Quickly on the “birthers”

Have you noticed … not even Fox News or World Net Daily has had information from such a person as an “anonymous source” in the Hawaiian Department of Health, Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, Democratic Party Credentials Committee, or anywhere else who backs up the claim that Pres. Obama was born anywhere other than Hawaii?

Not only is no one willing to go on the record, no one’s even willing to support this case off the record. The birthers’ case has as much credibility as the idea that we faked the moon landing.

Even Ann Coulter has come out against this nonsense.

How is this even a story?

One of the posts on which I’m working relates to the Obama birth certificate nonsense, and I was looking for a few articles to demonstrate what the argument looks like.

I happened across World Net Daily, which is more or less the home of the Flat Earth Society … err, … I mean, people who deny that Pres. Obama was born in Hawaii. One of their headlines?

“Wikipedia says Obama born in Kenya”

Seriously, I mean it. If you don’t believe me, read it for yourself! Click here.

To be perfectly honest, I could change Wikipedia right now to say that Pres. Obama was born in Kentucky and that his father was John McCain. It wouldn’t last long, but I could do it. That’s the funny thing about a user-edited encyclopedia. That’s also why Wikipedia isn’t viewed as authoritative — while it’s a good way to find quick information a lot of the time, it is vulnerable to kooks with modems.

WND even went so far as to list ongoing updates about the birth status from Wikipedia:

The battle continued into the overnight Monday morning, as a WND check of Wikipedia at 1:35 a.m. found the entry to say Obama was born in either Hawaii or Kenya.

WND has nothing better to do than check Wikipedia? This might explain a lot of the stories that come off of that site, huh?

A purported news organization is actually treating the editing of an online encyclopedia as a news story. In truth, assuming it wasn’t WND employees editing the entry, it might well have been people getting their misinformation from WND in the first place.

The Honest Scrap Award

Kevin, over at ktracy.com, has awarded me with the “Honest Scrap” award. I’ve never heard of this before, but I’m going to assume that it has something to do with being thought of as honest. If not, please don’t disabuse me of my delusions.

Anyway …

So, apparently, I’m supposed to say ten honest things about myself. I’m torn on whether to make them really obvious or (what I assume is supposed to be the spirit of the thing) things that readers wouldn’t know at all.

I’m splitting the difference.

1) I am the father of five. Three sons (ages 12, 11, and 9 days), a daughter (2 years at the end of this month), and one miscarried last year and of undetermined gender. By the way, we did give the miscarried chid a name (initials are LTL). The older boys are from a previous marriage.

2) That previous marriage was a verbally and emotionally abusive one. I have, in the past, taken wellbutrin, lexapro, buspar, ativan, and klonopin to survive.

3) Rarely are pictures of me taken. I prefer to be the one taking the pictures. My record before getting a digital camera was 10 rolls in one day.

4) I am a science fiction geek. Classic science fiction, that is. I know little and care less about much of the current crop of science fiction/computer gaming worlds. I think that “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is among the greatest movies ever made. (The real one, not the one with Keanu Reaves.)

5) I enjoy reading young adult books. Partly in order to relate to my kids’ reading choices, but also just because those are some good books. I’m currently reading the Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey and will soon start the fifth book in the Ranger’s Apprentice series, and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

6) I am working on two books of my own — possibly four, if by “working on” I mean “vaguely thinking about.” One is a science fiction/psychological drama, one is a fantasy with psych elements, one is a young adult science fiction/superhero story, and the fourth is non-fiction about the experience of being a Christian and dealing with being an abused husband and mental illness. There are few resources available to abused husbands.

7) I am almost constantly “soundtracking,” a term I use to refer to which songs would make good background music for my particular mood or events going on.

8) I nearly hit Mike Huckabee with a campaign sign on NH primary day while trying to hold my daughter and shake his hand at the same time. He and I laughed about the ironic headline “Candidate Killed by His Own Sign Dropped by Campaign Volunteer.” A Kucinich sign holder then took my sign for me.

9) I drink iced tea. For the record, it’s not “ice tea.” It’s “iced tea.” As in, tea that has been iced. Meaning: with ice in it. It’s not that difficult, people. It’s also not limited to the summer. I drink it all year. I don’t understand why this is difficult to understand.

10) Ever since my 9th grade English teacher drilled us on grammar for two-thirds of the year (or possibly three-quarters) I have taken the language very seriously. While I take a few liberties (particularly my over-use of ellipses), I generally think that the rules of the language aren’t that complicated and should be followed. It is likely that I will be killed by an anneurysm brought on by someone saying such things as “could care less,” “could of,” or (as I’ve mentioned before) “literally” when s/he means “figuratively.”

