Just how dumb are people?

Book cover via Amazon

I was standing in line at Borders today when I noticed Archangel Oracle Cards on display for sale in the impulse buy section.  I read the box.

Archangels are very powerful, wise, and loving guides who can motivate and heal you in miraculous ways. This deck of 45 oracle cards by Doreen Virtue will familiarize you with the 15 archangels, give you messages from them, help you to invoke them, and answer some your important life questions. You'll learn how to give an accurate archangel reading for yourself and others with the help of the enclosed guidebook.

What kind of person would by this complete crap?

Technorati tags: Religion, Tarot

Frugal Hobbies

Image by mojoey via Flickr

I am a frugal man. My hobbies (except for photography) are inexpensive by design. I like to do things the are enjoyable, inexpensive, and if possible, get me outside with my dog or my family. I am always on the lookout for new things to experience, especially new things that do not cost a bunch of money.

I found a list of frugal hobbies which I would like to pass on.

Of the ten hobbies listed, I enjoy eight:

• Reading
• Bird Watching
• Hiking
• Geocaching
• Disc Golf
• Card Games (although this can be expensive)
• Basketball
• Blogging

The list misses a few obvious things, like visiting museums, photowalking, and participating socially via  meetup.com. I am sure there are other ideas. What do you do?

My favorite hobby is disc golf. I'm a avid disc golfer. I love the sport. A disc costs about $10, and they last for years.

Disc golf It is a good source of exercise, and hard enough that you must try hard to reduce your score. I played a +2 this morning. When I started playing a few years back, my score was closer to +20.

Technorati tags: Disc Golf, Hobbies

I saw something odd this morning

Today was a typical Sunday for me. I woke up before sunrise. I walked my dog, ate breakfast, and then headed to the park for a round of disc golf with my friend Brad. While driving to the park, I transitioned from Orangethorpe to the 91 freeway. I happened to noticed a man with an  armful of political yard signs. I mistakenly thought he was collecting old signs for disposal now that election is history. Later, when I exited the freeway on my way home, I realized the man had been  planting new signs. There were a half a dozen fresh "Support Prop 8" signs planted at my exit. The signs did not last long. A concerned citizen removed them.

I have a feeling that this battle will be long and hard.

Technorati tags: Prop 8, Gary Rights

Baptist pastor arrested for "fill in the blank"

I write this type of post so often I have a template for it.

Daniel J. Lowhorn, a Baptist pastor at Midway Baptist Church in Tennessee stands charged with 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors.

Reportedly, the alleged offenses were committed via the Internet, and computers were seized yesterday at Lowhorn's home when McCullough, TBI agents, and Putnam Sheriff's Detectives Shane Higgenbotham and Jimmy Patterson executed a search warrant there.

McCullough said the charges against Lowhorn are as follows: two counts of solicitation of a minor; 10 counts of solicitation of a minor to observe sexual conduct; one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor; and one count of attempted especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

Source: Herald-Citizen Online Edition - Cookeville, TN

The alleged crimes were committed via computer. Lowhorn was caught by a female law enforcement agent posing as a young girl. I do not know why people think using their computers on the Internet is anonymous. To people in the know, you stand out like a well lighted billboard.

I found this story on Onanite.

Technorati tags: Daniel Lowhorn, Baptists, Baptist Pedophiles, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Internet Predators, Tennessee

Pastor accused of child molestation

A long time Vietnamese pastor has been arrested for allegedly molesting a young female relative.

A San Jose pastor is under arrest for allegedly molesting a female relative starting at the age of 10.

Fifty-one-year-old Minh Van Nguyen is the senior pastor at the First Vietnamese Alliance Church. He's been held without bail since his arrest on Oct. 2.

The alleged victim, who's now 22, told investigators that the abuse happened over a four-year period at a location away from the church.

Source: San Jose pastor accused of child molestation - San Jose Mercury News

The standard questions apply here. How can a man who serves Jesus, inflict harm on a child? It does not add up. But then, it never does.

I found this story on Onanite.

Technorati tags: Minh Nguyen, Clergy Sexual Abuse, incest, San Jose, Pedophilia

Not So Buena # 10

Info

Title: Failed Abatement
By: Mojoey
Where: Buena Park, Ca.
When: November 8, 2008 at ~ 10:52AM
Equipment: Nikon D300 - 1/640 @ f13

Notes

This is a shipping container used by the city to store construction materials. To fight the taggers they first installed a fence. When that failed they hired a security patrol. When that failed they hired a graffiti removal team. When that failed...

