The Sope-Bocks

He is risen!

2009-04-12T17:21:00.000-04:00

HAPPY EASTER
He is risen. The stone was rolled away. The tomb is empty!
Jesus Christ is our risen Savior and Lord.

May you have a blessed Easter day!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T08:16:00.001-05:00

Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas... and a Happy New Year in 2009!

Update on Caylee Anthony Case

2008-12-12T08:13:00.003-05:00

Photo by SkyFOX

It's been almost 24 hours since the skeletal remains of a young child were found in Orlando, Florida. Investigators from both local and federal agencies continue to comb the site where the child's remains were discovered just off Suburban Drive, near missing Caylee Anthony's grandparents' home. Orange County Sheriff's deputies have secured the area so that any evidence which may be collected will not be compromised.

"Now the investigation continues," Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said during a news conference. "There is a lot of lab work to do. There is a lot of DNA work to do. There is a lot of crime scene work to do."

More evidence was removed from the Anthony's home early this morning, including several bags and boxes which included clothing and other unnamed items.

I'm praying for the investigators, forensics personnel and the family of Caylee Anthony. At this time of year, we should be celebrating birth, hope and renewal. Instead, many people will be working with death, destruction and loss. May God encourage and strengthen all of them... and may the persons responsible for the child's death be brought to swift justice.

Warrant Sought to Search Missing Florida Girl's Home

2008-12-11T15:45:00.007-05:00

Authorities say they are seeking a search warrant for the Orlando home of a missing 3-year-old girl after a small child's remains were found nearby. Orange County sheriff's spokesman Carlos Padilla said that investigators cordoned off the home belonging to George and Cindy Anthony, the grandparents of Caylee Anthony, who often stayed at the home with her mother, Casey. [My thoughts are that LE will be looking for evidential matches to the duct tape, trash bag and/or clothing found with the child's body.]

Caylee's mother, 22-year-old Casey Anthony, insists that she left the girl with a baby sitter in June, but she didn't report her missing until July. The mother has been charged with first-degree murder.

Earlier this month, the Orange County State Attorney turned over almost 800 pages of documents, which showed someone at the Anthony home had done Internet searches for terms like "neck breaking" and "household weapons."

In mid-March, someone used the Anthonys' home laptop to search Google and Wikipedia for peroxide, shovels, acetone, alcohol and chloroform. Traces of chloroform, which is used to induce unconsciousness and also a component of human decomposition, were found in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car during forensic testing, the documents say.

Caylee's Disappearance: A Timeline from the Tampa Tribune

UPDATE: 4:10pm EDT
WKMG-TV reports that the Orange County Medical Examiner's van just left the scene, carrying the remains.

WFTV9: Remains Of Young Child Found Near Anthony Home

2008-12-11T15:16:00.004-05:00

From WFTV9 in Orlando: The remains of a young child were located in east Orange County Thursday morning, less than a half-mile from Casey Anthony's parents' home, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. An Orange County water meter reader, who had gone into the woods to relieve himself, discovered a bag about 20 to 30 feet off the sidewalk in the area of Chickasaw Trail and Suburban Drive, around three-tenths of a mile from the Anthonys' home. [The location is not accurate. See below.]

According to information obtained by Eyewitness News, when the meter reader picked up the bag a skull fell out. The Orange County Sheriff's Office has confirmed to Eyewitness News that the remains are from a young child. "We are assuming they are the remains of a victim," said Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jim Solomons. It is not known whether the remains are Caylee Anthony. "We know we have a recent discovery. We have investigators on the scene. We need to determine what we have," said Solomons.

Deputies set up a perimeter near a small retention pond. Heavy rain pounded the scene, making the investigation more difficult. FBI agents and agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were also on the scene. Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said the area had been underwater during previous searches, so it was not surprising the remains hadn't been found before. Equusearch founder Tim Miller, who heads up a group that searches for bodies, said his volunteers had searched the area before but that it was full of water and an ATV had stirred up mud and muck and made visibility poor. When asked if the remains could be those of any other child, Beary responded, "Not that we know of."

Eyewitness News reporter Kathi Belich said sources told her they were taking this very seriously and would expedite DNA tests to determine if the remains were indeed Caylee's. Investigators told her they were "very optimistic" they had found the missing girl. Beary said the FBI had told him experts at its lab in Quantico, Va. would work through the weekend on the case if necessary.

Site of Child's Skeletal Remains Confirmed

2008-12-11T14:54:00.008-05:00

A few minutes ago, I reported that FOX35 (and WFTV9) had incorrectly reported the site of skeletal remains found by a utility worker this morning. I have now confirmed that my pinpointing of the site was correct. Here is a overhead shot of the site, from WFTV.com's news helicopter. If you look at the map below, you can clearly see the area I marked as the site is indeed correct.

As I type, Orange County Sheriff's Department officers are preparing to remove the duct taped trash bag, bones and any other evidence from the scene. I also overheard a reporter saying that Sheriff Beary is going to execute a search warrant on the Anthony home and property. Some reports say officers are possibly looking for a shovel.

Presently, the Anthony's are on a flight back from California. They should arrive in Orlando within the next hour or so.

The discovered remains will be sent to FBI headquarters for identification. Due to their proximity to the Anthony home, it is likely that the bones found are that of Caylee Marie Anthony.

Breaking News: Remains of a Small Child Found Near Anthony Home

2008-12-11T14:07:00.008-05:00

News agencies are reporting that the skeletal remains of a small child have been found within two blocks of Caylee Anthony's grandparents' home. It appears that a utility worker making repairs in the area found a plastic trash bag bound in duct tape. It's not clear whether the bag was ripped or not, but the man discovered skeletal remains inside.

FOX35 in Orlando is reporting live from outside Caylee Anthony's home. The sheriff is about to execute a search warrant on the home. Apparently, the police think there is a connection between the bones found by the utlity worker and the Anthony home. My guess is that law enforcement is trying to match the trash bag and/or the duct tape with the skeletal remains.

Here is a map of the area. FOX35 reported that the remains were found off Suburban Drive near Chickasaw Trail (on the left of the Hopespring Drive intersection). However, the description given (that being the utility worker discovered the child's body approximately sixty feet back in the woods) doesn't match with the terrain. I have marked where I believe the duct taped bag of bones was found.

This story will be updated as soon as more information is available.

Costco says 'No' to Christmas...literally

2008-12-02T13:43:00.004-05:00

Received via email from AFA.net:

Dear Friend,
Costco has 520 stores nationwide. But you will not find "Christmas" in a single store. That's because Costco says it will not use the term "Christmas" on its website or in its stores. Instead, Costco is telling customers it purposely chooses to use the generic "holiday" verbiage. You know, they stock holiday gifts, not Christmas gifts.
Last week, a customer wrote to Costco and asked this direct question – "Does Costco use the word 'Christmas' in your store advertising or on any signs anywhere in your stores during the Christmas season? That's a pretty simple question, yes or no." Kory Rosacrans, staff manager for Costco replied, "I guess the answer would be No."
Rosacrans said, "Costco does not advertise on television, on radio or in print like other retailers. We only advertise by mailings and e-mail messages sent directly to our members who have paid for the privilege of shopping with us."
Costco wants you to do your "Christmas" shopping with them, while refusing to recognize that Christmas even exists.

Let them know that we are not going to support their decision -- with our mouths or our money.

More Pro-Life Censorship -- At a Catholic University

2008-11-30T16:22:00.003-05:00

Twice in two weeks, pro-life advertisements from Human Life Alliance have been denied access to college students -- this time at Gonzaga University. "We're saddened to learn Gonzaga University, a Catholic school, has refused to accept 'We Know Better Now,' our pro-life advertising supplement for 'The Gonzaga Bulletin,'" said Joe Langfeld, Deputy Director for Human Life Alliance. "As a non-profit organization dedicated to educating students on the humanity of the pre-born child and gruesome realities of abortion we use college newspapers to reach 19- 24 year-olds who are the number one age group of abortion participants."

When asked to run the advertising supplement, officials from "The Gonzaga Bulletin" rejected the inserts stating, "There are articles in the insertion that cast a negative light on various organizations or individuals. While these statements may be true, we simply cannot insert them in our paper per our advertising policies."

"Of course some statements in our publication are objectionable to 'various organizations or individuals.' We present documented truth about the largest abortion chain in the nation, Planned Parenthood, and its founder Margaret Sanger," noted Langfeld. "The business of abortion is ugly and we think college and university students have a right to read the facts from someone other then abortion providers."

The Gonzaga denial comes on the heels of another rejection at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA last week. "Fortunately, there's good news to report from Allegheny. After phone calls, emails and a visit form a local HLA supporter, student editors have agreed to insert 'We Know Better Now' in the January 19, 2009 issue of 'The Campus' student newspaper", Langfeld said. "We're thrilled these students have communicated with HLA and agreed to give us a voice on their campus."

More information about Human Life Alliance and "We Know Better Now" is available at www.humanlife.org

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2008-11-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

The Sope-Bocks wishes you and yours a blessed and wonderful holiday...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Charlie

Allegheny College Violates Their Mission Statement

2008-11-27T08:15:00.000-05:00

It's time to tell Allegheny College that their censorship is not only irresponsible, but violates the tone and verbage of their Mission Statement. That statement reads:

Allegheny’s undergraduate residential education prepares young adults for successful, meaningful lives by promoting students’ intellectual, moral, and social development and encouraging personal and civic responsibility. Allegheny's faculty and staff combine high academic standards and a commitment to the exchange of knowledge with a supportive approach to learning. Graduates are equipped to think critically and creatively, write clearly, speak persuasively, and meet challenges in a diverse, interconnected world.

What a load of crap! Censoring the "exchange of knowledge" regarding abortion is not, in any way, promoting "moral and personal responsibility". Also, how can a student be taught to "think critically" when the idea that abortion is fine, well & good is the only idea openly expressed -- and all competing ideas are censored?!?

I truly hope that the Allegheny Christian Outreach, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Ford Chapel Deacons, Hillel, Newman Organization, Islamic Awareness Society, and Sojourners Christian Fellowship are all "raising Cain" with the staff of The Campus for not only censoring the literature offered by Human Life Alliance, but also for STEALING their money.

I would encourage everyone to contact Allegheny College to complain about the censorship and theft. There are also a few other people who need to be contacted regarding this issue:

Gretchen Symons, Director of Student Activities: gretchen.symons@allegheny.edu
Kate Gullatta, Assistant Director of Student Activities: kate.gullatta@allegheny.edu
Barb Steadman, Director of Public Affairs: barb.steadman@allegheny.edu
Penny Frank, Assistant Director of Public Affairs: penny.frank@allegheny.edu
Thomas Hughes, Editor of The Campus newspaper: thomas.hughes@allegheny.edu

Censorship of Pro-Life Information Begins on Pennsylvania Campus

2008-11-27T06:00:00.003-05:00

Article from ChristiansUnite.com
Officials at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania refuse to run an advertising supplement on abortion in the student newspaper, "The Campus." The 12-page advertising supplement "We Know Better Now," sponsored by Human Life Alliance, provides detailed information on pregnancy and the impact of abortions on student's lives.

"Our goal is to provide information on the humanity of the pre-born child and gruesome realities of abortion," stated Jo Tolck, executive director for Human Life Alliance. At Allegheny College, officials for "The Campus" had already accepted payment for the November 13 edition when a local supporter noticed it did not appear in the paper. "We were shocked the paper would take the money, have us ship 1500 copies of 'We Know Better Now' and then refuse to run the advertisement," said Tolck. "Newspapers have a right to reject advertisements, but Allegheny College student newspaper officials had ready accepted the ad., scheduled a run date and received both the supplements and payment."

Human Life Alliance has not received any communication from Allegheny College newspaper staff since they were notified of the rejection. "We contacted the newspaper upon learning that our insert didn't make it into 'The Campus' and were told our advertisement was too controversial--even after they had accepted the advertising fee," Tolck said. "The Campus" staff have been unresponsive to Human Life Alliance's request to clarify the situation. "At this point, they can't even find the advertising supplements and we have the tracking information confirming delivery," said Tolck. "We see this type of censorship all the time. It's a shame that on a college campus some individuals still oppose free and open discussion of issues relevant to students."

More information about Human Life Alliance and "We Know Better Now" is available at www.humanlife.org

Child Sexual Exploitation in U.S. and Canada in Global Spotlight

2008-11-26T08:35:00.004-05:00

Article from ChristiansUnite.com
Creating safe havens for trafficked children in the U.S. and increasing legal enforcement against child sex tourism in Canada should be two of the highest priorities for policies in North America to protect children from sexual exploitation, according to a report published jointly by Canadian and U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs) this month.

The report is being submitted to the World Congress III Against Sexual Exploitation of Adolescents and Children - a major international conference taking place in Rio de Janiero, Brazil next week. While the report found many important steps have already been taken in Canada and the U.S. to confront child sexual exploitation, notably the passage of strong laws in both countries, it also highlights gaps that must be filled. "One of the major gaps in Canada highlighted in this report is our very weak and ineffective sex offender registry", says Rosalind Prober, President of Beyond Borders. "If we are serious about child protection, this registry needs an immediate upgrade." The Canadian federal law that makes sexually exploiting a child in another country a crime punishable in Canada was found to not be adequately enforced. "In Canada, the lack of legal action against child sex tourism is the most glaring law enforcement gap," states the report. "While child trafficking is beginning to be recognized in Canada with several recent prosecutions, there remains significant room for further enforcement action against traffickers and commercial child sex abusers." According to Benjamin Perrin, Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, "Canada convicted just one of its child sex tourists in the decade after promising to crack down on them in 1996 at the First World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Children."

In the U.S. commercially sexually exploited children are too often arrested instead of offered assistance and protection, because there are so few shelters equipped to care for their special needs. "Police officers are really in a bind in most cities. Girls as young as 12 years old are rescued from their pimps, but there are so few places to bring them. They end up in jail, with a criminal record. This has to stop," says Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA. "It is a tragedy that a child who is prostituted in American almost always goes to jail for the crime that is committed against her, while her trafficker is sometimes punished and her buyer rarely faces any punishment at all," said Shared Hope International President and Founder Linda Smith.

Other recommendations that emerged from the meeting include:

creating a national plan of action in the United States
developing Child Advocacy Centers in Canada
focusing on prevention in both countries.

The full report can be read at: www.sharedhope.org/what/Consultation.asp.

President-elect Obama Reveals His Position as 'The Abortion President'

2008-11-13T09:51:00.004-05:00

Article from christiansunite.com
Image from andybarnett.com

On Sunday, transition advisors to the President-elect have revealed a potential list of executive orders that Mr. Obama would reverse once he became President. They include reversing a provision barring international organizations that receive American aid from counseling about the availability of abortions and reversing President Bush's ban of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research.

The Christian Defense Coalition, along with other faith organizations, warned that if Barack Obama were elected he would be the "most radical pro-abortion President" in American history. The reversing of these executive orders would offend millions of Americans in the faith community and betrays President-elect Obama's public statements about building bridges of unity with differing groups and being a President that respects faith and social justice.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments,

"It was with a profound sense of disappointment that I heard President-elect Obama's transition advisors publicly talking about reversing some life affirming executive orders once he becomes President. If Mr. Obama reverses the 'Mexico City Policy,' which forbids groups that receive American aid from counseling women about the availability of abortion, it would greatly increase abortions around the world. It would also create a scenario in which American evangelicals and Catholics would be paying for abortion referrals through their tax dollars.
If President-elect Obama reverses this policy, it would show a complete and blatant disregard for the faith values of millions of American Christians as well as expanding the violence and tragedy of abortion worldwide. America should be exporting justice and human rights not brutality and violence."

Mahoney further questions, Is this what President-elect Obama means by hope and change? By reversing the ban on federal funds being used for embryonic stem cell research, Mr. Obama again shows a lack of respect for social justice and the deeply held beliefs of millions in the faith community. Embryonic stem cell research is the tragic destroying of human life and with modern breakthroughs in stem cell research is no longer needed.

