Author: Jonathan Blundell

I'm a husband, father of three, blogger, podcaster, author and media geek who is hoping to live a simple life and follow The Way.

Avery set to leave Third Day

From PowerFM: The Third Day Weblog posted the following announcement recently: “Third Day and Brad Avery have made the very difficult decision to part ways. We appreciate Brad’s many contributions to the band’s career to date, including his work on our forthcoming album, but the time has come for us to follow our separate paths. He has been an important part of Third Day for the last 13 years as we’ve traveled the world together and performed over 1,000 concerts. We will miss him as a band member but he will always remain our brother and our friend. Brad is a wonderful person, gifted songwriter and talented musician. We trust that God has amazing plans fo r h is future.” More info on the band can be found at ThirdDay.com.

Re: Hillary’s New TV ad

Vertical Politics tracked down the original “red phone ad”

…and also shared an ad from the Obama camp, in response to Hillary’s ad:

I’m not real familiar with Vertical Politics (the site). From what I’ve seen and their previous comment it would appear they’re an Obama fan. Nothing wrong with that – but it seems to me that another candidate coined that term earlier in the election season.

I’ve also noticed that Obama picked up Huckabee’s phrase (paraphrasing), “We need a candidate who cares about folks on Main Street and not Wall Street.”

Now granted, who knows – there may be countless politicians who have said this but Huckabee was the first I heard that said either of these terms.

…I’m just saying.

Kenyan leaders say Clinton should pay up – in cattle

From NPR:

It appears that the photo which appeared on the Web the other day of Barack Obama in traditional Somali grab has angered some Kenyan elders.

Reuters reports that they may impose a fine on U.S. presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, payable in livestock, after a photo of Obama in robes “dragged their people” into the race for the White House. The picture was taken during Sen. Obama’s 2006 visit to Wajir in Kenya’s remote northeast.

The dispute has angered many in Kenya, especially ethnic Somalis from the northeast, who resent the implication that Obama did anything wrong during his visit…. Mohamed Ibrahim, who attended one of two crisis meetings held in Wajir on Thursday by clan members who hosted Obama on his trip, said Washington must immediately make amends to them and especially to the elder pictured with him.

Wajir elders resolved to file an official complaint with the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, dropping earlier plans to hold a protest after Friday prayers. They said they would also convene a traditional Somali court to investigate the matter. It can impose fines that are payable in cattle, goats or camels.

“We will go ahead with this case whether Senator Clinton or Democratic party leaders turn up or not,” said Ibrahim. “But this whole thing can be avoided if only an apology is made.”

The other man in the photo with Obama was retired chief Sheikh Mohamed Hassan, a senior elder, who was due “great respect” community leaders say. If there was no apology, the elders will also ask that U.S. troops stationed near Garissa town be expelled.

The Clinton campaign has now denied having anything to do with the photo appearing on the Drudge Report website.