This photo is an entry in the Not So Buena photography project hosted here at Deep Thoughts. If you would like to participate with photo's from your own city, see the instructions for submitting photos on this post.

Technorati tags: Photography, Photography Projects, Buena Park, Graffiti

The list of churches supporting Prop 8

I found this list Reddit. It is a list of the churches that supported Prop 8. The list was on Craig's list but has since been removed. It was also on the support Prop 8 website. It too has been removed. I have posted the list here because I went looking for it earlier today and could not find it. I think it is important we remember who was responsible for Prop 8.

My Source, and the Google cache.

A. V. Alpha & Omega Ministries, Palmdale
Abundant Life Assembly of God, Copeland
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship
All Seasons Ministries, El Cajon
Alpha and Omega Arlington Apostolic Church, Riverside
Alpine Anglican Church, Alpine
Amador Family Fellowship
Baldwin Park Church of Christ
Bethel Christian Fellowship
Bible Fellowship Church, Ventura
Biggs Community Assembly of God
Bright Mission Chapel
Bundy Canyon Christian Church and School, Wildomar
Calvary Assembly of God
Calvary Assembly, Milpitas
Calvary Baptist Church
Calvary Baptist Church, Modesto
Calvary Chapel of the Harbour
Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
Calvary Chapel Rancho Santa Margarita
Calvary Christian Center
Calvary Church
Calvary Temple
Camarillo Community Church
Canopy of Prayer Ministries
Canyon View Church of Christ, San Diego
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Centerpoint Church
Central Baptist Church of Indio
Centro Cristiano Pan De Vida
Chapel in the Pines, Arnold
Chinese Evangelical Free Church, Monterey Park
Chinese Grace Bible Church, Sacramento
Christ Driven Church of Fowler Ca.
Christian Life Assembly
Christian Life Center
Christian Life Tools
Christian Outreach for Armenians, Glendale
Church of Christ, Upland
Church of the Living Christ
Church of the Living God of Perris
Church of the Nazarene
Church of the Rock
Church of Scientology of San Diego
Community Counseling Services, Inc.
Community Christian Alliance Church
Core Christian Fellowship, Murrieta
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Nicholasville KY
Cornerstone Christian Church, El Dorado Hills
Cornerstone Community Church of San Clemente
Cornerstone Fellowship, Livermore
CrossPoint Community Church of the Nazarene
Dan Kricorian Ministries Int'l
Dayspring Christian Fellowship
Desert Stream Ministries
Destiny Faith Center
Divine Mercy Knights of Columbus (14158), Natomas
Door of Faith Ministries International
East Clairemont Baptist Church, San Diego
Eastside Christian Church
El Cajon Wesleyan Church, El Cajon
Elsinore Christian Center, Lake Elsinore
Evangelical Free Church of Walnut
Faith Chapel Church of God in Christ, San Diego
Faith Community Church by the Sea, Encinitas
Faith Tabernacle
Faith to Faith Fellowship, Temecula
F.C.F. Int'l Ministries
Filipino American Community Church
First Baptist Church Anaheim
First Baptist Church of Fillmore
First Baptist Church of Hesperia
First Baptist Church of Menlo Park
First Baptist Church of Taft
First Baptist Church, Lomita
First Evangelical Church of Cerritos
First Fil-Am Christian Church
First Foursquare Gospel Church of San Jose, San Jose
First Fundamental Bible Church of Monterey Park
First Presbyterian Church, Amarillo TX
First Southern Baptist, Yucca Valley
Fontana Foursquare Church
Foxworthy Baptist Church
Free Indeed Christian Fellowship, Perris
Freedom Community Christian Church, Perris
Freewill Missionary Baptist Church, San Diego
Freewill Missionary Baptist Church, San Diego
Friends Church, Yorba Linda
Friendship Christian Fellowship Church, Moreno Valley
Gem of the Valley Church, Murrieta
God’s Word Church, Apple Valley
Golden Altar Ministries, San Jose
Golden Gate Christian Church
Hamilton Square Baptist Church
Harvest Christian Fellowship
Heart of the Canyons Church
High Desert Church, Victorville
Highland Springs Fellowship, Banning
Hillsdale Baptist Church, North Highlands
Hope Vineyard Church, Santa Clarita
House of Luke, Hemet
Independent Church of Lake Elsinore