We invite President-elect Obama to step into the world of modern medical technology and move away from archaic barbaric medical practices. We warned America that if Barck Obama were elected he would be 'The Abortion President.' Sadly, that appears to be the case. Since these decisions have not been made, we invite the faith community and all people of good will to pray that President-elect Obama will embrace a culture of life and stand for social justice and equality for all. We also invite the pro-life community to come to Washington, D.C. on January 21-24, 2009 to be part of 'The Birmingham Letter Project' in which people will be able to participate in a prayerful and prophetic witness for life.

The Bright Side of President Obama

2008-11-05T06:18:00.000-05:00

Conceding defeat of conservative values in lieu of extreme liberalism is not an easy thing to do. But, it's clear this morning that Democrats and liberals (assuming there is a difference) have been given the majority of power across the political spectrum. So, let's try to look for a bright side...

A black man has become president of the United States of America. Just 50 years ago, the black man was still being subjected to clear-cut discrimination in many areas of life.
There will be kids in the White House. We haven't, as a country, had multiple young children in the Rose Garden since the Kennedy presidency.
The President and Congress cannot blame each other for partisan politics. Democrats have a clear majority in the House of Representatives, the Senate -- and now a Democratic President.

On a lighter, more humorous note, it would have been awesome having a hot looking First Lady, a hot "First Daughter" and a hotter Vice President. Oh well, it's early and the day talking heads haven't gotten started yet this morning.

I'm sure there are bright sides to an Obama presidency -- though I could come up with only three so far. I'll truthfully try to think of more. Your "bright side" comments are welcome -- but let's keep it apolitical.

It's a Dark Day in America - Socialism Wins the White House

2008-11-04T22:26:00.004-05:00

In my opinion, it's a very dark day in America. With the majority of Electoral College votes being called for Barack Obama, it looks like socialism, liberalism and extremism will win the White House. Right now, Fox News Channel and NBC both show: Obama = 220 / McCain = 138.

For the record, I could care less what color Barack Obama's skin is. What I do care about is his record -- and he is clearly the most liberal Senator in recent history. He has sold the American people a lie -- that he is moderate, non-partisan and prepared for the Oval Office. As much as I hate that innocent citizens will suffer, the vindictive side of me hopes we (America) gets what we deserve for voting socialism into the White House.

I have to give 'em this much -- The Democrats and liberals (assuming there is a difference) did their job. They got the vote out -- and seem to have won many key elections across America. Unfortunately, the trend is pretty clear that Barack Obama will win the presidency. Just thinking about the bitchy attitude of Michelle Obama as our First Lady makes me want to puke. Sorry, but that's how I feel about her. And then there's the incredulous Joe Biden as Vice President. Where has integrity in the highest echelons of our government gone?

In my state, it looks like John McCain won the electoral vote, Kay Hagan (D) has beat Lady Dole and Beverly Perdue (D) will be our next governor (beating Pat McCrory).

It's 10:45pm ET here in North Carolina. I don't see any big surprises coming, so it's time for bed. Before I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord our country to keep. We're going to need it!

Teen Pregnancy Linked to Watching Sexy TV Shows

2008-11-03T08:41:00.004-05:00

Article from FoxNews.com
Groundbreaking research suggests that pregnancy rates are much higher among teens who watch a lot of TV with sexual dialogue and behavior than among those who have tamer viewing tastes.

"Sex and the City," anyone? That was one of the shows used in the research. The new study is the first to link those viewing habits with teen pregnancy, said lead author Anita Chandra, a Rand Corp. behavioral scientist. Teens who watched the raciest shows were twice as likely to become pregnant over the next three years as those who watched few such programs.

Previous research by some of the same scientists had already found that watching lots of sex on TV can influence teens to have sex at earlier ages. Shows that highlight only the positive aspects of sexual behavior without the risks can lead teens to have unprotected sex "before they're ready to make responsible and informed decisions," Chandra said.

The study was released today in the November issue of Pediatrics. It involved 2,003 12- to 17-year-old girls and boys nationwide questioned by telephone about their TV viewing habits in 2001. Teens were re-interviewed twice, the last time in 2004, and asked about pregnancy. Among girls, 58 became pregnant during the follow-up, and among boys, 33 said they had gotten a girl pregnant.

Participants were asked how often they watched any of more than 20 TV shows popular among teens at the time or which were found to have lots of sexual content. The programs included "Sex and the City," "That '70s Show" and "Friends." Pregnancies were twice as common among those who said they watched such shows regularly, compared with teens who said they hardly ever saw them. There were more pregnancies among the oldest teens interviewed, but the rate of pregnancy remained consistent across all age groups among those who watched the racy programs.

Chandra said TV-watching was strongly connected with teen pregnancy even when other factors were considered, including grades, family structure and parents' education level. But the study didn't adequately address other issues, such as self-esteem, family values and income, contends Elizabeth Schroeder, executive director of Answer, a teen sex education program based at Rutgers University. "The media does have an impact, but we don't know the full extent of it because there are so many other factors," Schroeder said.

But Bill Albert, chief program officer at the nonprofit National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, praised the study and said it "catches up with common sense."

"Media helps shape the social script for teenagers. Most parents know that. This is just good research to confirm that," Albert said. Still, U.S. teen pregnancies were on a 15-year decline until a 3 percent rise in 2006, the latest data available. Experts think that could be just be a statistical blip. And Albert noted that the downward trend occurred as TV shows were becoming more sexualized, confirming that "it's not the only influence."

Psychologist David Walsh, president of the National Institute on Media and the Family, cited data suggesting only about 19 percent of American teens say they can talk openly with a trusted adult about sex. With many schools not offering sex education, that leaves the media to serve as a sex educator, he said. "For a kid who no one's talking to about sex, and then he watches sitcoms on TV where sex is presented as this is what the cool people do," the outcome is obvious, Walsh said. The message to parents is to talk to their kids about sex long before children are teens. Parents also should be watching what their kids watch and helping filter messages sex-filled shows are sending, he said.

Obama Campaign's Kevin Jennings' Real Work

2008-10-31T23:03:00.001-04:00

For anyone who thought I lost my mind or was exaggerating when I said that GLSEN wants to force kindergartners to embrace and support homosexuality, take a look at the following article from FoxNews.com:

School Clams Up on 'Gay' Pledge Cards Given to Kindergartners

Yep, the card used by the kindergarten teacher is produced by GLSEN, the group Kevin Jennings founded -- the same Kevin Jennings who works for the Barack Obama campaign.

Are these the values you want your President to promote?

Thanks to Protect Marriage California for providing the scan of the "pledge card".

Real Christians CANNOT Vote for Obama

2008-10-31T07:00:00.003-04:00

I'm going to come right out and say it - Real Christians CANNOT vote for Barack Obama! Although I'm not THE person to judge a person's commitment to Christianity, I believe (with everything in me) that any true, Bible-believing, God-fearing, Jesus-worshiping Christian cannot -- under their beliefs and faith -- vote for Barack Obama. Let's look at a few reasons why -- whether black, white, red, yellow or green -- NO real Christian can, in good faith, vote for Obama...

ABORTION
Let's face it. Obama is on record voting for abortion, even the most heinous of procedures, partial-birth abortion. He even voted against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act -- which would save lives of botched abortions -- those where the baby lives to be born. Obama's vote would have thos children murdered as well.

HOMOSEXUALITY
The Bible is clear - Homosexuality is a sin. Never mind the politically correct bunk you've been brainwashed into believing. Homosexuality is wrong. Therefore gay marriage is wrong. Yet, Barack Obama not only supports homosexuality, he wants our five and six year old children to be forced into celebrating and embracing homosexuality. He even hired one of the gay agenda's lowest lowlifes, Kevin Jennings, to work for his campaign.

ISRAEL & JEWS
Although the story has been told several times over the past two years, it is finally catching traction only this week -- B. Hussein Obama's friendship with Rashid Khalidi, a known terrorist apologist and anti-Israeli pundit, along with several others.

SOCIALISM
Call it what you want, but when you spread the wealth, tax the people and remove capitalistic and democratic values from a society in the way Barack Obama plans to "change" America, it's socialism.

CONCLUSION
As such, any person who calls themselves a Christian would be "a house divided" if they were to vote for Obama. As the Bible says, we cannot serve two masters. From his words, deeds and proposed policies, we KNOW that Barack Obama cannot truly be a Christian. Therefore, he must be serving someone other than the God of the Holy Bible and Christianity.

Therefore, real Christians cannot vote for Obama -- and still say they are living by their beliefs and faith. The two are incongruous.

LA Times 'suppressing' Obama link to anti-Israel professor

2008-10-30T15:07:00.003-04:00

Conservative author and counterterrorism expert Andy McCarthy is criticizing the Los Angeles Times for not releasing a 2003 videotape it obtained of Barack Obama giving a toast to an anti-Israel professor who formerly served as a spokesman for late PLO leader Yasser Arafat. The LA Times is being accused of "suppressing" a 2003 tape of a farewell gathering in Chicago for then University of Chicago Mideast studies professor Rashid Khalidi, who is a longtime virulent critic of Israel and has justified Palestinian terrorist attacks against the Jewish state. Barack Obama paid a special tribute to Khalidi that night and noted that he and Michelle were frequent dinner companions of the Khalidis.

Former Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers and his wife Bernadine Dohrn were also in attendance at the Khalidi bash. While Obama and Ayers served on the board of the left-wing Woods Fund together, they underwrote the Arab-American Action Network (AAAN) to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. The anti-Israel group was started by Khalidi and his wife Mona.

Andy McCarthy, the chairman of the Center for Law and Counterterrorism at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the legal affairs editor at National Review, says it is obvious why the LA Times is not releasing the tape of the Khalidi bash.

"If either John McCain or Sarah Palin or another prominent Republican or prominent conservative had been at a party, basically in honor of somebody who is a terror apologist, at which terrorists were front and center in attendance, one can't even imagine the thought that the mainstream media, including the LA Times, would not only release that tape but actually fill us for days if not weeks with story after story about the gory details of it,"

This is yet another example, according to McCarthy, of the mainstream press "covering up" an event that is embarrassing and difficult for Obama to explain.

See also:
Obama's Ties to Funding Terrorists
Barack Obama's Friends
Photo from freerepublic.com

Obama's connection to GLSEN

2008-10-24T17:11:00.005-04:00

Excerpts from article by Marcia Segelstein

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has had relationships with some questionable characters. Bill Ayers, unrepentant former domestic terrorist, is one. Despite evidence to the contrary -- and with the mainstream media turning a blind eye -- Obama has succeeded in dismissing his association as minimal and meaningless. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright is another. While there's no denying the fact that Wright was Obama's pastor, and that Wright married the Obamas and baptized their children, Obama managed to distance himself from Wright after the fact, claiming he was no longer the man he'd once known.

But there is another questionable character associated with Obama, and there's no denying the relationship this time. This questionable character is Kevin Jennings. Jennings is the founder of GLSEN -- the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. ...

Courtesy of GLSEN's website, you can get a list of "recommended books" for every age group, starting with kindergarten, to introduce children to the subject of homosexuality.

In Massachusetts, GLSEN is infamous for what's become known as "fistgate." On March 25, 2000, GLSEN sponsored, along with the Massachusetts Department of Education, a taxpayer-funded conference. Its goals included putting Gay/Straight Alliances into more Massachusetts schools, and expanding homosexual teaching into lower grades. Many gay-friendly teachers (who received development credits for being there) and administrators attended, along with students who were bussed in from their home districts.

One particular workshop was listed as a "youth only, ages 14-21" session, run by three self-professed gay presenters. Thanks to two members of a local Parents' Rights Coalition who secretly taped the session, we know exactly what happened. One of the teachers asked the assembled students what "fisting" meant. Following a descriptive definition, another of the adult presenters proceeded to demonstrate the proper formation of the hand for this sexual act. After a student of about 16 said that it didn't sound very appealing, the third adult presenter calmed his concerns. This technique, she explained, "often gets a really bad rap," and that it was "an experience of letting somebody into your body that you want to be that close and intimate with." Other homosexual acts were discussed and described in detail.

Here's some of what Marjorie King wrote about GLSEN for City Journal back in 2003:

"GLSEN often presents itself as a civil rights organization, saying it is only after 'tolerance' and 'understanding' for a victim group...But it is, in fact, a radical organization that...seeks to transform the culture and instruction of every public school, so that children will learn to equate 'heterosexism' – the favoring of heterosexuality as normal – with other evils like racism and sexism and will grow up pondering their sexual orientation and the fluidity of their sexual identity... One of the major goals of GLSEN...is to reform public school curricula and teaching so that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender – or LGBT – themes are always central and always presented in the approved light."

Jennings himself spoke about the importance of "framing" the debate in a speech he gave in March of 1995 to the Human Rights Campaign Fund Leadership Conference called "Winning the Culture War." Here's a small portion of what he said:

"In Massachusetts the effective reframing of this issue was the key to the success of the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. We immediately seized upon the opponent's calling card – safety – and explained how homophobia represents a threat to students' safety by creating a climate where violence, name-calling, health problems, and suicide are common. Titling our report 'Making Schools Safe for Gay and Lesbian Youth,' we automatically threw our opponents onto the defensive and stole their best line of attack. This framing short-circuited their arguments and left them back-pedaling from day one."

Kevin Jennings wrote the foreword to the book Queering Elementary Education, which offers essays on "Locating a Place for Gay and Lesbian Themes in Elementary Reading, Writing and Talking." (Interestingly enough, Bill Ayers wrote a glowing blurb for the back of the book.)

Kevin Jennings now works for the Obama campaign, as fundraising co-chair for the LGBT community.

Does Obama support the radical homosexual agenda that Jennings and GLSEN, the organization he founded, have already managed to impose in public schools across the country?

Would Obama defend the GLSEN-sponsored conference at which teenagers were given explicit descriptions of homosexual acts?

The American public has a right to know.

The Sub-prime Crisis Was Created by Democrats

2008-10-06T15:00:00.005-04:00

Partially from a commentary on PoliticUsUSA.com

So many people are turning a blind eye to the fact that the Democrats, especially Bill Clinton, Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd, are responsible for the present state of our economy.

1977: President Jimmy Carter (D) signs the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) into law. The law pressured financial institutions to extend home loans to those who would otherwise not qualify. The Premise: Home ownership would improve poor and crime-ridden communities and neighborhoods in terms of crime, investment, jobs, etc. Results: Statistics show that CRA has not helped decrease crime nor significantly improved so-called poor communities.

1992: Representative Jim Leach (R- Iowa) warned of the danger that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were changing from being agencies of the public at large to money machines for the principals and the very few who held stock in the agencies.

1993: President Bill Clinton's administration extensively rewrote Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's rules turning the quasi-private, mortgage-funding firms into semi-nationalized monopolies dispensing cash and loans to large Democratic voting blocks. Both were also growing into entities handing out favors, jobs and contributions to political allies. This potent mix led inevitably to corruption -- and now the collapse of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

1994: Despite warnings, Bill Clinton unveiled his National Home Ownership Strategy, which broadened the CRA in ways Congress never intended.

1995: President Bill Clinton ordered Robert Rubin's Treasury Department to rewrite the rules of home finance. Robert Rubin's group reworked rules, forcing banks to satisfy quotas for sub-prime and minority loans in order to receive a satisfactory CRA rating. The rating was key to expansion or mergers for banks. Loans began to be made on the basis of ethnicity -- specifically minority loans were approved almost carte blanche.

1997 - 1999: Bill Clinton , bypassing the newly Republican led Congress, enlisted Andrew Cuomo (then Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) to assist in allowing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to get into the sub-prime market in a BIG way. Led by Representative Barney Frank (D) and Senator Chris Dodd (D), Congress doubled-down on the risk by easing capital limits and allowing the agencies to hold just 2.5% of capital to back their investments vs. 10% holdings for normal banks. Since Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could borrow at lower rates than commercial banks, their enterprises' boomed!
With incentives in place, banks poured billions of dollars of loans into poor communities, often "no documentation", "no income verification" -- requiring no money down and no verification of income.
Worse still was the cronyism: 384 politicians got big campaign donations from Fannie and Freddie. Over $200 million had been spent on lobbying and political activities. During the 1990's Fannie and Freddie enjoyed a subsidies of as much as $182 billion. Some analysts say that much of those billions went to the priviliged shareholders and not to poor communities.

