Pedophile pastor shot

The stories of Christian hypocrisy keep getter stranger and stranger here at Deep Thoughts. An associate pastor and bible school teacher who also happens to be a convicted pedophile, was shot and killed by the police.

A 62-year-old convicted pedophile shot and killed while holding a flare gun Wednesday was a Sunday school teacher and assistant pastor at a Central Florida church, police said.

Sheriff's deputies and Orlando police officers were performing surveillance on the man, who was wanted on charges of capital sexual battery on a 7-year-old.

The man, whose name and age were not released, showed up at the house, and deputies moved in, Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said.

Source: Convicted Pedophile Shot, Killed By Deputies Was Bible School Teacher - Orlando News Story - WKMG Orlando

Something tells me this might be an example of street justice.

I'll follow up with the predators name when they release an update.

Technorati tags: Pedophile, clergy sexual abuse, Florida

Is the Ron Paul Revolution over?

Every day I see the Ron Paul Revolution on street corners, on bridges, on lawn placards, on Digg, on youtube, and thanks to the nutball California libertarians, in my email. Now his days are numbered. Thanks to his 4.3% vote total here and in other Super Tuesday states, I think it's over. Somebody wake up the fat lady, it is time for her to sing.

Technorati tags: Ron Paul, 2008 Elections, Politics

I did not waste a vote damit!

I voted Libertarian again. Every time I do it makes me angry. I normally feel like I am wasting a vote. Plus, most of the candidates are either crazy or perennial losers who use their status as candidates to wield power and influence in the halls of Libertarian power (which can be found at the VFW Hall the first Thursday of each month).

These are the California election night results for Libertarian Presidential candidates. Honk if you've heard them mentioned during the past three months.

• Michael P. Jingozian (Lib) 663, 4.6 %
• Bob Jackson (Lib) 1,265 ,9.0 %
• Steve Kubby (Lib) 2,408 ,17.0 %
• Alden Link (Lib) 461, 3.2 %
• John Finan (Lib) 606, 4.2 %
• Barry Hess (Lib) 773, 5.5 %
• Dave Hollist (Lib) 585, 4.1 %
• Daniel Imperato (Lib) 615 ,4.3 %
• Robert Milnes (Lib) 613 ,4.3 %
• George Phillies (Lib) 705, 4.9 %
• Wayne A. Root (Lib) 1,951, 13.8 %
• Christine Smith (Lib) 3,565, 25.1 %

I voted for Christine Smith. Woohoo!

Why did I vote for her? Because of the people I know on the list, she was the least crazy. I doubt she would pass the not crazy snuff test in a public gather, she is typical in her radical approach to libertarianism. The moment she is elected (likely on when hell freezes over), she will embark on policies that the general public will recoil from. Like pushing abortion decisions down to the state level, neutering the power of the federal government, removing the government from public schools, and abolish the income tax. The list goes on.

I share some of her values, but I seem to be alone in understanding that none of them will gain public support if approached from the typical "immediate radical change" perspective my libertarian friends hold so dear. Instead, I suggest slow,incremental changes which moves us in the direction of increased personal liberty and a smaller government. I am often greeted with "man, you are insane!".

I did not waste my vote. I've done much worse. I've wasted 20 years voting for these idiots. And let me tell you, the national candidates seem positively normal when compared to the nutballs who run for local office. I'll post more on that later.

Here's a joke from a meeting I attended. The local party boss was trying to get me to run for office. When I told him I was an Atheist he said that would make me un-electable. Really? you mean the whole Libertarian thing makes me electable?

Technorati tags: Libertarians, Politics, 2008 Election, Third Party, California, Christine Smith

Is Ann Coulter Insane?

I try hard not to notice the sick bitch. She is on my list of conservative who need to fade from the limelight. Her hate filled rhetoric does nothing to help America, and often hurts innocent people. She acts like she is insane. Need further proof?  Her scorched earth policy towards John McCain.

Some Republicans may be rallying around Sen. John McCain as the GOPýs best hope of winning in November, but best-selling author and conservative firebrand Ann Coulter would rather stick to her principles and give up the White House to Hillary than to see the Arizona senator as the White House's new resident.

Source: Newsmax.com - Ann Coulter Vows to Stop 'President McCain

She has principles? I don't believe it for a minute. Coulter and the her fellow right wing conservative nutballs know the republicans have already lost the White House. She's just doing her part to make sure people who do not share her insane values are damaged as much as possible when her power base passes. McCain, if elected, will not put up her brand of hate filled screed. She's running scared. Maybe she will run to Canada?