Irvine First Chinese Baptist Church
Joy Ministry for Christ, Los Angeles
Jubilee Family Church, Oskaloosa IA
Kingdom Conditioning Ministries, INC.
Koinonia Evangelistic Center, Moreno Valley
Lake Murray Church, Assemblies of God
Life Center Church, Lakewood
Light by the Bay Church, San Lorenzo
Lighthouse Assembly of God, Murrieta
Lighthouse Community Church, Lathrop
Live Ride Christian Church
Living Faith Christian Fellowship, Garden Grove
Living Stones Ministries
Living Word Christian Church, San Diego
Love and Unity Church of God in Christ, Compton
Luke Four Eighteen Ministries International, Temecula
Maranatha Chapel
Maranatha Chapel, Rancho Bernardo
Menlo Park Community Church of God in Christ, Menlo Park
Meridian Southern Baptist, El Cajon
Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, San Diego
Mountain View Community Church, Temecula
Mount Zion Assemblies
Napoleon Washington, Jr. Evangelistic Assn.
Nations Harvest Church, Sunnyvale
New Birth Kingdom Covenant
New Covenant Ministries Christian Fellowship
New Day Church
New Destiny Christian Church, Inc.
New Life Presbyterian Church
New Light Church of God, Riverside
New Seasons Church
Newhall Church of the Nazarene
New Venture Christian Fellowship
Northside Christian Church
Oasis of Faith Christian Center
Oroville Nazarene Church
Our Lady of the Redwoods Catholic Church
Our Redeemer Lives Church, Lake Elsinore
Paradise Hills Southern Baptist Church
Progressive M.B.C. of Berkeley
Rancho Baptist Church, Temecula
Ray of Hope Church, Pomona
Redemption Christian Fellowship
Refuge Ministries
Resurrection Power Ministries
Revival Christian Fellowship, Menifee
Ripon Grace Brethren Church
Rose Drive Friends Church, Yorba Linda
Rubidoux First Assembly of God
San Antonio Heights Community Church, San Bernardino
San Diego Christian Worship Center, San Diego
San Jose Church of Christ, San Jose
San Jose Foursquare Church, San Jose
San Jose Open Bible Church, San Jose
San Jose Word of Faith Christian Center, San Jose
San Mateo Pro Life
Santa Rosa Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
Set Free Ministries of San Diego, San Diego
Seventh Day Sabbath Second Advent Church
Sierra Madre Congregational Church
Shepherd of the Hills
Skyline Wesleyan Church, El Cajon
Solid Ground Brethren in Christ Church, Alta Loma
Sonoma Valley Community Church
South Coast Christian Assembly
South Valley Christian Church, San Jose
Southwest Christian Church, Temecula
Southwest Community Church, Indian Wells
Spirit Life Worship Center
St. Andrew Orthodox Church
St. Joseph Church
St Timothy Orthodox Church
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Patrick's Church
State College Blvd. Church of Christ, Anaheim
Survivors of Assault Recovery/Living Word Christian Church, San Diego
TEN27 Church
The Bridge Church
The Calvary Chapel Churches
The Church of God of Prophecy, National City
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The Home Church, Campbell
The Oasis Foursquare Church
The Rock Church, San Diego
Trinity Baptist Church
Tyler Baptist Church, Riverside
Valley Christian Church, Chino
Victory International Church, San Mateo
Victory Outreach of Eagle Rock
Vineyard Family Christian Fellowship, Downey
Vista Hope Church of the Nazarene
Voices of Hope Ministries
Whittier Church of Christ, Whittier
Wildwood Calvary Chapel
Windsor Hills Baptist Church, La Mesa
Word of Life Ministries Int’l, Riverside
Word of Truth Ministries
World Overcomers Church International
Zion Christian Fellowship, Spring Valley
Zion Lutheran Church, North Highlands, CA

An Avalanche on Mars

How cool is that? They captured a picture of an avalanche while it happened on Mars. I love science.

Technorati tags: Mars, Science, Astronomy

Fundie Sticker #2

I am pretty sure Sarah Palin was driving this van. Or... maybe it was Todd?

Technorati tags: Photography, Bumper Stickers, Fundies, Christians

Best of the Atheist Blogroll Flickr Pool

As promised, this is the first installment of what will become a weekly post on the "best of" the photos added the the Atheist Blogroll Flickr pool. Here were go...

Photo by dbzer0

I do not know what it, but I want it for my garden.

Photo by Wanderin'Weeta

This photo is called Warped. I love the image depth.