1999: New Treasury Secretary, Lawrence Summers, became alarmed at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's excesses. Congress held hearings the following year, but nothing was done because Fannie and Freddie had donated millions to key Congressmen and radical groups (such as ACORN), ensuring no meaningful changes would take place. "We manage our political risk with the same intensity that we manage our credit and interest rate risks," Fannie CEO Franklin Raines, a former Clinton official and current Barack Obama advisor, bragged to investors in 1999.

2000: Treasury Secretary Summers sent Undersecretary Gary Gensler to Congress seeking an end to the "special status" afford by the CRA and Clinton's expansion of it. Democrats raised a ruckus, as did Fannie and Freddie, headed by a politically connected CEO. "We think that the statements evidence a contempt for the nation's housing and mortgage markets," Freddie spokesperson Sharon McHale said. That was the last chance, during the Clinton era, for reform.

2001: Republicans tried repeatedly to bring fiscal sanity to Fannie and Freddie, but Democrats blocked any attempt at reform. Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd, who ran key banking committees and were huge beneficiaries of campaign contributions from the mortgage giants, were especially critical of any reforms.

2003: President George Bush proposed what the NY Times called "the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago". Even after discovering a scheme by Fannie and Freddie to overstate earnings by $10.6 billion to boost their bonuses, the Democrats killed reform.

2005: Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan warned Congress: "We are placing the total financial system at substantial risk". Senator John McCain, along with two others, sponsored a Fannie/Freddie reform bill and said, "If congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system and the economy as a whole". Senator Harry Reid (D) accused the GOP of trying to "cripple the ability of Fannie and Freddie to carry out their mission of expanding home ownership". The bill went nowhere.

2007: Fannie and Freddie own or guarantee over half of the twelve trillion dollar US mortgage market. The mortgage giants, whose executive suites were top-heavy with former Democratic officials, had been working with Wall Street to repackage the bad loans and sell them to investors. As the housing market fell in 2007, sub-prime mortgage portfolios suffered major losses. The crisis was on, though it was fifteen years in the making.

2008: Presidential candidate John McCain has repeatedly called for reforming the behemoths. President Bush urged reform a recorded 17 times. Still the media have repeated Democrats' talking points about this being a "Republican" disaster. A few Republicans are complicit, but Fannie and Freddie were created by Democrats, regulated by Democrats, largely run by Democrats and protected by Democrats. That's why taxpayers are now being asked for $700 billion!

It's clear that the Democratic Party cannot be trusted with our tax dollars. Adding the extreme liberalism of Barack Hussein Obama will NOT turn our economy around -- but only make things MUCH worse. If you truly want to know how bad it can get, cast your vote for Obama. As for me and my house, "NObama - Keep the change!"

SBA List President: 'Obama is Lying About Record on Born Alive Infant Protection Act'

2008-09-26T08:37:00.003-04:00

Article from christiansunite.com
Today, in response to a new Ohio ad by the Barack Obama campaign addressing Obama's position with regard to opposing the Born Alive Infant Protection Act the Susan B. Anthony List offered comment and facts on Obama's record: "If only 'change' was all about how Barack Obama could change his past votes. He knows his extreme record on abortion doesn't resonate with values voters in battleground states, and sadly it is too late to change his votes. So now he's truly lying - bordering upon the pathological -- with this new television ad. The only favorable interpretation of this ad would be that he is suffering from some sort of amnesia," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.

"However, that seems unlikely. His inhuman vote on the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act is too memorable and will repel values voters across the country. American voters are savvy - they can and will see through Barack Obama's cynical attempt to play the politics of personal gain when unborn lives are on the line. Obama built a straw man out of the public's condemnation of his vote. No one claimed he wants to leave every single newborn infant to die - just the most vulnerable ones - those almost full term girls and boys whose abortion was unsuccessful," said Dannenfelser.

Documents recently obtained by the National Right to Life Committee reveal a discrepancy between the facts and Barack Obama's rhetoric about the Born- Alive Infant Protection Act: - Barack Obama opposed the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act as an Illinois State Senator. He spoke against the bill, calling it an "unnecessary burden" for women and voted against it three times. Despite that opposition, he has since declared support for the federal version of the same legislation that aims to protect newborn babies who survive abortions.
- After NARAL pulled its opposition to the legislation, Obama continued to oppose it.
- Obama has publicly stated he opposed the legislation due to its lack of a "neutrality clause" - language expressing that the bill had no bearing on the legal status of unborn children with regard to abortion.
- Official legislative documents show that Obama in fact presided over a committee hearing where "neutrality clause" language - identical to the federal language - was added to the Illinois version of the Born- Alive Infant Protection Act.
- After voting in support of the "neutrality clause," Obama then joined fellow Democrats to oppose the bill, killing it by a vote of 6-4, even after the addition of the "neutrality clause."
- The bill Obama killed is nearly identical to the federal version of the Born- Alive Infant Protection Act signed by President Bush in 2002.

Since its founding, the Susan B. Anthony List has helped elect seventy-five pro-life candidates to the House, seven to the Senate, and seven to other statewide offices across the country. The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 147,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.

Stealing the Minds of America: Compelling Truths for Black America

2008-09-25T07:58:00.011-04:00

[This is one of THE most important posts The Sope-Bocks has ever published.]

While listening to a radio talk show yesterday evening, I was blessed to hear a proud black woman speak on the coming election and the two major political parties in America. This morning, I visited her website in an attempt to find out more. Here is an excerpt from her opening salvo on the site:

“I was ignorant and proud. Ignorant of what the political parties really embraced and too proud to set aside my preconceived ideas to listen. Yet when I began to research the facts for myself, I was shocked to discover that what I thought I knew was all a lie. In reality, I had aligned myself with the very party that historically, had determined to eliminate African Americans from the entire political process. This is a must read book for all truth-seekers who vote!” –Janice L. Ponds

Janice L. Ponds is writing about the Democratic Party. Remember, she is black or as the politically correct would say, African-American. Janice and her husband have researched and published a book entitled, Stealing the Minds of America. The subtitle is: A Must for All Truth-Seekers Who Vote. I plan to order the book -- then read it from cover to cover.

After listening to Janice Ponds last night, I would encourage everyone -- especially the black community to read the book. But, only if they are truth seekers. Those who want to blindly (and ignorantly) follow the black community's mandate to vote Democratic will not want to read the book. It's for truth seekers ONLY.

In the event, The Sope-Bocks readers might want to know more about the truth, here are a few questions asked and answered in Ponds' book:

Do you know what political party…

Was initially created as anti-slavery leaders broke away to establish a new political group to abolish slavery?

Allowed black Americans to participate in the political process subsequent to slavery; resulting in hundreds of black men who were former slaves, becoming congressmen and prominent political leaders?

Spearheaded the Dred Scott decision of 1857, delivered by a party-specific Supreme Court declaring blacks were not persons or citizens, but instead property with no rights?

Repealed all civil rights laws in 1876 and instituted “Jim Crow” laws to deprive blacks of their voting and civil rights?

Did not have a single one of its 56 Congressional members vote for the 15th amendment which supported granting explicit voting rights to black Americans?

Formed the Ku Klux Klan in an effort to prevent African-American leaders from being elected to political office after slavery was abolished; and terrorized both black and white Americans who had a specific party affiliation?

Had its key leaders vote against a bill called the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004; which would protect unborn children from assault and murder?

Here are the answers:

Republican

Democratic

This information was somewhat of a surprise to me. I knew that Republicans and Christian leaders in Congress were at the forefront of abolishing slavery, but was NOT aware that the Democratic Party had pushed so hard to keep blacks from having civil and voting rights.

Furthermore, Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, came up with the idea of her organization as a means of wiping out the black race. Now, Presidential candidate Barack Obama is in bed with Planned Parenthood -- and supports ALL abortion (including late term abortion). So much for looking out for your fellow man, huh?!? Black so-called "civil rights leaders" need to get their head out of the sand and get with the reality of the party they so vehemently support.

Ponds' website, Thinking for Yourself, also has five powerful and thought-provoking excerpts from the book. Take the time to review the truth contained therein: Excerpt 1, Excerpt 2, Excerpts 3 and 4, and Excerpt 5.

Janice Ponds' book, Stealing the Minds of America, is past due. It was needed before the 1992 elections -- and is needed more than ever in 2008. I challenge the black community to start thinking for yourself!

Richard Viguerie: It's Sarah Palin's Principles, Stupid

2008-09-23T08:29:00.003-04:00

Article from christiansunite.com
With the popularity of Governor Sarah Palin providing lift to the GOP ticket, Republicans are starting to feel better about races for Congress and at the state level. But most of them are missing the point of her popularity and may be personally disappointed on Election Day, Richard A. Viguerie said.

"Too many Republican candidates think Governor Palin is popular because of her gender or because she's a fresh face with a 'cool' life story. They think they can hold onto her skirt and that her popularity will help carry them to victory," said Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com.

"The truth is, 'It's Palin's principles, stupid!' It's what she represents, as a reformer fighting corruption, even in her own party. It's because you can believe her when she says she will wage war on the corrupt Washington establishment. That's not something you can say about most candidates, who stood by throughout their careers doing precisely nothing about the culture of corruption that infests Washington and politics in general.

"And she's popular because she holds to the core beliefs of the coalition that elected Ronald Reagan in two landslides--on taxes, spending, the role of government, and traditional ideas of right and wrong.

"The popularity of Palin--and the heightened popularity of John McCain, who selected her as his political soul mate--won't help other Republicans unless they also hold to those principles and campaign credibly on those principles.

At a minimum, Republican candidates must demand the top-to-bottom removal of the Republican leadership that nearly sank the party over the past few years. That includes the leadership in Congress, the Bush administration, and GOP officials at the national level and in most states.

Republican candidates must tell us how they'll shut down the lobbyist-and-Big-Government political machines that dominate the nation's capital and most state capitals. And candidates for Congress must tell us how they'll tear K Street down to street level and sow salt in the earth so that nothing ever grows there again."

Said Viguerie: "It's a cliche, but it's true: The American people are fed up, and want change. By picking Sarah Palin, John McCain has gone a long way in convincing voters that he will be a warrior for the right kind of change. But lower-level Republicans will do poorly unless they demonstrate clearly and credibly that they will be on the front lines of the epic battles to come."

A Clear and Present Media Bias

2008-09-19T14:14:00.007-04:00

I just ran across an excellent post by Larry Clifton over at the American Politics and Media blog. Mr. Clifton published the post on September 8th. I'll share some of it with you...

... There is a lot about Sarah Palin that I don’t know. I do feel that I am comfortable and impressed with what I do know about her. On the other hand, there is a lot about McCain that I do know. Probably too much. In either case, I believe both are brave patriots who put country first.
Regarding Obama…not so much. Perhaps there is a bias behind my discrimination against his campaign; if so, it is appropriate and well documented. Today, Obama claims he is for the Bush tax-cuts that he has railed against for so long. Last week, along with House Speaker Pelosi and her ilk in Congress, he suddenly decided that offshore drilling might be a good idea after opposing it for his entire 300 or so career days present in Congress. And that whole thing about rural Americans “clinging to guns and religion…” he didn’t mean it, but it sure sounded good in San Francisco. Far more troubling is Obama’s reluctance to show our military - the military he wants to lead - a small modicum of respect.

Americans may argue the merits of the Iraq war for decades, or at least until Middle Eastern women no longer need to worry about being murdered by their fathers for choosing their own husbands. But arguing that our soldiers and their highly successful surge against Al Qaeda, which calmed the country and slowed violence against civilians while drastically lowering our troops’ combat casualties, didn’t work – well, even Al Jazeera can’t spin that garbage.
So, last week Obama admitted that the surge that he voted against and vehemently protested is a military success. It seems that as the election enters the home stretch, Obama is morphing into a rabid right-wing Republican. ...

You should read the entire post -- here.

T-shirt from NOBama.com

Why Biden's Plagiarism Shouldn't be Forgotten

2008-09-17T09:42:00.003-04:00

From Slate.com: Teachers and scholars consider the unattributed use of someone else's words and ideas to be a very serious offense, but the public doesn't seem to mind much, at least when it comes to politics. The incidents of plagiarism and fabrication that forced Joe Biden to quit the 1988 presidential race have drawn little comment since his selection as Barack Obama's vice presidential running mate ... .

In 1987, before Biden quit the race, he called the incidents "a tempest in a teapot." ... Biden's exit from the 1988 race is worth recalling in detail, because his transgressions far exceeded Obama's own relatively innocent lifting of rhetorical set pieces from his friend Deval Patrick, which occasioned a brief flap last February. Biden's misdeeds encompassed numerous self-aggrandizing thefts, misstatements, and exaggerations that seemed to point to a serious character defect.

Read the rest of the article here.

Also in Slate: Shmuel Rosner examined the "erratic pragmatism" of Biden's Middle East policy. Jack Shafer called Biden "the unusually creepy kind" of plagiarist.

Concerned Women for America Says, 'Stop Bullying Sarah!'

2008-09-16T08:56:00.002-04:00

Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) is appalled at the distortions about women and Christianity embodied in the personal attacks against a political candidate who is unapologetically also a woman, wife, mother and evangelical believer.

"In its continuing game of 'gotcha' journalism and the 'politics of personal destruction,' the mainstream media (MSM) and celebrity reporters are piling on Sarah Palin," said, Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, political commentator for CWALAC. "The personal attacks have reached unprecedented pettiness and hypocrisy. Even former journalistic giants (like the Washington Post and New York Times) are engaging in tabloid-like sensationalism and printing vicious distortions about her life, faith, experience and family. Even feminists -- who supposedly promote women's equality and the so-called 'women's rights' agenda -- are questioning a female candidate's ability to get the job done. It's past time for the bullying to stop!"

Crouse continued, "As an outsider who came to Washington without political connections and became a presidential speechwriter and denizen of the West Wing halls of power, I'd like to offer the governor a bit of advice: Don't be intimidated by the ubiquitous 'data robots' who are like children's wind-up toys spewing out facts and information. They sound impressive, but I've found that they often lack wisdom, insight and vision; many of them haven't the foggiest idea what those facts mean, sometimes lack common sense and too often are unable to shape ideas into reality. Don't be impressed by 'inside-the-Beltway' lingo; far too often the short-hand language that the inside crowd uses to talk to each other obscures the fact that they know very little about the real world inhabited by mainstream Americans."

Seven Years Later: How to Remember September 11

2008-09-11T12:15:00.004-04:00

Note: This commentary was delivered by Prison Fellowship Ministries President Mark Earley.

September 11, 2008

Today, seven years after terrorists flew a plane into the Pentagon, killing 184 people, a memorial to that attack will be dedicated. That it has taken seven years to erect this memorial is a testimony to our uncertainty as to how best to memorialize the events of that day.

In contrast to the Pentagon memorial, any memorial to the victims in New York is “years away.” Reinhold Martin of Columbia calls the situation at “Ground Zero” an “incredible mess.” The iconic status of the site, combined with “disagreements and competing priorities among government agencies, family groups, and Wall Street interests,” has made settling on a design near impossible.

While we debate what to do with stone and metal, there are some things we can do with our thoughts and actions right now.

I do know this: The best way to honor those who died has nothing to do with architecture.

One group is calling on Americans to make September 11 a “national day of charitable service.” They urge us to “volunteer, donate to a cause, or perform another good deed of [our] own choosing.”

Charitable service is always a good idea, and any attempt to inspire volunteerism is welcome. So is the decision by the presidential candidates to pull campaign ads on this day. That kind of respectfulness is appropriate. But there is more to memorials than architecture and good deeds, as important as they are. The word memorial comes from the Latin word memor, which means “mindful,” “remembering,” and even “grateful.”