Technorati tags: Politics, Ann Coulter, 2008 Elections, John McCain

Is Wicca America's fastest growing religion?

I hope not. I really hope not. Wicca is like D&D come to life. It is totally made up. How can this be true?

According to many figures, Wicca is the fastest growing religion in the United States by percentage. With many people attracted to its communion with nature, the number of adherents is doubling about every 30 months, and the following grew from 8,000 in 1990 to 134,000 in 2001. The online store site, unlike some Wiccan shops that are more insular, will provide useful information about this Pagan religion for people looking to learn more. Willow Grove Magickal Shoppe was founded by Anna Maples and Shannon Hansen, both of whom have extensive knowledge of the products from years of studying and practicing Wicca.

Source:  PR-USA.net - Willow Grove Magickal Shoppe Announces Opening of Online Store Selling Items for Wiccan Rituals

Not that I have a problem with Wiccans. They are almost like this generations hippie. Plus they apparently like to bake. How can you dislike tattooed earthy women who like to bake?

Technorati tags: Wicca, Religion, America

More Haggard News

New Life Church Says Haggard's Restoration 'Incomplete'

More than a year after former pastor Ted Haggard resigned from his position at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Haggard has severed his official relationship with the New Life Church Restoration Team. The megachurch said Tuesday Haggard has prematurely ended a "spiritual restoration" process begun when he was fired for sexual misconduct. Haggard was the church's senior founding pastor.

Source: Church Says Haggard's Restoration 'Incomplete' - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver

Reading between the lines, I would guess this means Haggard is still gay. Go figure.

hat tip: This. That. No Other.

Technorati tags: Ted Haggard, New Life Church, Hypocrisy, Gay

Pastors who kill

I guess pastors can kill too. Pastor Robert Lee Adam Reaves stands accused of the murder of Latrece Curtis. She was found dead by the side of the road after being whacked with stick.

Monday, Reaves clad not in a pastor's robe, but a Wake County Jail issued jumpsuit, made his first appearance.

"Based on the circumstances of this situation, I will issue a 'no bond' at this time, you'll be held without bond," said the judge.

Still Reaves is no stranger to being on the other side of the law. He faced a conviction on sex charges while the pastor of a church in South Carolina, charges for financial card theft, motor vehicle theft and fraud.

Source: Pastor denied bond in student's death

How does Reaves lead a church if he's already been up on sex charges while a pastor at another church? Can somebody explain that to me? It just does not make any sense. Where is the much vaulted Christian morality?

A comment from his friend:

"This is not the man that I know and most of us that are involved with him, this is a good man," said Reaves' friend and pastor of Tehillah Church Ministries, Bishop Anthony Slater. This is a shock to all of us. We send our prayers to the family of the victim that something else will come out of this.”

It's called a secret life. It's called a lack of judgment. It's called a lack of discernment. Reaves has a history - what the hell are you good old boys down at the Tehillah Church Ministries doing? Why would you put a man in the ministry if he had already proven himself untrustworthy as a pastor? Let him serve as the pastor of lawn cutting if you must, but keep him away from the women and children.

Technorati tags: Robert Reaves, Murder, Clergy Sexual Abuse

Brad in B&W

I played with the Black and White capabilities of the Nikon D300. I enjoyed some surprisingly good results. My net take off of the 30 pictures I shot today was higher than before. I took 30, deleted 8, adjusted two, and kept the rest as is. I'm starting to get a limited feel for how the D300 works now. Things are looking up.

About this picture. This is my friend Brad Hightower, a former Christian blogger no less. We've known each long enough that he noticed my four month dry spell after I broke my D70. No whe enjoys sitting for portraits (or not).

You can see another shot of my friend Kenny here.

Technorati tags: Photography, D300, B&W

Nutball Alert: Jan David Clark

I had trouble classifying this post. It is clear that Jan David Clark if a nutball. But the incident occurred in Texas. I wanted to throw it into the "Only in Texas" category simply because of the high religiosity rate in Texas. Who knows, It might have had some influence on this horrible crime. You see, Jan David Clark murdered his wife during an exorcism. That makes him a nutball, right?

