Month: June 2008

Online libraries

Looking for a new read without going through your local library? Or want to avoid “the man” and/or your local bookstores? Try Swaptree.

Pretty cool site from the looks of things. Share the books you want to trade, mark the books you want and let the system find a match. You can trade books, music and DVDs.

I added 16 books to my “have list” and it matched me up with 266 possible trades. Didn’t see anything particular I wanted, but I didn’t offer up any of my “better” books either.

Could turn into something really cool though. I’m wondering if there are similar sites for clothes, furniture, toys etc. I’ll be on the lookout.

Capital Words tells you what Congress is talking about

Via e-mail:

Capitol Words Gives Glimpse of What Congress is Discussing

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Sunlight Foundation launched a new site, “Capitol Words” to provide an at-a-glance view into the daily proceedings of the United States Congress through the simplest lens available — a single word. For every day that Congress is in session, Capitol Words displays the most frequently used word in the
Congressional Record.

Continue reading Capital Words tells you what Congress is talking about

a rant on urban legends

Received via e-mail…

{rant}
I’m going to break ranks tonight and go on a little rant. You can thank my bride for the fact that I do this very infrequently – I know she will remind me that this is not what you signed up for!

Okay, that done …. If you forward an e-mail that contains exaggerations, intentional lies, or just inaccurate information, are you guilty of gossip? Those who practice such things are deserving of death according to Romans 1:29-32! If we don’t verify it, are we guilty? Can we blindly click forward and tell God we didn’t know?

My reason for this rant is a growing number of inaccurate, urban legend, and slanderous e-mails forwarded to me by those who say they follow Jesus. I do not actually question that they desire to follow Jesus, but I am sure Jesus would not forward gossip! The e-mail that put me over the top was one I received today which seemed to me to be an attempt to scare white voters into voting against Obama. I don’t think this was the intent of the person who forwarded the e-mail to me, but I rather strongly suspect the person who crafted the e-mail was attempting to doing that. The e-mail contained bits of truth, held together with inaccuracies, innuendos, and outright lies.

Just something to think about before you share what falls into your Inbox!

{/rant}

Ethics question of the day

So a same sex couple in New Mexico wanted to have a commitment ceremony.
They started looking for a photographer and contacted one via e-mail.
In returned they received: “We do not photograph same-sex weddings. But thanks for checking out our site! Have a great day!”
The couple was hurt, devastated and apparently angry. They sued the photographer for discrimination.
At the hearing, the photographer said that when he and his wife formed the company two years ago, they made it company policy not to shoot same-sex ceremonies, because the ceremonies conflicted with their Christian beliefs.
“We wanted to make sure that everything we photographed — everything we used our artistic ability for, everything we told a story for or conveyed a message of — would be in line with our values and our beliefs,” he said.
The couple won the case and the photographer was forced to pay the $6,600 in attorney fees.
Who was in the right here? Was anyone? What would you have done if you had been the photographer? What would you have done if you had been the couple?
How do you think Jesus would have handled the situation?

Listen to the full story.

Get your hands dirty :: July 12

July 12th folks from encounter – as well as anyone else interested will spend a day working in and around Daniel’s Den in Waxahachie. Daniel’s Den is a ministry in Waxahachie, with the goal of reaching and helping the homeless of Ellis County.

There are a number of ways folks can help:

  • the back porch screen needs to be repaired
  • lots of caulking needs to be done
  • furniture needs to be moved
  • edging and mulching the front yard (mulch is free but trucks are needed)
  • flowers planted in the front
  • new lid (and or box) for trash box to keep dogs out of trash cans
  • fence needs to be built in the rear of the property
  • banana boxes needed to help organize garage sale items
  • garage sale items need to be organized
  • door needs to be painted and installed
  • items need to be moved from the old shelter location to the new one
  • shelves need to be installed in pantry

items needed:

  • 8′ ladder
  • twin bed and mattress sets
  • 2 full size mattresses (mattress only)
  • flowers
  • fencing
  • caulk and caulking guns
  • shelves

In addition to the regular work that day, if you’re interested in helping put together food and drink for those working that day, please let us know as well.

If you see something you’re interested in and would like to help, please let me know.

Toy alternatives

Here’s one for my cousin (and others with children) :-):

Unclutter and Lifehacker both have a number of great ideas for entertaining kids for cheap… without the TV.

For under a buck you can entertain your kids with:
Large cardboard boxes
Rubber band and pencil crazy bot
Paper poppers
Home Depot Kids Workshop
Planting something
and more…

I’d also like to add a whoopee cushion to the list.

Some other ideas for younger kids:
Paint brushes with water
Laundry times
Magazines
Household chores
Computer Time

Read more…

What other cheap alternatives have you found to all those many many many many toys for kids out there?