What should we remember? Of course, we remember the victims and their families. And we are grateful for those, such as the New York firefighters and police, who died trying to save others. But we should also be mindful of why they died. We should not let the passage of time dull us to the threat posed by those who perpetrated the attack, their distorted worldview, and their continuing determination to kill us. You can be sure that bin Laden, his followers, and would-be followers will be celebrating the seventh anniversary of these attacks and calling for more just like them.

Events like the Madrid and London bombings testify to the continuing appeal of al Qaeda-like jihadism. The cult of the suicide bomber is, unfortunately, alive and well in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Their resilience should come as no surprise: Their memories go back nearly 1,400 years. They bemoan events that took place before the discovery of America. Their attention span and patience easily accommodate seven years. The real question is: Do ours?

We should also remember that their inability -- for now -- to attack us on our own soil does not mean they cannot threaten our way of life. Recent months have highlighted our dependence on foreign oil -- oil that disproportionately comes from the part of the world where these enemies are most active.

While architecture can honor the past, the only memorial worthy of that name are the lessons we learn that keep the past from ever being repeated again.

Vice President Palin? Now, That is REAL Change!

2008-08-29T13:55:00.007-04:00

Conservatives and mainstream Republicans, one and all, received a pleasant surprise when Presidential hopeful John McCain announced his running mate this morning. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is going to keep the hopes of a woman in the White House alive for voters in 2008. As for conservatives, worried about the auspices of an ultra-liberal like Barak Obama becoming our next President....

“They’re beyond ecstatic,” said Ralph Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition. “This is a home run. She is a reformer governor who is solidly pro-life and a person of deep Christian faith. And she is really one of the bright shining new stars in the Republican firmament.”

The forty-four year old Palin is known to conservatives for choosing not to have an abortion after learning that she was carrying a child with Down syndrome. “It is almost impossible to exaggerate how important that is to the conservative faith community,” Mr. Reed said.

Ms. Palin, a former mayor of the small town of Wasilla, an Anchorage suburb, mother of five and one-time beauty pageant queen, first rose to prominence as a whistle-blower uncovering ethical misconduct in state government.

As she was introduced by Senator McCain this morning, Ms. Palin praised the achievement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who lost a long and bitter primary race against Senator Obama, saying that she had left “18 million cracks” in the highest glass ceiling in the land. Then, making an explicit appeal to Ms. Clinton’s disappointed supporters, she said, “It turns out that the women in America aren’t finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling.”

Personally, I'm glad to know that a true, pro-life Christian woman is going to be part of the Presidential election process. Her influence will be needed as our next President is sure to select at least two Supreme Court justices -- a decision that will positively or adversely affect every person in this nation. Vice President Palin? Now, that is REAL change!

Sending the 'Very Best'? - Hallmark Introduces New Line of Cards for Gay Marriage

2008-08-28T10:48:00.002-04:00

Hot on the heels of the California Supreme Court decision to allow same- sex "marriage," Hallmark Cards is cravenly introducing a new line of greetings cards celebrating "gay marriage." Playing it safe with generalized images such as two tuxedos and taglines like "one promise, two hearts," there is no mention of the words wedding or marriage. Hallmark can easily market the cards for civil unions and domestic partnerships should the California decision go against them and be overturned in November.

Hallmark prides itself on "quality, innovation and caring." A family-owned business since 1910, Hallmark has grown into the most recognized greeting card chain in the nation. For over 50 years, families have gathered to watch the award winning Hallmark Channel for quality movies based on American values and pro-family principles.

Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America (CWA), said, "Hallmark is jeopardizing its brand as a family-friendly company. Customers used to be able to trust Hallmark to produce quality products that were safe for all ages. Now parents will need to steer their kids from Hallmark's section of the greeting card aisle and away from its previously heartwarming movies for fear that they too will push homosexual messages."

Janice Crouse, Director and Senior Fellow of CWA's Beverly LaHaye Institute, said, "By latching onto the latest fad generated by the homosexual special interest groups, Hallmark is negating its image as a wholesome company that promotes American values and pro-family principles in its products. American businesses have a corporate responsibility to the public that buys their products. Instead of bolstering campaigns by special interest groups like the homosexual activists, corporations like Hallmark should be protecting American culture from those forces that would destroy the family and create a public environment that is detrimental to general well- being, especially children's well-being."

Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.

National Black Pro-Life Union Calls Obama A Liar -- Has Proof!

2008-08-27T08:33:00.006-04:00

Article from ChristiansUnite.com
Photo from StarPulse.com
The following is submitted by Day Gardner, President of the National Black Pro-Life Union, commenting on Barack Obama's opposing the Born Alive Infants Protection Act.

There has been much talk about Barack Obama's vote against Illinois' Born Alive Infants Protection Act that would protect babies who survived abortion.
It's hard to believe that this man, who wants to hold the highest office in this land, would not only oppose legislation to protect children born alive, but would then lie about it for 4 years stating that he didn't oppose it.
For four years, Mr. Obama misrepresented his vote, saying that the bill he opposed in the Illinois State Senate was different from the bill that was passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by President Bush. However, the National Right to Life Committee has produced documents that confirm the two bills were exactly the same.
So, Mr. Obama lied...big time!
The identical legislation to protect babies who survive abortion was passed by the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly (before Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate) by a vote of 98-0, which means that even the most adamant pro-abortion Senators did not oppose it. Even NARAL was neutral on this bill, which goes to say that Barack Obama is far more extreme than anyone else on this issue.
Let's understand what opposing this important legislation means. Suppose that a woman goes to an abortion facility for an abortion and by some blessing the child survives--alive. Barack Obama has voted that the abortionist, medical staff, and anyone else in the room should stand by and watch the child die a horrible death -- gasping for air -- without lifting a finger to help him or her. There are also cases where completely delivered living babies were suffocated or strangled to death.
Barack Obama is an extremist who, in supporting what amounts to infanticide, would like to see all of us stand idle--twiddling our thumbs as unplanned children, who are born alive, die this terrible death.
We must realize this is definitely part of Mr. Obama's plan for America. But it is definitely not mine. In my America, all voices shout, "NO WE CAN'T!" "NO WE WON'T!"

The Sope-Bocks has reported before -- Barack Hussein Obama is THE MOST EXTREME LIBERAL Senator in the US Congress. It has been demonstrated MANY times that he is a liar and cannot be trusted. This is not a black and white thing. It's a character issue. It's an integrity issue. Barack Obama cannot be trusted with the White House, near-future Supreme Court Justice nominations nor with the nuclear codes. He is NOT a trustworthy man -- nor is his wife, Michelle, a person of high character (as heard in her "Claire Huxstable" speech at the Democratic National Convention).

Obama is destroying the work of Dr. King!

2008-08-24T21:15:00.003-04:00

Finally, a black pastor who is not suckered by Barack Hussein Obama. That is not a racist statement, but one of my own observation. I've seen so very few blacks who dare challenge the direction in which Barack Obama will take our country.

The Reverend James Manning is calling on a boycott of CNN, Oprah Winfrey, the NY Times, ABC, CBS and NBC. He is also calling blacks to stop all giving to the NAACP -- singularly because it supports fascists -- in the form of Barack Obama. Reverend Manning is serious -- and makes some excellent points. Listen to his words with an open mind! If you believe his calls for boycott will awaken the black community, then please pass a link to the ATLAH.org website (or this blog post) along. If I say something against Obama, I'm called a bigot. But, if someone respected in the black community, such as Reverend Manning, says the same thing -- he is heard. So, let him be heard!

"Obama is destroying the work of Dr. King!"
YouTube Video on the ATLAH.org website:
http://www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr07-28-08.html

Bigfoot Hoaxsters Can't Be Found -- Just Like the "Real" Bigfoot

2008-08-20T08:40:00.004-04:00

As predicted on The Sope-Bocks and other blogs, Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer of bigfoottracker.com and Bigfoot Global LLC are officially in hot water for his part in the Georgia Bigfoot hoax. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports,

The two Atlanta men who stood up at a news conference in California last week and tried to convince the world they had found Bigfoot now apparently can’t be located — just like the real Bigfoot.

Searching for Bigfoot Inc., the California outfit that paid an undisclosed sum to Whitton and Dyer for rights to their story and their find, says the pair checked out of the hotel where they had been put up over the weekend.

According to a news release on Searching for Bigfoot’s Web site, the whole scam unraveled when a block of ice containing the “body” melted over the weekend. Whitton and Dyer later confessed that it was just a costume, according to the release.

Why the two Georgians contrived the cross-country con isn’t clear. What is certain is that Whitton, 28, on medical leave after being shot in the wrist by a robbery suspect earlier this year, won’t be going back to work at the Clayton County Police Department.

As soon as he heard Whitton’s Bigfoot was a big fake, “I terminated him,” said Police Chief Jeffrey Turner said Tuesday. “He’s disgraced himself, he’s an embarrassment to the Clayton County Police Department, his credibility and integrity as an officer is gone, and I have no use for him,” Turner said. “His behavior is unbecoming of that of a police officer.”

“This turn of events from hero to someone who defrauds a nation is just baffling. I don’t know how he got from one point to the other,” Turner said. The chief said he wants to send Whitton his termination paperwork and get his uniforms back. However, he said, “We haven’t been able to get in touch with him.”

Chief Turner did the right thing in firing Matthew Whitton. Now, I wonder about the consequences that will be levied on Big Foot Towing and Auto Wholesale Ga. (Rick Dyer's car & parts sales business). Only time will tell. Keep an eye out for orange jumpsuits in this pair's future.

Georgia Bigfoot Really a Hoax -- Gorilla Suit

2008-08-19T23:58:00.000-04:00

The Sope-Bocks predicted (on Sunday) that 14 minutes of Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer's "15 minutes of fame" were over. Today, we found out that all fifteen minutes of fame for the two hoaxsters are over. Well, except for the possible photos of them in orange jumpsuits, flip-flops and shackles.

The website searchingforbigfoot.com, owned by Bigfoot hunter Tom Biscardi, today carried the words of Steve Kulls, who is apparently the Executive Director of something called Squatchdetective.com. Mr. Kulls was invited to be a witness to the thawing of the captured cadaver. In the end, the Georgia Bigfoot turned out to be a gorilla suit -- pretty much a Halloween costume.

Personally, I'm not altogether sure that Mr. Biscardi isn't complicit in the hoax. However, I have no proof of that theory.

Mr. Kulls said, "The motives behind this fraud are still unknown at this time. It is still unclear why Whitton who, being a police officer for the Clayton County Police Department in Georgia got up before the world and lied and was complicit in a scheme to defraud in a felonious manner."

Of course, now legal action is threatened. There appears to have been money given to Dyer and Whitton in exchange for the Bigfoot corpse -- um, gorilla suit. Presumably, the backyard freezer was part of the deal, too.

According to Mr. Kulls, "At this time, the victim of this series of deceptions, Searching for Bigfoot, Inc. [Tom Biscardi], is seeking justice for themselves and for all the people who were deceived by this deception. Due to this event, peoples lives have been disrupted... Let us all try to be mindful of such."

It's not clear what actually made the gorilla suit goons come clean. My guess is that websites like BFRO and blogs such as blogsquatch.com, Bigfoot Researchers' Lunch Club & The Sope-Bocks pulled the rug (pun intended) out from under their rhetoric. They really had no choice but to admit their lies.

I don't wish anyone harm, but I do hope that Matthew Whitton's supervisor on the Clayton County police force asks for his resignation. He has proven himself unfit to be a law enforcement officer. As for Rick Dyer, his business has sketchy reputation -- and he is likely in for some rough times due to his part in the lies regarding the Georgia Bigfoot.

Lastly, I hope no one actually remitted payment to Bigfoot Global LLC for the promised Bigfoot expeditions. If so, those customers are probably never going to see their $499.00 again. It's gonna be used to post bond.

Unless there is some other compelling reason to continue this story, The Sope-Bocks has finished reporting this story. It's time to get back to things that really matter to all of us.

Some info from CNet.com

Georgia Bigfoot Update... Nada

2008-08-17T09:04:00.008-04:00

Photo from ourbigfoot.com

Looks like there's nothing new to report in the Georgia Bigfoot investigation. It seems that Matthew Whitton, Rick Dyer and Tom Biscardi disappeared after their so-called press conference Friday afternoon.

Their 15 minutes of fame are just about over. ... aside from the arrest warrants and court proceedings that may be to come.

Matthew Whitton is probably updating his resume because his law enforcement career is likely over. Who's gonna take him seriously? Can you see him testifying for LE in a court case? Ha!

Ric Dyer (or is it Rick) might need to rethink his career choice, too. Selling used cars and parts is a rather shaky business, in the area of integrity, already. Who's gonna believe anything he has to say about all those cars & parts he sells online?

I wonder how long it will take after a lawsuit or criminal charges are filed -- for the two to turn on each other and the real story comes out. My guess, less than 15 minutes.

One thing I found early on, but never dug deeper, nor reported on, is Ric's YouTube channel. Even though one fan of the so-called Rickmat calls me an idiot for mentioning the contradictions in their YT videos, the evidence of lies in their recent past has spilled over into any serious claims they have for a Bigfoot sighting -- or the corspe in the freezer. At this point, the only reason to believe the owners of Bigfoot Global LLC have a real Bigfoot body is because they said so. The so-called "evidence" is non-existent, at this point.

Maybe we should wait, and reserve judement, until Tom Biscardi assembles "a team of scientists including a molecular biologist, an anthropologist, a paleontologist and other scientists" and the necropsy is complete. BTW, I wonder how many weeks it takes to assemble a team of scientists. After all, Biscardi has supposedly known about the Bigfoot for a couple of weeks now, right? Of course... they have to fly in from Russia. My bad. Oh, and the film team needs to arrive from Arizona before they can start.

In the meantime, how about getting the other five or so people who've seen the Bigfoot carcass to step out and provide some credibility to the claims? Why? Cuz that's not gonna happen. No one with a real life and job is going to risk their career and reputation to back Rick Dyer and Matt Whitton (who is also somehow named Gary Parker).

The VERY least they could do is have a decent photographer take a few pictures of the body and release those. While there would continue to be a lot of disbelief, clear and properly lighted photos would greatly help their case. OR, they could release the entire video of the Bigfoot who "paralleled" them in the forest. But, that's not going to happen either. Why? Because you can't take a convincing picture of a Halloween costume, a rug or a mask.

Yep, the clock is ticking... and it looks like 14 minutes of their 15 of minutes of fame are over.

New Photos of the Georgia Bigfoot - Enhanced

2008-08-15T22:06:00.009-04:00

Just wanted to offer enhanced versions of the new Georgia Bigfoot photos. These will help you see the details better than the originals posted earlier. The changes are not meant to aid in disproving or proving the claims of Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer. They are only to help you see details of the reported Bigfoot better.For the record, the original photos are from the AP, courtesy of searchingforbigfoot.com, the website of Thomas Biscardi.

New Photos of the Georgia Bigfoot

2008-08-15T21:26:00.006-04:00

Bigfoot - also known as Sasquatch in Canada, the Yeti in Asia, Mapinguari in the Amazon, and Yowie in Australia - is a humanoid creature said to wander the wooded wilds of the Pacific Northwest.

According to Matt Whitton, Rick Dyer and Tom Biscardi, what you see here is proof positive that Bigfoot exists -- and they (yes, at least three) live in the mountains of northern Georgia. According to their YouTube videos, they will even take you to "find a live one" (if you have $499.00 and a weekend to spare).

The first was reportedly taken by Whitton or Dyer as they were dragging the 500lb corpse of a dead male Bigfoot out of the woods. It's supposed to show a sasquatch following the small group in the forest. The second picture shows what Biscardi called a closeup of the mouth of the deceased Bigfoot. All of the photos show a copyright for searchingforbigfoot.com, Tom Biscardi's website.