Per the rules, I’m not supposed to tap seven other blogs for this “Honest Scrap” thing. Hmmmm …

You have to understand, I read A LOT of blogs. Still, here goes:

1) Polycarp at The Church of Jesus Christ. By the way, I didn’t just pick him because he sends me books in the mail.

2) OneMom was one of the first Huckabee blogs that I started reading when I first started blogging. She’s still well worth the read.

3) Lafayette at Pro-Life = Anti-War challenges those who try to brand themselves pro-life without meaning it.

4) Christopher at Got Fruit? takes his faith and puts it right there in front of you.

5) Alfie at In2theFray is an honest and straightforward guy. Sure, he’s from Massachussetts, but nobody’s perfect, right?

6) HiScrivener at The Writing on the Wall is both a lot of fun and very thoughtful. A blog one should not miss.

7) I’m deeply torn between two, here … hmmm … Alright, I decided.

Amy’s blog, Walking in the Spirit, deals with ongoing questions of spirituality and life. It’s great and encouraging to see someone pour out her heart and to see that what’s there is love.

There are several other blogs that I didn’t name. In at least one case, it’s because Kevin named that one (Larry, for example). Another (Rogue Angel) hasn’t posted for a month, and so I used that as a completely arbitrary reason to help get myself down to seven. Asked a different day, I might have made different choices (Christine, Rutherford, Nonnie, Frances, Ken, and many others).

So, umm … there we are. Thanks, Kevin.

From Pro-Life/Anti-War

This is one of the blogs that I dearly love. I would encourage you to read today’s post by Lafayette:

Racism of Warmongers and Pro-Choicers

Pro-life warmongers weep for the death of an unborn American, but don’t care two hoots about the death of an Arab Muslim. People are not created equally; if you’re the wrong religion or ethnicity you have no “right to life” (a terrible slogan for a terribly ineffective group, btw–I refuse to give such a poor excuse for an interest group any money).

The racism of pro-life warmongers is mirrored by the racism of pro-choicers. Abortion started out as a method of eugenics, to solve poverty by eliminating the poor. Margeret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, wanted to exterminate black people, this was part of the point of extending abortion.

Seriously … this article is well worth the read if you want a concise look at what I mean when I say “pro-life means more than anti-abortion.”

The dumbest generation is yet to come …

Hat tip to Rich at the Pugnacious Irishman.

A 15-year-old girl fell into a manhole while sending text messages on her cell phone. Read the story at Wired.

Had I done such a thing when I was 15, I would probably hope and pray that my parents never found out, because I’d never hear the end of how irresposnible it was. I’d surely lose the cell phone (though I think that my parents were smart enough not to have given me one in the first place). I’d probably have to go over the proper way to watch where I’m going when I walk. Likely, I’d find the process demeaning and embarrassing. Then again, I fell into a manhole because I wasn’t looking where I was going.

Racism at Free Republic

PJ Miller more or less sums up my feelings in his opening sentence.

When I saw this story on TV tonight my immediate thought was; “This is why I no longer refer to myself as a conservative”. The term just doesn’t mean what it use to…

The rest of the post is well worth the read, too.

A couple baby pics

Alright, since I was asked …

And here’s Eagle greeting her little brother:

This, by the way, is why I prefer holding the camera and usually try to keep it away from anyone else, perhaps especially my wife. Yes, that’s me:

Baby!

As expected, on Wednesday my wife and I celebrated the appearance of our newborn son. We’re still working on a nickname. Given that his siblings are known (on here, at least) as Tickle, Wiggle, Eagle, and Little and that these nicknames come from their initials (TKL, WGL, EGL, and LTL), we’re not sure what to do with ZJL.

In any case … Baby and Mommy are both doing very well. Eagle is eager to help take care of her new little brother. The older boys are away with their mother.

Thank you to all for your well-wishes and prayers!

Quick Hits

It’s about midnight. In twelve hours, my wife should be in the hospital to have a C-section and deliver our baby boy. Eagle is with my parents and will join us (and meet her little brother) later. My older sons are with their mother … they’ll meet their little brother when they get back.

A few things, though, have hit my attention:

Gov. Sarah Palin has done whatever she’s done, for whatever reason she’s done it. Frankly, the soap opera that is the life and career of Gov. Palin is drawing too much attention. For now, she’s managed to get everyone talking about what she might do now that she’s resigning as governor. Who cares?

Let’s wait until she actually says something, and then figure out what we think of it. For my own part, I’m pretty sure that I don’t care. I am surprised, though, that people who accuse Obama supporters of treating him like some kind of Messiah figure don’t notice the irony of how they handle Gov. Palin.