Photo by greaterumbrage

This picture is called I'm afraid of Americans. I must admit that I would be afraid of this American, very afraid. I spent some time on this Flickr account. I like the photographer's style.

/p

Photo by toomanytribbles

The immensely talented toomanytribbles produced this photo. It is called bei hai. I consider it a good example of what I was thinking when I started this project. This shot is perfect for illustrating a blog post. If you have some time, browse her Flickr collection. It will blow you away.

Photo by podblackcat

Any photo with James Randi in it is interesting. I want to meet him.

Stats:

After one week, we have 16 members and 94 photos in the pool. If you would like to participate, see this post.

Technorati tags: The Atheist Blogroll, Photography

Let The Mormon Boycott Begin

Stop all Monsters has a good idea for those of us who want to fight back against the idiocy that is California's Prop 8. Let's make it hurt, Boycott Marriott hotels owned by Brent Andrus (The list is in the comments thanks to a concerned friend).

Works for me.

Technorati tags: Prop 8, Gay Rights, Gay Marriage, boycotts

Pastor falls to child porn

Of the temptations that professional clergy face, child porn must be one of the easiest to resist. I mean, it's disgusting at such a base level that one would assume few are tempted. Yet I've reported on too many to count. The latest case is David Esarey, the youth pastor at Stepney Baptist Church. A nude picture of a 15-year-old girl was allegedly found on his computer. Incriminating emails surfaced during a subsequent investigation. Esarey contends he is innocent.

Police said the mother later complained to police that she found an e-mail on the family computer between Esarey and the girl in which they discussed the girl's "boobs." The mother continued checking her daughter's use of the computer and discovered several e-mails between Esarey and the girl in which they allegedly discussed having sexual relations, police said. In one message, Esarey allegedly e-mailed the girl a photo of his genitals, police said.

Police said the girl later told them that she had initially gone to see Esarey for counseling about the meaning of God and that Esarey was trying to help her understand life. The girl and Esarey began talking about oral sex and sexual intercourse, although they didn't touch except for the occasional hug, police said.

Is it proper for a youth pastor to discussing sex, boobs, and blow jobs with his young charges? I don't think so. However, he is a Baptist, so the rules are undefined.

Technorati tags: Baptists, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Child Pornography

Priest's sex conviction overturned

In an unfortunate turn of events, Rev. Thomas Teczar had his conviction for a sexual assault of an 11-year-old overturned on a technicality.

The ruling last week says a trial judge erred by allowing an advocate for victims of priest abuse to testify as an expert in the trial of the Rev. Thomas Teczar (TEK'-zahr).

I wonder if the Catholic church will take him back?

Technorati tags: Catholics, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia

A life of complete dishonesty

Rev. Elivis Elano can no longer serve as a hospital chaplain. This after being removed from Our Lady of the Snows Church in Queens for misconduct. You see, Elano likes the ladies, especially the ladies damaged by divorce.

..the 50-year-old woman said her affair with the 44-year-old priest began in March, after she told him about her divorce during confession at Our Lady of the Snows Church in Queens.

She said he began "encouraging her to engage in a sexual liaison with him to assist her in overcoming her pain associated with her husband and because it was 'ordained by God,"' according to the lawsuit.

The affair came to light after Elano broke it off. He was concerned about a possible STD he may have acquired through sexual contact with others. What I don't understand is how anybody would have posted him to hospital in the first place. He preyed on the weak and needed, so they send him to a place full of weak and needed people? It makes no sense.

In response, the Catholic church is looking for ways to weed out priest with over active sex drives. I think they should start a secret shopper program. Oh wait, that might actually accomplish something... never mind.

Photo by Psychodiva on Flickr.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Priest's Alleged Affair Sparks Lawsuit
• Player Priest Can't Be Blamed, Old Church Lady Says

Technorati tags: Catholics, Clergy Sexual Misconduct

What is on your fridge?

I am a general purpose blogger. I write about whatever comes into my head. Ideas come from  my personal experiences,  or something I see on the Internet, the news, or the creative ideas of others. I just like writing about them.

While cruising Atheist blogger Carolyn-Ann's (CaroLINES) Flickr account when I found a photo of the magnets on his fridge. I was struck by the order, which is something missing from my collection.

My fridge is old, the magnets are from all over the world. It started off with some sense of order, but has aged in much the same way I have. What does your fridge  look like?

Technorati tags: Photography, Hobbies