I've given some time to investigating Matthew Whitton and Ric Dyer, their claims, their business and other associations. At this point, NOTHING gives me much faith in their "evidence". Then again, they "have the body" -- and I have not seen it "in person". So, I guess we'll have to wait for the second series of DNA results, the autopsy (which is promised for next) and the results of the Russian scientists' reports.

Photos by searchingforbigfoot.com

Tom Biscardi at the Georgia Bigfoot Press Conference

2008-08-15T17:04:00.011-04:00

The following is a transcript excerpt of Tom Biscardi's comments from the press conference.

After Whitton was asked about pictures not being released, Tom Biscardi takes over and says, "To their surprise, I've got those photographs here for you guys today. And I will disperse one to each for you. ... We also have one of the body where the tongue and the teeth are up close, so it will prove to you people that this is not a mask."

In his next statements, Biscardi claimed that Whitton and Dyer had reluctantly agreed to pass the photos out to reporters -- adding they (plural -- meaning, Biscardi, Whitton and Dyer) were going to offer the photos (plural) to everyone in the room.

QUESTION: If they had photos to hand out to a gaggle of reporters, how is the statement, "To their surprise I've go those photographs..." a true statement?

Anyway, Tom Biscardi did show and hand out two photos. One can be seen below. Both shots are reportedly far from sharp or high resolution. The second pic is a still shot of what Biscardi claimed is the supposed live creatures following the hikers. I'm trying to get copies of those photos now.

DNA Evidence:
A second round of DNA testing on the remains of a 7-foot-7, 500 pound man-ape they allege to have stumbled upon while hiking in North Georgia is still being completed, they said. Of three samples in a preliminary DNA test, one came back inconclusive, one contained traces of human DNA and one had traces of opossum DNA — probably from something the creature ate, they said.

The Sope-Bocks is on the trail of the Georgia Bigfoot...

Screencaps courtesy of NECN.com
Photo by AP/Margot

"Interview" with Matthew Whitton of Bigfoot Global LLC - Part Deux

2008-08-15T16:41:00.006-04:00

"Interview" Part Deux:
The following is a transcript excerpt of Matt Whitton's comments from the press conference -- and my follow-up questions and comments (if I was there):

Matt Whitton: "...Tom Biscardi and his team and maybe search, at a later date, for some more."
SB: Matt, are you not already selling Bigfoot expeditions on your website? Did you not already report that your next expedition is sold out -- and that it sold out in just two days? Didn't you say the next open expedition is in September? [Reviews video yet again] Yep, that's what you said Matt. Hmm....

Matt Whitton: "At the time we were not looking for a Bigfoot. That's the interesting thing... We wouldn't know what we were doing, if we did it."
SB: Now, that's the first thing you've said that I can believe and righteously quote. Thank you.

Matt Whitton: "Like I said, we were hiking in the woods, deep in the woods. It was actually laying next to a stream... The first thing that pops into your head is, 'Bigfoot" and then you take a step back and you think, you know, that can't be... cuz I didn't believe in Bigfoot at the time."
SB: Mr. Whitton, Matt, Gary... um, haven't you said numerous times that YOU are a Bigfoot tracker -- with years of experience and tens of thousands of dollars invested in hunting Bigfoot? Are you now to have us believe that you have been spending money, investing time and hunting something you never believed in before you found one laying on the forest floor? That's incredible!

Matt Whitton: "I've seen the films and I've seen things on television before, so you have to come to terms with it and realize that you've got something special. And, that's what is was."
SB: So, what you're saying is that you've never actually hunted nor tracked Bigfoot before. In fact, you've never even been out in the woods to look for Bigfoot before? You only watched TV in regards to your knowledge of Bigfoot? Is that what you're telling us now Matt?

Reporter: Are you worried that [the species is going to be in trouble now]?
Matt Whitton: "That's why I'm not revealin' the location. We have no intentions of revealing that to the public. Om, I'm sure north Georgia is gonna be pretty busy right now, as a whole ... my intention with this is to protect the species."
SB: Gary... um, Matt. What is your real name anyway? Oh well, on with the question... Previously, you stated that you didn't reveal the location of your find so that other hunters wouldn't move in on your territory. Have you now become more conservation minded -- in favor of protecting the species and observing these creatures in their natural habitat. No wait. I answered my own question -- or actually you did. You're on record as saying you plan to use a take-down dog to capture and subdue another Bigfoot and then bring it in alive. So, how is it that not revealing the location is going to protect the species? I'm really confused.

When asked if he and Dyer have pictures of the Georgia Bigfoot that were alive, Whitton replied, "Yes, they have been filmed as well ... In the future will be released... some of the most clear footage... it's not blurry footage that you see on these other...ah...shows."

STILL MORE TO COME...

"Interview" with Matthew Whitton of Bigfoot Global LLC

2008-08-15T15:54:00.005-04:00

If The Sope-Bocks blogger was at the Palo Alto news conference with hoaxsters... I mean hunters Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, I would love to interview them. The following are transcript excerpts of Whitton's comments from the press conference -- and my follow-up questions and comments (if I was there):

Matt Whitton: "We were not originally Bigfoot hunters."
SB: Wait Matt! Didn't you AND Ric both say you've been hunting Bigfoot "for years"?!? [Reviews video] Yep, your YouTube video has it. So, which is the lie Matt?

Matt Whitton: "We are now the best Bigfoot trackers in the world ."
SB: I know. Your tan cap says so. And we all know that hat philosophy is reliable -- and that what YOU say is reliable, too.

Matt Whitton: "We had just decided we were gonna get away for awhile. We were gonna go up into the north Georgia mountains..."
SB: What? I thought you said that you were contacted by a man from northern Georgia, who had seen a Bigfoot. You know, it was reported on your tip line at bigfoottracker.com. Remember your YouTube video? [Reviews video again] Yep, that's what you said was the basis for discovering Bigfoot. That tip and your keen approach to tracking Bigfoot (sometime from a tree limb, with a nylon rope).

Matt Whitton: "We were camping deep in the woods... We stumbled upon this creature... a stroke of luck, I can tell you that."
Matt, Matt... um Gary... yeah, um didn't you say that you are the best Bigfoot trackers in the world? Not even two minutes ago? So how is it that you were camping and "stumbled" upon this creature -- not tracking Bigfoot, but taking a weekend off and going camping? I'd like to know how that works. Could you elaborate?

Matt Whitton: "Ric went back and got a truck... and some help... and we got it outta there."
SB: Not being an outdoorsman, camping enthusiast or experienced Bigfoot hunter such as yourself, I'm curious. Does everyone go "deep into the woods" driving a Cadillac STS, Mercedes C230 or Dodge Caravan? I would have thought that camping "deep in the woods" of the north Georgia mountains would kinda require use of a four-wheel drive truck. Haven't I seen Mr. Dyer driving a Nissan 4x4? Didn't you guys purchase a $38,000 tow truck for your Bigfoot hunting business? Am I missing something?

Reporter: Do you know how the animal died?
Matt Whitton: "I do not."
SB: Matt, didn't at least two of your YouTube videos strongly infer that you did indeed know how "the animal" died? There was a hunter and a 30.06 involved. Don't you remember showing us a bullet?

Reporter: Can you tell us about the DNA evidence...?
Matt Whitton: "Well, we're waitin' on that to come back... I guess Tom has it back. As far as I know, it's gonna come back as a... what it looks like to me is a human, ape-type creature. ... It's definitely something we've never seen before. So, it should come back as something like that."
SB: So, Matt -- you're a DNA expert as well as the best Bigfoot tracker in the world? I am impressed. Your vast knowledge of all animal species and the fact that you can see this is "definitely something we've never seen before" lends further credibility to your claims. Um, when did you say we will get to see the body?

Whitton goes on to say three other Bigfoot were "paralleling" them as they recovered the 500lb male Bigfoot corpse from the forest. "It's like they didn't want to be seen. We'd hear a crunch in the leaves or something and we would see them. They were aware of us. They didn't try to attack us or anything."
According to Whitton, the "scientific community" is going to do an autopsy on the beast.

MORE TO COME...

Georgia Bigfoot Press Conference

2008-08-15T15:14:00.005-04:00

The Georgia Bigfoot press conference supposed to take place at 3:00pm EST. WSB radio had announced they would carry the press conference live. It's now 3:30pm. And WSB radio is reporting LIVE on the press conference:

Matt Whitton: "We were hiking in the woods... it was actually laying next to a stream." The reporter says Whitton and others "photographed the body". They will supposedly reveal photos to reporters at the press conference. We'll see.

BTW, 28 year old Whitton and his partner, 31 year old Ric Dyer, are telling reporters they have turned the corpse in the freezer over to Tom Biscardi, who now has it in an undisclosed location. Biscardi has reportedly said he is having DNA tests run, as well as two Russian scientists performing tests on the Bigfoot body. All of the tests and examinations are reportedly being filmed -- possibly by Scott Davis of Arizona.

The Sope-Bocks will be updated as soon as more information is available.

Georgia Bigfoot - Questions About The Freezer Photo

2008-08-15T12:55:00.007-04:00

UPDATED: 3:23 pm on 08.15.08
Answers, if any, will be added as info is received

I've been looking at the supposed body of a Bigfoot, as seen in a chest freezer, offered by Matt Whitton and Ric Dyer of bigfoottracker.com and Bigfoot Global LLC. Overlooking the lies already told - Dr. Paul Van Buren; buying a tow truck for $38000 (see my previous post); Whitton saying he was shot by a fellon; etc... Overlooking the questions that still loom about the business ventures of Whitton and Dyer. The only evidence the public has at this point, is the photo. So, let's examine the photo and the story behind it.

THE STORY
Matt Gary Whitton and Ric(k)Dyer claim a man (who is on probation or parole) was illegally hunting in the mountains of northern Georgia, when he happened upon a Bigfoot. That man shot the Bigfoot with a 30-06 rifle. Apparently, the bigfoot died of a single GSW. Whitton and Dyer -- who are the best Bigfoot trackers in the world, according to their own testimony -- hiked into the mountains and located the body of a Bigfoot.
They decided to take it out of woods, so Ric Dyer dragged (his wording, not mine) the 7' 7", 500 lb corpse through the underbrush, bushes and between trees -- out to their vehicle. He then loaded it into the vehicle and transported it more than 1.5 hours back to an undisclosed location near his home in Ellenwood/Forest Park, Georgia.

The 500 lb corpse was then placed into a normal-size chest freezer, which was kept outside in the hot, humid Georgia air. All the while, Matt Whitton could not have been much help as he was shot in the wrist, with his service revolver, during a struggle with a suspect. His arm is in a cast-like device that would preclude him from any heavy lifting or prolonged tugging.

Next, Whitton and Dyer claim the freezer where the Bigfoot carcass is stored broke down. Tom Biscardi says it's because the freezer was a frost-free model and Whitton-Dyer were trying to fill the chest with water to cover the body and freeze it. [Reasonable story] They further claim that the photo was taken after ice was placed on the body -- and then melted away. So, here we are at the photo of the Bigfoot corpse, lying in a chest freezer.

= QUESTIONS & OBSERVATIONS =
1) A 7' 7" human-like body would not fit in a normal-size chest freezer without significant bending/flexing of the limbs. The "body" shown in the photo seems to be stretched out from the neck to the waist. I used the garden hose as a known point of reference. At the largest, the hose is 2" in diameter. Counting hose widths from the far end to the center lock opening, I counted around 28". That would make the freezer, at largest, around six feet in length. A 19.7 cu ft chest freezer has an approximate length of 61", while a 21.7 cu ft chest freezer has a length of around 64". Either is long enough, but neither is wide enough -- at ~30" -- to hold the shoulders of a 7' 7" beast without the shoulders being extremely torqued to one side or the other. As you can see from the red lines in the photo above, this isn't the case. If the body doesn't fit, you must admit (to the hoax).
2) No hands or wrists are seen in the photo, yet shoulders and at least the arms appear to be visible along the torso. Why is that? Furthermore, the dimensions of what appear to be arms (shown in red above) don't match with the length of the freezer as compared to the reported height of the monster.
3) Although the body was supposedly covered in water, there is no visible evidence of blood, either in the freezer tub, on the lip of the chest freezer or on the ground just outside the freezer. I would expect some blood to be present from the exit wound of a 30-06 that leaves intestines hanging from the gut.
4) Speaking of intestines -- the entrails sitting on the carcass don't seem to protrude from a wound. In order for the small intestine (that couldn't be the colon) to hang outside the body, there would be a gapping exit wound. Where is it?
5) Speaking of things hanging out -- the tongue is odd looking to me. If Whitton and Dyer did fake Bigfoot, it was a smart idea to have a tongue hanging out. I'll give 'em that much. But, the tongue just doesn't look right. It looks like a cow tongue. I would expect that the tongue of a dead "animal" of 500 pounds would be thicker. I also can't see how it would stick straight out of the mouth, centered and clasp gently by the teeth. Most dead animals I've seen, with tongues hanging out, have the tongue hanging to one side or the other.
6) And the teeth... the photo makes them look very straight and uniform. Although some mammals have fairly straight teeth, the teeth of the Georgia Bigfoot look almost "manufactured".
7) Have you ever seen the fur of a wild animal after it's been wet? It lays down, pretty much in place. The fur or hair on Whitton and Dyer's yeti seems to be knotted and matty looking. Dragging the carcass through the forest could have done this, BUT why would Rick Dyer have dragged the body face down? How else could the fur end up looking like a plastic-backed rug that has been threw the washer and dryer?
8) Furthermore, there are no visible twigs, sticks or underbrush on the visible surface of the fur. Wouldn't an animal that had fallen dead on the floor of the forest, then been dragged out of the underbrush, have at least small bits of pine needles, trigs or sticks on it? You say the water washed it away? If the body wasn't repositioned in the freezer, then any debris would have "pooled" at the midsection of the corpse as the water drained from the freezer. Nope, nothing visible there, either.
9) If they have video and multiple photos of live Bigfoot, why would Ric Dyer and Matthew Whitton post a single photo of a dead Bigfoot stuffed in a freezer? Why not go ahead and release at least one photo of one of the live ones they claim to have seen while recovering the corpse of this one?
10) A smaller question -- with more weight to it... Who helped Rick Dyer move the Bigfoot body, load it into the car/truck, unload it and place it in the freezer? And, why hasn't he come forward?
Answer: Ric Dyer "claimed it took six men a day and a half to drag the body out."

I'm sure there are plenty more questions to be asked, but I'll leave it for now. After all, I have to microwave some popcorn and pour myself a big mug of root beer. The press conference that will "shock the world" begins in less than 30 minutes!

The Sope-Bocks will be updated as soon as the press conference is over...

Bigfoot Global LLC - Bigfoot Expeditions... or Wrecker Service?

2008-08-15T11:41:00.008-04:00

This post is not offered to cast any doubt on

Rick Dyer's business (or his family business).

It is simply more evidence that proves a connection between Bigfoot Global LLC and Big Foot Towing, most likely owned or run by Ric Dyer's family in Ellenwood or Forest Park, Ga. As some folks have challenged the connection between the two, I felt compelled to show further evidence.

It seems the someone from the business that owns is also very active on the CraigList. The phone number used for some of their sales is the same as the one posted on bigfoottracker.com as the reservations line for Matt Whitton and Ric Dyer's $499.00 weekend Bigfoot Expeditions. You know, the one that sold out in two days. Don't worry, though. If you don't need a tow truck, they can set you up with reservations for their September weekend expedition into the mountains of northern Georgia -- for $499.00 per person.

Here are a couple more items that may be evidence of the connection -- lest someone think the phone number was transferred from one business to another:

The Mercedes Benz C230 shown in one YouTube video was being offered at the 864 number in this ad.

The green Caddy STS seen in the video from 8/14/08 was being offered on Craiglist in this ad -- with the same 864 phone number.