Shoving Hot Dogs in Your Face is one of those “sports,” to use the term in the loosest possible sense (by which definition playing Wii should be an Olympic sport), that has always disgusted me. Historically, it’s just been the thought that someone actually eats 60-ish hot dogs in ten minutes that would do it. This year, a “professional eater” (seriously, read the article!) shoved 68 hot dogs in his mouth, and the second place contestant did 64. In ten minutes, between the two of them, they ate 132 hot dogs. Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading Joe Schriner’s blog and taking his ethical thinking to heart, or maybe I’m just waking up to better priorities.

This year, more than the thought of that many hot dogs, what turned my stomach most was the fact that we have people who call themselves professional eaters, and we have people who are actually starving. What those two contestants consumed in ten minutes could have been lunch for about 15 families of four.

Speaking of Joe Schriner, I’m supporting his 2012 run for President. I reserve the right to look at other candidates, of course, and to choose candidates for party primaries and such. However, I look at Schriner’s commitment to a Consistent Life Ethic and like what I see. I anticipate writing more about him in the near future.

Blogs You Should Read. There are many. I’m not listing them all here. I am pointing to a few particular posts, though:

At Sola Dei Gloria, PJ is talking about the nonsense that is the attempt to pin down the Antichrist. Another antichrist candidate ‘bites the dust’…

At the Church of Jesus Christ, Polycarp hits on many good things. This is one that hit me especially:

It’s Deplorable What is Being Ignored, he says about the coverage of Michael Jackson’s funeral as compared to the rest of the world

About books. I’m participating in a blog tour for Jared C. Wilson’s Your Jesus Is Too Safe in the near future, and I’m hoping to be part of the tour for Andrew Peterson’s North! Or be Eaten! (book two of the Wingfeather Saga — you should read On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness if you haven’t already) when it comes out.

Polycarp graciously sent me his copy of the American Patriot’s Bible, and I can now say definitively that it’s as scary as I’d thought. I’ll have more-detailed comments later. The gist, though, is that it’s a shallow look at both Scripture and history. Using that lack of depth, it builds a case that sounds strong, but isn’t.

Sadly, though, it will appeal so to readers ignorant of history or Scripture but predisposed to a pro-American message. I’m afraid that in this country, and in our churches, we have far too many ripe victims.

Press Release Re: Stonewall Hinkleman

Reprinted pretty much as-is. I did edit the use of Sam Riddleburger’s real name.

To tell the truth, I’d go if it was remotely feasible. So, you should go, take pictures, and make me jealous!

Stonewall Hinkleman celebrates anniversary of First Manassas/Bull Run with free battlefield tour

Contact: Michael Hemphill
540.556.2879 ~ info@stonewallhinkleman.com
www.stonewallhinkleman.com

Virginia authors Michael Hemphill and Tom Angleberger will bring their Civil War time-travel thriller for young adults, Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run, to the Manassas battlefield on July 23 to celebrate the 148th anniversary of the war’s first major conflict.

A middle school-age, historically accurate, time-travel novel published by Penguin Press, Stonewall Hinkleman is about a boy who can’t stand going to Confederate reenactments with his Civil War-obsessed parents — the hot scratchy uniforms, the marching around like an idiot blowing “Charge!” on his bugle.

But at the reenactment of the Battle of Bull Run, Stonewall finds himself transported back in time to the actual battle – and he’s not alone! Nathan Bedford Dupree, an ardent Confederate reenactor from Stonewall’s time, has also gone back in the past … to help the South win! Stonewall needs all of his knowledge of the battle, as well as help from some unlikely characters, to stop Dupree and save the course of American history.

Oh yeah, and he’s got to avoid getting shot while doing it.

The American Library Associations Booklist writes, “This engaging novel offers a fresh approach to Civil War fiction.” School Library Journal calls the book, “A good choice for historical fiction fans.”

On July 23 at 9 a.m., the authors — joined by Civil War Journey battlefield tour guide Robert Freis — will retrace Stonewall Hinkleman’s footsteps through the battle with a free tour of the battlefield.

At 11 a.m., Hemphill and Angleberger will present their book at the nearby Bull Run Regional Library — an entertaining show that features juggling, hardtack, a battleflag-making craft and readings.

To reserve a place for the free event, please email info@stonewallhinkleman.com. To register only for the Bull Run Regional Library presentation, please email relic2@pwcgov.org.

With the approach of the Civil War’s sesquicentennial, Hemphill and Angleberger hope Stonewall Hinkleman will inspire a new generation to learn more about America’s defining moment.

Michael Hemphill and Sam Riddleburger met when they were both reporters for The Roanoke Times. Hemphill kept trying to use his news story about a Virginia battle flag controversy as the basis for a story for grown-ups, but Riddleburger saw it as the perfect setting for a smart aleck teenager. Stonewall Hinkleman was born. There’s been some feuding along the way, but it’s a book neither of them could have written alone.