! You're not even that, you're a pop tart! A pasty, bleached, artificially flavoured, [sic] chemically-filled, vacuous IDIOT!

Simon: [Smiling] The truth hurts, doesn't it?

Chef Ramsey: [Face contorting in anger] No one... has ever... used those words to me beforeinmyownkitchen. Sous Chefs! Get out here! We have someone to eject from Hell's Kitchen. Simon, give me your jacket.

[The sous chefs come out and stand behind Simon Cowell.]
Simon: You see... Gordon... or shall I call you Gordo? Perhaps Clamsee or Clumsee might be a more fitting term, hehe. Your sous chefs know which show has the higher ratings. I hired them earlier today to be my personal attendants, and tripled thier pay. The networks love me, the people hate me. That gives ME the power.

Chef Ramsey: I see the game you're playing Cowell. [Ramsey throws a knowing look at his sous chefs.] Well, then, I really don't mind doing what I am about to do. You know, Cowell, they don't call this Hell's Kitchen for nothing.

Cowell: [looking smug in his chair] Puh-lease, Clumsey. You're washed up. A joke. You are a cheap rip-off of... [Simon pauses as the sous chefs move around to stand behind Chef Ramsey.]

Chef Ramsey: [Smirking] Remember all those really BAD auditions you had to give? Don't bother getting up, you'll find you are quite incapable of doing so.

Cowell: What? What? What's happening? I CAN'T GET UP!

Chef Ramsey: Well, they are all back. All the bad ones that is. They are here to audition for you over and over again.

Cowell: You have super glue in my seat? Ok, ok I give! The joke is over!

Chef Ramsey: Oh, not quite. [A queue or line begins to form along the side of the dining area. A spotlight appears on a small side stage off to the side of the dining room.] Chefs! It's time to open Hell's Kitchen! [Two teams of chefs, a red team and a blue team line up in the kitchen.]

Contestant: Here is my song for you: [singing, badly would be an understatement] Micheal, row your boat ashore... halleluiegh....

Cowell: [shouting] No! No! No! This can't be happening!

Chef Ramsey: Not only that, but all the food that does not pass my quality inspection; the underdone meats, the burnt vegetables, the overly salted and cold, mushy, gritty, and pasty dishes that my inadequate chefs prepare- it's all coming straight to your table! Jacques! See to it that our customer receives and consumes all of our rejected food.

Matre' D Jacques: Yes, Chef!

Contestant: Michael, row, your boat ashore....

Cowell: You can't do this to me!

Chef Ramsey: Oh, well, I DID give you a chance to leave, didn't I? Pity....

Theme song from Hell's Kitchen: FIH-YAH! Woo woo woo wooo wooo woo! FIH-YAH! .....