I bet I'm wasting my time with all this investigation, though. My guess is -- as the clock ticks towards 12:00 noon PST, Whitton and Dyer will come out with a story that Bigfoot's body has been stolen -- complete with pictures of a busted door, ransacked storage room and blood trail. The DNA samples and the resulting "evidence" will fade into the ether and Tom Biscardi will be the spokesman at the very short press conference (if it even occurs).

BUT, there's still hope! Bigfoot Global LLC and Biscardi will gladly take $499.00 -- and then haul you out to the woods for the weekend, so that you can search for the other three Bigfoot they saw while Rick Dyer was dragging a 500 lb dead weight corpse of a 7' 7" male Bigfoot through the underbrush of a north Georgia mountain. Uh, huh! Wink, nudge. Sure thing...

Bigfoot Global LLC really Big Foot Towing Company?

2008-08-14T16:53:00.014-04:00

UPDATED: 11:40am 08/15/08
I conducted further research on the website and other data on Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer. Guess what I found?

Bigfoot seems to be a theme for Whitton and/or Dyer. One of their families, most likely Rick Dyer's, works at or owns Big Foot Towing in Forest Park or Ellenwood, Ga. In fact, a tow truck with the name Big Foot Towing and what appears to be the same number where they take reservations for their Bigfoot expeditions was for sale on Craiglist not too long ago. Furthermore, the green Caddy Ric drives in one YouTube video is the same one being sold in this ad -- posted with the same 770-864-xxxx phone number.

Lest Matt Whitton turn his teddy bear's wrath on me in the next YouTube video, here is proof of the connection to Bigfoot Global LLC -- from their website's source HTML:

'keywords' content='BIGFOOT , GEORGIA , TOURS ,EXPEDITIONS, sasquatch, missing link, Yeti, Yetti, Big Foot merchandise and shirts'
'description' content='BIGFOOT Expeditions into the mountains, foot hills and swamps of the South eEastern US. BIG FOOT TIP LINE! and ACCESSORIES. RESERVATIONS 770-864-4949

It's funny how Matthew Whitton claims (at 7:24 in this video) that they "go all out with this business" as he implies they have purchased a tow truck "in case we get on something big we can't haul off ourselves". Yeah, borrowing the Dyer's tow truck and going down the road from the trailer park to film a YouTube video is really going "all out".

At 2 minutes, 56 seconds in this YouTube video, they flash the text, "Having to buy a tow truck $38000". Um, is this yet another lie?!? If not, why pay $38,000 for a tow truck when you have one for sale on Craiglist for $8,000.00?!?

BigfootTracker.com - Matt Whitton and Rick Dyer

2008-08-14T16:29:00.007-04:00

Matthew Whitton (who calls himself Matt Gary Whitton) and Ric Dyer are the two guys who say they have the corpse of a Georgia Bigfoot in a freezer. Their story seems to be falling apart as fast as they can tell it. Bloggers have ripped their YouTube videos -- exposing one hoax and making suggestions of a larger, more criminal intent.

In an attempt to bolster credibility, the owners of Bigfoot Global LLC, a company that offers weekend expeditions to search for Bigfoot, have the testimony of the man who supposedly shot a Bigfoot (or Yeti) in the mountains of North Georgia. The video is amateurish, at best, and downright silly at worst. However, it does add to the intrigue and mystery of why two guys who are/were making an honest living would want to end up behind bars or on the wrong end of a civil lawsuit.

When outed for lying about a scientist who they claimed flew to Georgia to review the Bigfoot body, Whitton was rather indignate towards those who caught him. He and Dyer also act surprised that people were able to track down their parents and coworkers' information. How hard can that be when one of them is seen squatting behind his personal vehicle with the license plate in plain view? [See it at 9:52 on this video.] Doing a whois on bigfoottracker.com shows Whitton's address (that's South Ave, not Sout Ave) -- and a phone number. The whois query also yields Dyer's email address. It doesn't take a genius to hunt down other personal info from a license plate and/or domain registration. DOH! Are we sure these two guys work(ed) in law enforcement?

Frankly, I think the following statement from Carmine Thomas Biscardi's website suggests the root of this story: "Currently, Tom Biscardi and his Searching for Bigfoot Team, in conjunction with Bigfoot Global LLC., are preparing to capture another of these creatures alive. That expedition will start very soon. The dates and the locations are being kept confidential." ...unless you have FIVE-HUNDRED bucks and want to pay to go see a "Bigfoot" -- with Biscardi, Whitton and Dyer as your leaders. After all, why else would they attempt such a hoax? If you want to follow the story, there's supposed to be a private press conference tomorrow:

Time: From 12Noon-1:00pm
Place: Cabana Hotel-Palo Alto, 4290 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, California 94306

My guess is they will show some so-called evidence tomorrow, claim the body has been stolen or compromised and then setup a fee-based Bigfoot hunting expedition for the public. After all, they claim saw three or more "live ones" the day they found the body.

Personally, I wouldn't trust one red cent to these three -- nor would I trust a single word they say. If I'm wrong, then I'll gladly (and publicly) admit it. BTW, the real Dr. Paul Van Buren called. He wants his brown shag rug and Halloween mask back. Matt and Rick, you can keep the entrails and cow tongue.

Another oddly humorous FWIW item: searchingforbigfoot.com claims to have the exclusive copyright on the photos from Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer -- yet the website shows an unregistered version of the photos. All the while Biscardi posts numerous warnings to everyone regarding his copyright all over his website. Isn't it ironic, dontcha think?

The reason I posted the photo here is that it is now in the public domain, having been shown on a free, public news channel - FoxNews. The Anomalist has a great article on this story, too. Check it out!

Is Bigfoot in a Georgia Man's Freezer?

2008-08-14T12:24:00.001-04:00

Edited: 08/20/08
bigfootpolice is not Whitton's YouTube account

In case you haven't heard the latest controversy over Bigfoot, a couple of guys down near Forest Park, Georgia say they have the body of a male Bigfoot. Loren Coleman's Cryptomundo and Thomas Biscardi's searchingforbigfoot.com both have pictures and other information from the story, so I won't rehash it here. Besides, the photos' owners are already talking about suing people who use their copyrighted pics. Anyway, some of the mass media has also picked up the story. Even FoxNews.com ran an article today.

Let me state the following at the outset, since money is likely the whole reason this story is making the rounds anyway... Matthew Whitton (AKA Gary Parker) and Ric Dyer -- one a smalltown police officer and the other a former prison guard -- own a website called bigfoottracker.com, along with Bigfoot Global LLC, a Bigfoot expedition company. With their dog, Deuce, they claim to be "the world's best Bigfoot hunters".

Forteans researching the topic of Bigfoot, Yeti or Sasquatch need to know these guys, who say they found the dead male specimen of an ape-like creature, are... well, let's just say they seem to be a few fries short of a happy meal. Under the production credits of M&R Films, here is a video they posted on YouTube. Believe me, it's strange... and in the end appears to be little more than a backwoods macho advertisement for their website, bigfoottracker.com.

[NOTE: bigfoottracker.com was registered on June 16 of this year.] Isn't it odd that a world reknown Bigfoot tracker would not have a website setup until right around the time he supposedly finds a Bigfoot dead in the woods of north Georgia?

ASIDE: Isn't it interesting that these two goof balls call Tom Biscardi (who makes some of his living off Bigfoot hunting) the one person whom they would allow to see the body -- when they claim to be the best Bigfoot hunters in the world? If they are the best, why do they need Biscardi? Their reputation and the "corpse in the freezer" should be definitive proof.

It seems that some other skeptics have had a go at the two via comments on YouTube, email and even phone calls. But why wouldn't people be skeptical? After all, they tried to pull a hoax by depicting Matt Whitton's brother as a scientist who had flown in from Texas to examine the Bigfoot body. They called him Dr. Paul Van Buren, which is NOT his name. His real name is Martin "Marty" Whitton. He's a photographer -- who actually does live in Texas.

Fortunately, real investigators took mere hours to prove that "Dr. Van Buren" was Whitton's brother. Within a couple of days, Whitton posted another YouTube video admitting the hoax. The odd thing is that Whitton and Dyer never really apologize for lying. All the while, they continually call those who found them out losers, etc. -- many for not posting their real names on YouTube.

In the same YouTube video, these two "Bigfoot trackers" take issue with competing Bigfoot hunters -- including bad mouthing them, their businesses and their websites. In a desperate attempt at humor, Whitton and Dyer use a teddy bear to talk trash with some bravado. WEIRD!

Barack's Bigotry, In His Own Words

2008-07-22T11:08:00.007-04:00

I would imagine you are as I am -- sick and tired of hearing and reading about the candidates for election but thought I would pass this one along. It came to me via email yesterday.

Do you think you know who this man is?

This possible President of the United States? Read below and ask yourselves -- Is this really someone we want to see as the next President of our great nation?

Below are a few lines from Obama's books; in his words!

From Dreams from My Father: 'I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.'

From Dreams from My Father : 'I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother's race.'

From Dreams from My Father: 'There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white.'

From Dreams from My Father: 'It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names.'

From Dreams from My Father: 'I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa, that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself, the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela.'

And finally the most damming Barack Hussein Obama quote of ALL --

From The Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'

This father of "change" for America, in his own words, states that he doesn't trust white people, finds solace in animosity towards white people, is loyal to "the black masses", uses Malcolm X as an example of the attributes he desires to emulate AND will "stand with Muslims" politically (at the very least). Is this the man who should be President of these United States?

All Americans, especially the black folks who say they will vote for Obama just because he's black, should THINK about what electing him means. From his own words, he will usher in a new era of discrimination -- not only towards whites, but towards anyone who is not Muslim -- including Christian blacks.

I don't care for Jesse Jackson, but I can see why he wants to cut Barack's nuts off. The man is clearly a danger to race relations, our national sovereignty and the freedom of religion in the United States. He can be beat. Americans can send a message that Obama's kind of change is NOT the direction we want to go. Yes, WE can!

Barack Obama: The Abortion President

2008-07-09T09:03:00.000-04:00

Article from christiansunite.com
Christian group launches new effort in their campaign to educate American voters on the radical and extremist abortion policies of Senator Obama. The campaign called, "Barack Obama: The Abortion President," will focus on how Mr. Obama wants taxpayers to pay for abortions.

The Christian Defense Coalition held a news conference on Tuesday, July 8, at 11:00 A.M. to discuss this new campaign. The news conference was held in front of Mr. Obama's senate office in the Hart Senate Office building in Washington, DC.

A major part of the news conference centered on the fact that Senator Obama wants people of faith, Catholics and Evangelicals, to pay for abortions through their tax dollars.

The Chicago Tribune reported last year, when Senator Obama was "asked about his proposal for expanded access to health insurance, Obama said it would cover 'reproductive health services.' Contacted afterward, an Obama spokesperson said that included 'abortions.' Although in recent days Senator Obama has tried to downplay his extremist views on abortion, his own Presidential website says, "...he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President."

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states, "Senator Obama talks about bringing hope, faith and change to American politics. We now see this is all just political 'doublespeak.' One of his top priorities as President would be protecting abortion rights and even expanding them. If elected, Senator Obama would become 'The Abortion President,' with the most extremist policies on abortion of any President in history.

Senator Obama's views on abortion are so radical that he even wants American citizens to pay for them. This would include Catholics, Evangelicals and all people of faith. He would also expand abortion rights through his passionate support of The Freedom of Choice Act.

The Christian Defense Coalition will be working diligently over the next 5 months before the November elections to educate people of faith, especially Catholics, that Barack Obama wants them to pay for abortions. This is not a candidate who is concerned about social justice, hope and equality. Rather, this is candidate who will continue the violence and pain of abortion and refuse to end this tragic war against America's women and children."

Kaitlin Clare, Program Director for the Christian Defense Coalition, adds, "As a 23 year old woman of faith, I am appalled at the radical and extremist abortion politics of Senator Obama. This is not a progressive view on abortion or one that affirms women. As most of this emerging generation is embracing a 'culture of life' and growing less comfortable with abortion, Senator Obama wants to take us back to a radical pro-abortion posture that is both archaic and disturbing.

Senator Obama, this generation will not go back to the violent days of abortion on demand with no restrictions. It is very confusing that you do not want tax dollars going to pay for the deaths of American solders in Iraq, yet you want each of us to pay for the killing of innocent children through abortions here in America.

We also want to remind Senator Obama that although we may be more progressive than our parents on the environment, social justice and other cultural issues, we could never vote for a President that wants to expand and embrace abortion policies that diminish women and violate human rights."

Big Fish Games - Bait or Trophy?

2008-07-08T15:44:00.005-04:00

I'm looking for information and reviews of Big Fish Games. Whether it's your favorite games website or a bane to your existence, I want to know. BFG offers entertainment in three categories: Online game, PC game, Mac game.

Send comments via this blog post. I'll accept ALL comments (that don't use vulgar language or ignorant claims one way or the other). If you've never heard of Big Fish Games, check out the following link to their site -- and Game Club:

Here are a few of the titles they offer:

I look forward to reading your opinions and comments.

Green Energy Ain't So Green When You Consider The Green It Costs To Be Green

2008-07-04T09:29:00.008-04:00

The Calgary Herald ran a story yesterday about a gentleman who is "beating high gas prices" by driving a converted electric vehicle. Here are a couple of excerpts from that article, along with some facts people need to sit up and listen to before jumping on the green bandwagon of alternative forms of power for automobiles.

John Littauer doesn't sweat the annual summer spike in gas prices.While the rest of us fret about record-high prices at the pumps, Littauer silently whizzes to work in a battery-powered Porsche, immune to the volatility of the global demand for oil. In the past five years, Littauer has not spent one cent on gasoline and virtually nothing on maintenance for his 1972 Porsche 914, other than body work to repair the 36-year-old sports car. He can drive at highway speeds with all the acceleration he needs and can go about 50 kilometres between battery charges -- plenty of distance, he says, for average city driving.
His cost to plug in and recharge the 24 deep-cycle batteries that power the vehicle is about the same as operating a refrigerator for one year. Other than some bearings, brushes and brakes, his car has few moving parts to fix. "It's basically a glorified go-cart," says Littauer, who owns a local electric technology company. [thus the reason for his exoburance?]
He's so charged up about battery-powered vehicles that he also has an electric Honda CRX, a hybrid scooter and just took delivery of a battery-powered 1978 Porsche 928. "This is definitely the future," says Littauer, who has had all of his cars converted to battery power by mechanics in British Columbia.
Randy Holmquist of Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd., who did the conversion on Littauer's Honda, says business is booming at his shop on Vancouver Island. "It has hit and it has hit hard," says Holmquist, a former marine mechanic who has been doing electric vehicle conversions for nearly two decades. A year ago, he was converting fewer than two vehicles a month. Today, he is averaging three a week. "For us, that is phenomenal growth." ...
Holmquist, who also builds small electric trucks and electric airport runway equipment, says conversion kits cost $10,000 to $12,000 with another $3,000 to $4,000 required for batteries. That can easily skyrocket, depending on the type of batteries installed. ...
Littauer sent it [his Honda] to Holmquist to be converted at a cost of about $15,000. His two Porsches were converted by another B.C. mechanic, one at a cost of $15,000 and the other at a cost of $30,000. Considering operation and maintenance is virtually free, Littauer says they are worth every penny, even with their limited range of up to 60 kilometres. By never letting his batteries discharge more than 50 per cent, he says they could last up to 10 years.

Let's crunch some numbers and see how good it is to be green... and how many green dollars it costs to be green... and if being this kind of green is really green at all.