Jan David Clark, 60, of Odessa, was arrested Friday after authorities went to his home and found Susan Kay Clark's body wrapped in a bed sheet with a cross and sword on top of it.

Dead with a cross and a sword? WTF?

A man accused of killing his wife says he was trying to exorcise a demon from her when the devil entered his body and killed her, cops said.

The devil killed his wife? I thought his wife suffocated?

Susan Kay Clark was apparently not strangled, Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson said of results of a preliminary autopsy that showed she died of suffocation.

In an ominous development, no pillows were found in the bathroom. The devil is wanted for questioning. I understand he lives in Del Rio.

Hat tip: Jersey Speaks

Technorati tags: Jan Clark, Nutballs, Texas, exorcisms

Electrical towers from the freeway

I started the process of learning my new camera today. I shot about 40 pictures. Only this one was interesting. So far I've managed to over expose a dozen shots, blur a few more, and screw up the white balance on a few more. I'm not used to the level of control the D300 offers. Well, more practice is required.

About the photo - I shot this on the 405 freeway near the 605 interchange. On the horizon are the snow covered San Bernardino Mountains. You can't really see them in the photo, but they are visible on the hi res. We can only see the mountains for a month or two in each winter - and even then they remain obscured by smog.

Technorati tags: Photography, D300, Long Beach

Feed the Muse: sculptor Jennifer Maestre

I have got to ge me one of these! Jennifer Maestre does amazing work in pencils. Seeing her work reminds me of the feeling I get when Isee a talented photographers work. You know the feeling  - the "how did they do that" feeling that makes one feel like they have no talent at all.

I can barely write with a pencil.

Technorati tags: Art, Sculpture, Jennifer Maestre

My new camera has arrived

I picked up my new Nikon D300 this morning. This is one of two shots I took while picking up lunch today. I used default settings. The solid thunk sound of the shutter gave me shivers. This is a nice camera.

About the picture - yes, it is spring already here in Southern California. Flowers are blooming all over.  I took this in front of the Panda Inn in La Palma. Winter lasts a month, Spring lasts until July, and Summer lasts until late October. If there were not so many people here, it would be paradise.

Technorati tags: Photography, Flowers, Spring, Los Angeles

Out of the mouth of a pre-teen

Sometimes my sons make me so proud I could burst. I have two sons. One is an adult and already making his way in the world. My other son is 12 and still very much the focus of my life. I know he will slip away once he hits his teens, so for now I savor every moment.

Last week my youngest son was working on a school project about the history of the Arabian Peninsula. This project was a big deal to him and would count for a large part of his grade in history. During the final assembly of the paper, he was stressing over including the required pictures. I asked him what the problem was, and he replied that he had forgotten to include some of the pictures, including one of Mohamed. I told him that Muslims would be offended a graphical depiction of Mohamed. My older son was standing next to me at the time, he echoed my concern. My younger son tossed me a "oh dad" look and replied "We'll, I'm not a Muslim so why should it matter?"

That's my boy!

Technorati tags: Deep Thoughts, Islam

Put the camera down Mr. Brown

Mr. Brown, that would be Pastor Richard Brown, stands accused of taking inappropriate photos of two minor brothers as well as abusing them in other unsavory ways.

Mr. Brown is charged with four counts of child endangering and two counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. If convicted on all charges, Mr. Brown faces a maximum of 28 years in prison.

Source: toledoblade.com -- Ex-pastor's trial slated in child-endangering case

Mr. Brown was also a Toledo Board of Education candidate. He withdrew his name after the scandal broke.

Brown was a Baptist youth pastor. I don't even want to know what he did to those poor brothers.

Technorati tags: Pedophiles, pedophilia, child abuse, sexual abuse, clergy sexual abuse, Richard Brown

Pedophile pastor pleads guilty

Youth Pastor Paul D. Glover pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, repeatedly, over a two-year period.  Glover found the girl in the youth group he managed as part of his responsibilities as youth pastor at the Church of Christ in Washington Township. Lack of oversight and accountability seems the watchword here.

It seems pastor Glover is on his way to about 5 years of ass rape. I don't know if the punishment fits the crime, but it is poetic justice. Just remember, big boys don't cry pastor Glover, they take their punishment like a man. After a while, I hear you'll start to like it. Ouch.

Technorati tags: Pedophiles, pedophilia, child abuse, sexual abuse, clergy sexual abuse, Paul Glover