ELECTRIC CAR
Conversion cost:
$15,000.00 -- average (with mid-tier batteries)
Annual maintenance costs:
Very generously allowing $0 for maintenance
Fuel/Power costs:
$38.00
Littauer says he drives up to 97 miles between charges
476 kWh x $0.08 avg
This calculation made by using the EarthCare formula & a new Sears fridge.
Useful life before replacing batteries:
5-6 years
Cost of replacing batteries:
$3500
Cost of battery disposal:
$300
Assuming lithium-ion batteries are used
10-year total cost of ownership:
$19,180.00

GASOLINE CAR
Conversion cost:
$0
Annual maintenance costs:
$480
$1000 for oil/filter changes
$3000 to rebuild motor once in 10 yrs
$800 misc belts, hoses, spark plugs etc.
Fuel/Power costs:
$1650.00
Avg person drives 33 miles per day or 12,045 miles/yr
1972 Porsche 914 = 30 MPG
Gallons per year = 401.5
Avg fuel price over 10 yrs cannot be calculated, so I'm using today's US avg for UL = $4.110
Useful life before replacing engine:
8-10 years
10-year total cost of ownership:
$21,300.00

Total savings over ten years = $2120.00
Average savings per year = $212.00

Assuming their are no other hidden costs in owning the electric vehicle, Mr. Littauer will save approximately $215.00 each year with his primary battery powered vehicle. He can't drive more than 100 miles without recharging. If he goes on a trip, he must find someone willing to allow him to plug in to the electrical grid. There are advantages as well. He doesn't have to worry much about the soaring price of gasoline.
So, is it really worth it to be this kind of green? IMO, green energy ain't so green when you consider the green it costs to be green.

H.I.V. Diagnosis Rates Continue to Rise Among Young Men, African-Americans

2008-06-28T11:38:00.000-04:00

By NY Times / David Tuller
Diagnoses of H.I.V. and AIDS in men who have sex with men rose significantly between 2001 and 2006 while declining in other demographic groups, the federal Centers for Disease Control reported Thursday.

The increase in diagnoses was especially high among males between the ages of 13 and 24, with an annual increase of 12.4 percent, compared to 1.5 percent for men overall. The annual increase was still higher among young African-American men who have sex with men, nearly 15 percent. Among African-American men of all ages who have sex with men, the annual increase in diagnoses was 1.9 percent.

Experts said yesterday that the new statistics were an ominous -- but not necessarily surprising -- indicator that the epidemic continues to flourish among gay men more than 25 years after it began. “It’s a grim report,” said Dr. Ronald Stall, an epidemiologist and professor of public health at the University of Pittsburgh. “It means roughly speaking that about half of the American AIDS epidemic is occurring among a few percent of the adult population. And the terrible trends we’re seeing among white gay men are even amplified further among minority men.” Sex between men accounted for more than 97,000 new diagnoses over the six years, almost half of the total number, according to the CDC. report. In contrast, diagnoses attributed to high-risk heterosexual contact and injection-drug use declined annually by, respectively, 4.4 percent and 9.5 percent.

The findings were published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the C.D.C.’s widely read public health journal. The data were based on reporting from 33 states and did not include statistics from some with large gay and minority populations, including California, Illinois and Georgia. The agency noted, however, that the racial disparities presented in the report generally reflected national trends in the epidemiology of AIDS. The agency reported that some of the rise could stem from higher rates of H.I.V. testing among men who have sex with men but added that “available data suggest that these increases cannot be explained by increases in testing alone.”

The C.D.C. recently launched a new H.I.V. reporting system designed to differentiate between recent and older infections. Data from the new effort should become available later this year, according to the agency, and will help experts more accurately track the impact of H.I.V. prevention programs. Jennifer Hecht, education director at the Stop AIDS Project in San Francisco, said that lack of access to information was a key factor in the increase in infection rates. “In a lot of ways this is connected to the administration’s policy of emphasizing abstinence-only education,” she said. “And the high rates we see among black men and other minorities indicate that it’s very much connected to larger issues like poverty and racism.” [Um, that's just plain bullshit logic, all the way around. Hecht's comments could be considered racist and stereotypical. FWIW, abstinence education works -- proven record. Teaching sexual promiscuity is one problem. Teaching that homosexuality is natural and normal and acceptable is the largest problem.
The rates of infection per state are also indicative of this fact. In states where traditional values are more prevalent, infections are lower. In states, like California, where anything goes is the mentality, infections rates are rampant.]

Dr. Richard Wolitski, acting director of the C.D.C.’s Division of H.I.V./AIDS Prevention, said that several factors could be fueling the increase in diagnoses, particularly among younger men. “Because of the new treatments, some men perceive it to be a less severe disease than it once was,” he said. “And this is a new generation that hasn’t been personally affected in the same way that older men have been.”

STDs Run Rampant at PA School District, CDC Steps In

2008-06-27T11:13:00.002-04:00

A Pennsylvania school district has such a high number of students with sexually transmitted diseases that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stepped in to track down students at risk for HIV. It’s estimated that 10 percent of the 3,000 middle and high school students in the Delaware Valley School District in Milford, P.A., are infected with an STD — including one confirmed case of HIV, Times Herald Record reported Friday.

On top of those figures, about two dozen teenage girls in the school system have tested positive for pregnancy. A non-profit health clinic in Milford said they estimate more than 300 students contracted a sexually transmitted disease in the past year. Officials also told the paper students as young as 12 years old reported being sexually active. The clinic eventually alerted the school district to the alarmingly high numbers. School officials then sent a letter home to parents on June 15. “It was sad to see the letter,” Tara Johnson, a Milford parent with a son in middle school, told the Times Herald. “We live in the kind of district where everybody works very hard to give the appearance that everything is perfect.”

A 15-year-old girl, who will enter tenth grade in the fall at Delaware Valley, told the paper she can’t believe the news. “That somebody in our school in northeastern Pennsylvania had HIV was just shocking,” said Rachel McKean. Kristen Bruce, a nurse practitioner with the Milford clinic, said most of the cases were the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infections are very common, according to the Mayo Clinic. It’s estimated that close to 25 million people in the U.S. have HPV infections [STRICTLY, a sexually transmitted disease], which can cause genital warts and related lesions. Some strains of HPV are linked to cervical cancer. Bruce told the paper she wasn’t surprised by the numbers, citing a recent CDC study that found at least one in four teenage girls nationwide, between the ages of 14 and 19, has a sexually transmitted disease.

The ACORN Obama Knows

2008-06-25T11:41:00.003-04:00

By Michelle Malkin
If you don't know what ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is all about, you better bone up. This left-wing group takes in 40 percent of its revenues from American taxpayers -- you and me -- and has leveraged nearly four decades of government subsidies to fund affiliates that promote the welfare state and undermine capitalism and self-reliance, some of which have been implicated in perpetuating illegal immigration and encouraging voter fraud.

A new whistleblower report from the Consumer Rights League claims that Chicago-based ACORN has commingled public tax dollars with political projects. Who in Washington will fight to ensure that your money isn't being spent on these radical activities? Don't bother asking Barack Obama. He cut his ideological teeth working with ACORN as a "community organizer" and legal representative. Naturally, ACORN's political action committee has warmly endorsed his presidential candidacy. ACORN head Maude Hurd gushes that Obama is the candidate who "best understands and can affect change on the issues ACORN cares about" -- like ensuring their massive pipeline to your hard-earned money.

Let's take a closer look at the ACORN Obama knows. Last July, ACORN settled the largest case of voter fraud in the history of Washington State. Seven ACORN workers had submitted nearly 2,000 bogus voter registration forms. According to case records, they flipped through phone books for names to use on the forms, including "Leon Spinks," "Frekkie Magoal" and "Fruto Boy Crispila." Three ACORN election hoaxers pleaded guilty in October. A King County prosecutor called ACORN's criminal sabotage "an act of vandalism upon the voter rolls."

The group's vandalism on electoral integrity is systemic. ACORN has been implicated in similar voter fraud schemes in Missouri, Ohio and at least 12 other states. The Wall Street Journal noted: "In Ohio in 2004, a worker for one affiliate was given crack cocaine in exchange for fraudulent registrations that included underage voters, dead voters and pillars of the community named Mary Poppins, Dick Tracy and Jive Turkey. During a congressional hearing in Ohio in the aftermath of the 2004 election, officials from several counties in the state explained ACORN's practice of dumping thousands of registration forms in their lap on the submission deadline, even though the forms had been collected months earlier."

In March, Philadelphia elections officials accused the nonprofit advocacy group of filing fraudulent voter registrations in advance of the April 22nd Pennsylvania primary. The charges have been forwarded to the city district attorney's office. Under the guise of "consumer advocacy," ACORN has received money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD funds hundreds, if not thousands, of left-wing "anti-poverty" groups across the country led by ACORN. … As the Consumer Rights League points out in its new expose, the ACORN Housing Corporation has worked to obtain mortgages for illegal aliens in partnership with Citibank. It relies on undocumented income, "under the table" money, which may not be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Moreover, the group's "financial justice" operations attack lenders for "exotic" loans, while recommending 10-year interest-only loans (which deny equity to the buyer) and risky reverse mortgages.

Whistleblower documents reveal internal discussions among the group that blur the lines between its tax-exempt housing work and its aggressive electioneering activities. The group appears to shake down corporate interests with relentless PR attacks, and then enters "no lobby" agreements with targeted corporations after receiving payment. [That is called EXTORTION.]

Republicans have largely looked the other way as ACORN has expanded its government-funded empire. But finally, a few conservative voices in Congress have called for investigation of the group's apparent extortion schemes. This week, GOP Reps. Tom Feeney, Jeb Hensarling and Ed Royce called on Democrat Barney Frank, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, to convene a hearing to probe potential illegalities and abuse of taxpayer funds by ACORN's management and minions alike.

Where does the candidate of Hope and Change -- the candidate of Reform and New Politics -- stand on the issue? Barack Obama, ACORN's senator, is for more of the same old, same old subsidizing of far-left politics in the name of fighting for the poor while enriching ideological cronies. It's the Chicago way.

Stop Making 'Sex Seekers' Out of Youth

2008-06-16T08:52:00.005-04:00

Article from ChristiansUnite.com
The Centers for Disease Control has released the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Report (YRBS). This report shows the numbers of youth risk behaviors, including sexual risk behaviors, which shows a slight increase in the number of sexually active teens. "While opponents to sexual integrity education blame abstinence programs for these numbers, I think it's high time they took a look in the mirror," said Leslee Unruh, founder and president of both the National Abstinence Clearinghouse and the Alpha Center, a crisis pregnancy center operation in Sioux Falls, SD.

Studies show that abstinence education is far out-funded by condom-only education and others confirm this fact showing that condom education is taught in more classrooms than abstinence education. Most parents are actually shocked to learn that the programs promoting sex outside-of-marriage out-fund abstinence-until-marriage programs by a rate of nearly $12 to $1.

Yet, these programs promoting sex outside-of-marriage continue to be funded with little oversight or peer reviewed evaluations to demonstrate their effectiveness. "I challenge condom and contraceptive programs to conduct the same rigorous studies of their programs as abstinence programs do," said Leslee Unruh.

Opponents to abstinence education like Dr. Laura Berman blame the increase in sexual activity on, "kids learning skewed messages about what sex is," and "they are confused about what virginity means," and "I think part of the problem honestly is the abstinence only model." So they blame the increase in sexual activity on abstinence programs that promote sexual integrity through teaching self control while their programs promote teaching youth graphic sexual messages at an even earlier age. Why is this so confusing for them? You teach youth how to have sex and they will become sexually active. You teach them how to abstain, and reinforce that message consistently, and they will abstain.

"The only skewed message our youth receive is the one that teaches them they have no self-control, teaches them how to have sex and ultimately puts their lives at risk. We need to stop making 'sex seekers' out of youth," according to Leslee Unruh.

Unruh concludes, "Abstinence education teaches love; condom only education teaches lust. Let's do the right thing for youth by raising the bar for their sexual health from lust to love. Let's provide them the tools they need for self-control, to withstand the pressures, reject sexual advances, form healthy relationships and protect their bodies and their minds 100%."

Faith of Our Fathers: A Reflection on Father's Day

2008-06-13T08:20:00.002-04:00

The third Sunday in June is observed each year in the United States as Father's Day. The origins of this national event are not clear. Some records suggest that it was first celebrated as a church service some 100 years ago in Fairmont, West Virginia, at Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, now known as Central United Methodist Church.

Whether this is true or not, the impulse to honor fathers is a worthy one and it comes with the biblical admonition to honor our fathers and mothers. In the Bible it is Abraham who is counted as the father of faith and he is revered in Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The word "faith" is an important component to remember because it means trust in God - being able to rely on that which is dependable.

Joseph of Galilee is an exemplary father in the Bible. He married Mary, despite the unusual circumstances of her pregnancy. He dared to be unconventional because he trusted that God was working through her and him. He was a righteous man who dared to take on the roles of husband and foster father. And as refugees from danger, after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, it is clear that he protected his family by going beyond what was familiar to find a safe haven. We can learn much about fatherhood from Joseph.

Another father that captures the imagination is a man called Jairus. We read about him in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. He was a man of importance whose daughter was dying and he came to Jesus, fell at his feet and begged Jesus to help his child. The actions of Jairus revealed his character. He trusted that God could help and it didn't matter that he had wealth and prestige. He humbled himself for the sake of his daughter.

A final father from the Bible that is impressive is the one who had two sons, one of whom went astray. This is, of course, the story told by Jesus of the prodigal son. The father in the parable teaches his two sons powerful lessons of love: the one who went astray who discovered that his father's care came to him even when he had run away from it and the other who struggled to understand such extravagant love in the face of his brother's failures and his own fidelity. The father in the story, like God, never gave up on either of his children.

On Father's Day let us remember that we have been given a heritage of dedication and faithfulness from the fathers we encounter in the Bible and from those fathers who exemplify the best qualities of parenting.

Founded in 1816 and headquartered in New York City, the American Bible Society is a non-profit, interdenominational organization that works to transform lives, particularly among the young, by promoting personal engagement with the Holy Scriptures. The American Bible Society web site is www.bibles.com.

Snuff Films? Murder for Sport? Yep, they're just around the bend

2008-06-10T10:30:00.000-04:00

Here is a short blurb from IMDB.com. It illustrates how realistic movie violence is becoming... and takes another step towards snuff films.

Tyler Movie Terrified Test Audiences

Violent scenes in Liv Tyler's new movie The Strangers are so realistic, test audiences fled cinemas fearing the actress was being killed for real. Tyler and Scott Speedman play a couple terrorised and held hostage in their own home by a group of masked intruders. The film is based on a real event, and contains graphic scenes of violence, that left Tyler battered and bruised and filmgoers terrified. The actress explains, "I was literally covered in bruises for half the year. It was as far as I could push myself in every way: physically, emotionally, mentally. "I remember the producer calling me and saying that the audiences freaked out because they thought it was a snuff film." Source

Movies like Hostel, the Saw series and now, The Strangers are becoming a Hollywood norm. Walk through any Blockbuster store and you will be overwhelmed with the violence disguised as entertainment. The worst part is their celebration of murderous violence. Truthfully, there is NO REASON for movies like this being made. Anyone who gleefully calls the plot lines of such movies "entertainment" is mentally ill and needs to see a psychiatrist.

Add the disgusting antics of modern wrestling and UFC-type fighting to the mix and it's not hard to see where "entertainment" is headed. Just around the bend are real snuff films -- complete with people being murdered in graphic high definition in order to satisfy the blood lust of our society. If not snuff films, then fights to the death -- or murder for sport. IT IS SICKENING!

We must get a grip on ourselves and think through the consequences of such things. Our children; our parents, brothers & sisters; our own lives will be at higher risk as we bend the meaning of entertainment to include real world blood letting as a form of mass media. May God's wrath be upon the sick perverts who produce this garbage... and His mercy be upon our citizens -- whose current suffering is miniscule compared to what's going to occur in the near future.

Body Found in Vermont Creek Believed to Be Nicholas Garza

2008-05-28T08:56:00.003-04:00

Article from FOXNews.com
A body believed to be that of missing collegian Nicholas Garza was pulled from the Otter Creek on Tuesday, police said. The badly-decomposed body of an unidentified male was found among sunken timber in a floating debris pile below a waterfall as authorities prepared to mount another search this weekend. Searchers were taking temperature readings in the river and performing depth soundings when the remains were found, according to Police Chief Tom Hanley. Click to view photos. "They do appear to be the remains of Nicholas Garza, but identification will be made at an autopsy tomorrow," said Hanley. A wallet found on the body belonged to Garza, police said. "It was Nick," said his mother, Natalie Garza, who was there when the body was removed. She later issued the following statment: "Nicholas had a wit that was quick smart and sure, but moreover, humble. He cherished his family, especially his younger brother Damon. He was a serious young man; his integrity and perception of life were beyond his short years. Grace to him was given from birth, as was his love of literature, music, and philosophy. We will miss his thick black hair and easy laughter. Nothing in life has prepared us for such a loss. We hope to honor him in the simple and pure way that he lived his life. He was adored, deeply loved, and those who knew him were blessed with an extraordinary man. Thank you to the thousands of letters, e-mails, and prayers." Click here to view the family's Web site. Garza, 19, of Albuquerque, N.M., a freshman at Middlebury College, vanished Feb. 5 after leaving Stewart Hall dormitory during a winter break in classes, headed for his dormitory. He was reported missing five days later. More than a half-dozen searches since then by Vermont State Police, search-and-rescue teams from around the region and volunteers organized by his mother turned up nothing. His wallet and cell phone have never been found, even though police found a winter jacket and laptop computer in his dormitory room. Some here believed the melting of snow at winter's end would yield clues or a body, but it didn't, nor did several searches of Otter Creek, including one last month after aerial imaging showed an unidentified object in the water.

Pregnancy Resource Group Asks High Court to Encourage Doctors to be Honest with Patients Considering Abortion

2008-05-24T07:54:00.000-04:00

Article from ChristiansUnite.com
Heartbeat International joins a "friend of the court" brief in support of Rosa Acuna's petition. On Friday, Acuna's attorney Harold Cassidy filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the egregious New Jersey Supreme Court decision in the case of Rosa Acuna v. Sheldon C. Turkish, MD. "As an association dedicated to helping women, we call on the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the New Jersey Court's precedent and to require abortionists to provide medically accurate details about the gestational development of a human baby," said Heartbeat International President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D.

"The facts are a baby's heart begins beating at 21 days and brain waves can be measured at six weeks. Women deserve the truth." With Acuna v. Turkish, the New Jersey High Court set the legal precedent that a doctor can legally deceive a woman considering abortion. The ruling held that a doctor who performs an abortion has no responsibility to present precise biological information to a woman about her unborn child or the abortion procedure risks."When a woman comes into a Heartbeat center seeking abortion information, she wants to know what is happening with and in her body. We tell her about abortion procedures and show her fetal models or pictures of fetal development," said Hartshorn. "A doctor should have the responsibility of explaining human development to his patient. She has a right to be fully informed before she submits to an abortion procedure. The woman's health risks increase without this information."

Turkish told Rosa Acuna that she should not "be stupid" because the only thing being removed was "just blood." Turkish testified that he routinely tells women it is "just some tissue." By any standard these statements are false and misleading. Heartbeat International and its affiliates advocate for the safe reproductive health and well-being of women. Abortion is not a medical "treatment" that can improve a woman's health. Women seen in Heartbeat's pregnancy centers testify daily to the painful physical and emotional effects of abortion.

Heartbeat International, founded in 1971, is an interdenominational Christian association of nearly 1,100 pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and medical clinics in 48 states and 42 countries. Heartbeat provides www.OptionLine.org (800-395-HELP), a joint venture with Care Net, to connect callers with a local pregnancy center for the help they need. Each month our national call center responds to approximately 20,000 contacts.

What Exactly is the Religion of President Bush?

2008-05-23T13:30:00.004-04:00

What Exactly is the Religion of Bush Who has Proclaimed Hindu Holiday Dwali, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Year of the Goat, Year of the Rat; Referred to 'An Almighty' and Said Christians/Muslims Worship Same God
Article from ChristiansUnite.com
Recovering Republican John Lofton, Editor of TheAmericanView.com web site and co-host of "The American View" radio show has issued the following statement:

"What, exactly, is the religion of President George W. Bush? He says he is a Christian. And numerous so-called conservative Christian leaders and organizations have said Mr. Bush is a Christian. But, is he a Christian? Is there a way to tell if a person is a Christian? Of course. None other than our Lord Himself says that we are known by our fruits, our actions (Matthew 7:15ff).
Some of Mr. Bush's "fruits" as President include these:
Mr. Bush has contradicted God's Word by saying, repeatedly, and approvingly, that people of different faiths "are free to worship as they choose" or not worship. God, however, says, in the First Commandment that He - the God of the Bible -- is the only true God there is and He must be worshipped the way He says He is to be worshipped: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Mr. Bush has also said, repeatedly, that the strength of our Nation is in its diversity of religions. But, God says in His Word that it is only the nation that has Him as its God, and only Him, that is blessed (Psalm 33:12).
Mr. Bush, in this year's "National Day Of Prayer," referred, strangely, to "an Almighty" when he expressed his hope that someday there might be an "International Day Of Prayer."
Mr. Bush has honored by various proclamations: The Hindu holiday of Dwali which features prominently the "Goddess Lakshimi" and "Lord Ganesha;" Ramadan; Kwanzaa; The Year Of The Goat; and The Year Of The Rat (coincidentally an election year, this year.)

For an in-depth, respectful and well-researched discussion of this important topic (rulers can bless/curse a nation), please visit TheAmericanView.com web site and listen to "The American View" radio show number 155. Editor Lofton also discusses this topic with radio talk show Jan Mickelson of WHO radio in Des Moines, Iowa.

My PayPal Horror Story

2008-05-19T17:31:00.007-04:00

It's time to tell everyone how we have been treated by PayPal. I posted, briefly, on the topic back in 2005. Since the following true story has now been posted on a public website, I am also offering it here -- in hopes other people will comment and/or go to these forums. Here's my PayPal horror story (edited slightly from the post on PayPalSucks.com):

Over the past three years, I've read various posts on this website, but never joined in order to tell my own story. I guess I always hoped that PayPal would one day email me to say it was all a huge mistake -- and that they were setting the account straight, refunding my money, refunding money to my former customers and maybe even adding a little interest payment to the mix. Unfortunately, that has not happened.

I got tired of telling this story to people within a few months of when it occurred... but now it's time to tell the world. PayPal took me for more than $4,250.00. To be blunt, PAYPAL STOLE MY MONEY. Over the past three years, I have complained to everyone who would listen -- and many who obviously didn't care to hear the story. NO ONE has done anything -- and my finances have suffered significantly because of the problems caused by PayPal (and eBay).

I'll try to make the story as short as possible... but you need some reposition, so as to add credibility to what I am saying. BTW, I am NOT hiding behind a pseudonym or changing things around in any way. My PayPal ID was CharlieJ. My eBay account was CharlieJ. I am Charlie Jarman, the owner of those two accounts -- and this is my story. Any errors herein are due solely to my crappy memory and are NOT meant to change the facts of what happened to me.

I joined eBay when it was still called AuctionWeb -- back in April, 1997. Over the next few years, I bought and sold many items on eBay. Eventually, I started taking PayPal as the primary means of payment for items I was selling. PayPal also became the primary means for selling on my website (formerly tcjj.com) and through wristwatch forums around the Net. My business: Watchbands, wristwatches and a book I wrote on Rolex (the company & their products) entitled The ROLEX Reference Guide.

By 2004, I had accrued somewhere around 3,500 transactions with PayPal (includes buying and selling). I have sold everything from $10 watchbands to a $10,000 Rolex President via eBay -- with many paid via PayPal. I was a Silver PowerSeller with 99% positive feedback when this horror story all started. PayPal Verified and all that jazz, too.

On July 1, 2002, I severely injured my back. To make a longer story shorter, I'll just say that the back injury caused me much pain, insomnia and discomfort (still does). As such, I was late shipping some items to customers. That is a sentence, BUT it is not just a few letters in the story. It is my admission of fault. Yes, I screwed up by not taking care of several customer orders in a timely manner. Not an excuse, but my idiotic reasoning was that my wife and children could help me pack and ship. In any event, I was late and didn't ship some orders as promised. BTW, we're not talking about hundreds of orders -- maybe 30-35, at most. If you want to check for yourself, look at the eBay feedback page that is still in my name - CharlieJ. My feedback was down to 98.x% positive, but you can see that the problem with late orders was pretty sudden. [Keep in mind that I have not had access to the eBay "About Me" page since 2005. What I am telling you is factual.]

Anyway, I refunded a few customer payments, shipped some watchbands for free and gave some folks extra items in order to make up for the slow shipping. A few people filed PayPal complaints -- all of which were resolved within 48 hours. The straw that apparently broke the camel's back was a $600 watch I sold to a guy in France. He paid on a Monday and filed a PayPal complaint for non-receipt on Friday. There was NO WAY for the package to get to him in France in just four days. I explained to PayPal and to the customer -- along with providing the shipping confirmation info. Nonetheless, my account went to LIMITED ACCOUNT status. At the time, I had around $2000.00 in my account. I never received the $600.00 for the watch -- and never have been given access to MY ~$2000.00.

I tried to convince customers who had orders pending that I didn't have their money (it was in the limited account). Therefore, I couldn't ship merchandise. As you can imagine, that didn't go over well. Some of them were not able to get their money back from PayPal because the email wrangling with PayPal had gone over the 30 day limit for refunds. So, the customers were out and I was out. And who had the money "in limbo"? PAYPAL.

After several months of emails, calls and faxes to PayPal, I pretty much gave up on ever seeing my money again. In the meantime, I had a few thousand dollars (at cost) worth of watchbands and books sitting around with no way to sell them. My reputation on the watch forums was shot. My eBay account was suspended the same day my PayPal account was "limited". I don't cuss, but boy if I did...

A couple more months went by... and then I got a bright idea. I gave my wife all of the inventory I had. She created a PayPal account, and an eBay account. She started selling the remaining inventory of watchbands. It didn't take long for PayPal to limit her account (claiming "suspicious activity") -- get this, with the promise of opening it back up *IF* she would verify her information for them within a day or so. [I still have the email/letter somewhere.]

She sent faxes, verified everything, copied her drivers license, and on and on. IMPORTANT: She even sent USPS confirmation receipts to PayPal showing that EVERY item in question had been shipped and received by the customer. PayPal kept ~$1250.00 from her account -- in the LIMITED ACCOUNT status. So, we were now out:

$2000.00 = my PayPal acct
$1250.00 = her PayPal acct
$ 600.00 = the last watch sold
$ 350.00 = cost of watchbands delivered, but pymt not rec'd
$ 50.00 = postage, LD phone calls, faxes, etc.
----------
$4250.00 (approx) TOTAL
Of course, there are more losses in this ordeal, but those are the ones I can validate easily.

To date, my wife and I have filed complaints with:

FTC
BBB - Nebraska
BBB - California
Attorney General - California
Attorney General - North Carolina
Attorney General - Nebraska
Fraud.org
and even tried to get the FBI involved as PayPal's embezzlement crossed state lines

NONE of the aforementioned agencies have done much of anything. One told us we would have to provide certified letter receipts for every bit of correspondence, ad nauseum. A couple told us our complaints were not within their jurisdiction. And a couple never even responded.

So, here I sit -- NO side business to supplement my income; A bad reputation that could have been fixed, but is pretty much irreparable now; ~$2600.00 gone from my account; ~$1600.00 gone from my wife's account; NO way to buy/sell on eBay; NO way to sell the inventory still sitting in my home.

Most people you talk to won't believe that PayPal steals money. I am living, breathing, proof. Most of the information I have shared here can be backed up with paperwork, letters, faxes and research online.

I would be happy to settle with PayPal -- for $4250.00 they owe me and my wife + interest on that money + the "limited account" status being abolished on ALL PayPal accounts + a change in their policies that would allow sellers to dispute and be provided some sort of hearing on the matter.
CharlieJ

For those who still don't believe PayPal is ripping buyers and sellers off, check out these sites:
http://www.paypalsucks.com (where I posted my horror story)
http://www.paypalwarning.com
http://aboutpaypal.org
http://screw-paypal.com
I'm sure there are others!

Gay Marriage - Why Is It A Bad Idea?

2008-05-16T09:56:00.004-04:00

Anonymous wrote a comment regarding my post from yesterday. Here is his comment, along with my reply... and more on some of the reasons why allowing gay/lesbian couples to marry is a bad idea:

anonymous wrote:

"the sky is not falling. tax paying adults should be able to marry same sex partners. honestly, im not comfortable with it either, but its just, and fair.
'pain, promiscuity, and death', due to same sex marraige? do you really believe this? the status quo has already brought p, p & d to california, and to our American society in general.
im gay, but no immersed in the culture. i will agree most gays i know are promiscuous, and mentally ill, and live exclusively in gaydom. those arent the ones interested in marraige. there are many gays who DO want that, and are capable of being "normal", loving people, adjusted to mainstream society."

The sky is not falling, BUT there will be consequences that may make it seem as though the sky is falling in future generations.

Yes, I really believe that pain, promiscuity and death will continue to be a result of homosexual unions. You said it yourself, "most gays you know are promiscuous..." That kind of sexual immorality leads to pain for the perpetrator and their victims. As we all know, AIDS is primarily a gay disease. It causes THOUSANDS of deaths around the world each year. Not only do I believe it -- but the facts show those words to be 100% true.

If people who choose homosexuality want unions, let them have their own ceremonies and unions amongst their lifestyle partners. Giving a chosen (and destructive) behavior legal standing across the realm of society is just plain wrong. It's a bad idea from ALL angles.

Setting aside religious values for a moment... Think about the problems that can and will come from gay marriage. Divorce, which is rampant among married couples, will exponentially increase in the gay population. It's a proven fact that most "gay couples" don't last more than a few months to around two years. Then, there's the issue of divorce settlements, etc. that will inevitably tie up an already overburdened judicial system. Case precedence and legal wrangling will lengthen any meaningful decisions within the realm of these relationships.

Next, think about spousal benefits. What a can of worms to be opened there!?! Then, there's insurance. Allowing homosexual partners benefits on insurance policies will most certainly be the straw that breaks the healthcare system and insurance reimbursement cycle's back. It's a proven fact that those who choose homosexual lifestyles are more susceptible to disease. When both partners are highly likely to have or contract an STD, HIV or AIDS, healthcare costs will effectively skyrocket -- which will drive up premiums. And one result will be more people who are uninsured or under-insured -- include those who chose homosexual unions.

The worst problem, IMO, will be the toll on America's children. Gay couples will most certainly demand adoption rights. Since any thinking person will have to admit that even children know in their hearts that homosexuality is not normal or natural, there will be many confused, frustrated and mal-adjusted children in our culture. Then, when their two dads get divorced, the court enters the picture again. Custody, visitation rights, and on and on it goes. Society wasn't built the way it has been built in order to hold people down -- but to help everyone live together in some sort of harmony. Adding a promiscuous, predatory lifestyle choice to normal society (and call it acceptable) will surely harm everyone in the end -- but mostly the children who will be victims from several angles.

Lastly, children will most assuredly become victimized by the predatory nature of homosexuality. It's a proven fact that many men who now live the gay lifestyle were sexually abused by another man when they were a child. Placing children, especially young boys, into a home with two homosexual men is just plain dangerous. The result will be more sexual predators, more pedophiles -- and more pain, promiscuity and death.

Do the research for yourself. The extreme end of the homosexual agenda wants sex with children legalized. Keywords for your interest: NAMBLA, Human Rights Campaign, man boy love. The truth is out there.

Sincerely, I challenge you to think ALL of this through. I am not the most eloquent writer in the world. Yet, the points made here are compelling, you must admit. If you refuse to think this through, you are denying the very real possibility of America's future.

Homosexuality is a choice some people make. God gave us all free will to make choices. Although the Bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin, it is like all other sin -- a choice. If people choose it, they will live with the consequences. I respect their choice and love the people while abhorring their sin. BUT... BUT... American society should NOT have to endure the results of allowing such a choice to become a mainstream part of our culture. It's an extremely bad idea that will have a high cost -- not only in terms of money, but in terms of human losses.