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The WORD of the Week

Matthew 3:7-10

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Stupid Fact of the Week
There was only one civilian casualty during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg
31 August, 2005
Art?
So... Art Garfunkle (of Simon and Garfunkle fame) got arrested... in Woodstock... for Marijuana possession.

The Story.


And now to the world of Art.

There is a link below. Be warned if you click it: This piece of art is generating a lot of controversy. Art has a way of doing that.

But has this artist gone too far?

You be the judge.

(The picture in the above link is one half of a two-piece work of art, entitled "Ruan," by the well-known, shocking artist Xiao Yu)

-Rockel

p.s. - don't forget to show the love (or the hate) to The Cobra.
p.p.s. - this is way off-topic (if there is a topic), and completely irrelevant, but because I love this woman so much.... enjoy.
posted by Rockel @ 11:35 PM   10 comments
26 August, 2005
Quick Detour
Never fear... I shall be back on topic very soon...

But a quick post on interesting things "in the news"...

Iraq

This has nothing to do with being Anti-Bush or Anti-This War's Policies, both of which I admit I am. This is just something I found in USA Today that blew my mind. It comes from a very informative article that is formatted as a Q and A, discussing the current status of the Iraqi constitution. It discusses what major issues have been agreed to, which ones are holding back the process, and what the current draft says about things such as federalism, Islam, women's rights, etc. Very informative. Very good article. But then at the end comes this Question... and answer:

"Q: What happens if the constitution is rejected by voters in the Oct. 15 referendum?"

(Anybody want to guess? Back to the drawing board? Try rewording/reworking and trying again in a couple of months? No)

"A: Under Iraq's transitional law, the parliament dissolves if the referendum fails. Elections for another transitional government will be held before Dec. 15 and the political process starts over."

A whole new group of people being elected and working on an entirely new constitution... and if that one doesn't fly... back to the beginning again. Let's hope the first time's a charm.

Bonus news story:
It's been a while since there's been a dumb crook story this funny.

-Rockel
posted by Rockel @ 10:34 AM   0 comments
20 August, 2005
Quick Rockel Update
For those of you who read this and believe in God and the power of prayer, if you would be so kind as to slip my name in there next time you're speaking with the big guy... He'll know what it's about.

Many thanks.

Regular posting should resume shortly.
posted by Rockel @ 9:20 AM   1 comments
18 August, 2005
Quick Film Update
Politics will return soon...

But for now I turn your attention to the following films:

Ladies and Gentlemen...
SIN CITY 2!!!
http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=9787

Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Chris Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Roger Deakins, Sam Mendes. (The Gulf War).
JARHEAD
http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/jarhead/

Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman, Rebecca Pidgeon, Steve Martin.
SHOPGIRL
http://www.apple.com/trailers/touchstone/shopgirl/

Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo, Jeremy Piven, D.J. Caruso.
TWO FOR THE MONEY
http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/twoforthemoney/

Warner Independent Pictures, Elijah Wood, Liev Schreiber.
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED
http://wip.warnerbros.com/everythingisilluminated/

Gwyneth Paltrow, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anthony Hopkins, John Madden.
PROOF
http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/proof.html

Sir Ben Kingsley, Roman Polanski.
OLIVER TWIST
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/oliver_twist/

Jim Carrey, Tea Leoni.
FUN WITH DICK AND JANE
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/funwithdickandjane/

Sony Pictures Classics, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vince Vaughn, Keanu Reeves.
THUMBSUCKER
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/thumbsucker.html

Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, James Mangold. (Johnny Cash).
WALK THE LINE
http://www.walkthelinethemovie.com/

Ryan Reynolds, Justin Long, Anna Faris, Luiz Guzman.
WAITING
http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/waiting/

Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, the Wachowski Brothers.
V FOR VENDETTA
http://vforvendetta.warnerbros.com/

And, of course... the best for last.
Anybody who's anybody in comedy... and their mother.
THE ARISTOCRATS!!!
http://www.thearistocrats.com/
posted by Rockel @ 7:30 PM   0 comments
04 August, 2005
Drugs
So, I've posted on sex... Now comes drugs... Rock and Roll may follow later.

This will be another one of those interactive/engaging posts.

What will follow below are quotations from websites discussing the physiological/psychological/pharmological/etc. effects of certain drugs.

It will be up to you to see if you can determine which drug is being discussed.

I've chopped up the quotes to keep it simple, and there are a number of sources which I won't list as it would give away the answers.

Enjoy.

DRUG A:

DRUG A particularly has a profound effect on the central nervous system, but it also affects, to a lesser degree the heart muscle, gastric secretion and diuresis.

DRUG A stimulates the central nervous system first at the higher levels, the cortex and medulla, and finally the spinal cord at higher doses. Mild cortex stimulation appears to be beneficial resulting in more clear thinking and less fatigue.

The onset of the effect of DRUG A occurs within one hour and lasts for three to four hours (Baker, 1972).

150 to 250 mg of DRUG A is sufficient to induce adverse effects. The occurrence of hyperesthesia, an unpleasant sensory sensation, can be stimulated by large doses.

The spinal cord is stimulated at higher doses and convulsions and death may result. More than 10 g are needed for such toxicity to occur in man (Ritchie, 1975).

Stimulation of the CNS is followed by depression (Klein and Salzman, 1975), although the effect is small at low doses. After two hours, Klein reported that males (but not females) showed a lower CNS stimulation compared to placebo. The post stimulation "let down" with DRUG A results in fatigue and lethargy and the constant stimulation caused by chronic DRUG A dosing could be disastrous (Abrams, 1977; Dowell, 1965).

Although DRUG A dilates blood vessels by a direct action, its central effect is one of constriction. At higher doses, the dilating effect is apparent (Peach, 1972; Poisner, 1973).

Although a dose of approximately 10 g or more taken orally can be fatal, an oral (3.2 g IV) one gram dose will cause adverse effects (Gleason et al., 1969). The toxic effects are due to CNS and circulatory system stimulation and include some well recognized prominent symptoms in addition to those which can result at high doses or in hypersensitive persons: insomnia, restlessness, excitement, tinnitus, flashes of light, quivering muscles, tachycardia, extrasystoles, and even low grade fever and mild delirium have been observed.

144 to 333 mg of DRUG A per day was reported to have caused physical effects on withdrawal (Diamond and Pfifferling, 1974). The resultant effects were depression, nervousness, decreased alertness, sleeping difficulty, frequent mood changes, and various other behavioral difficulties which were attributed to DRUG A withdrawal.

DRUG B:

Some common effects of DRUG B include:
Intense hallucinations, such as sensations of traveling through time and space, of floating or flying;
sensations of twisting and spinning, heaviness or lightness of the body, and "soreness."

Less intense effects (that occur only when the eyes are closed) include visual hallucinations of various patterns and shapes. The hallucinogenic visions produced by DRUG B terminate when interrupted by noise or light.

Physical effects of DRUG B include:
Dizziness
Nausea
Lack of coordination
Slurred speech and awkward sentence patterns
Decreased heart rate
Chills

A limited number of studies have reported the effects of DRUG B. Psychic effects include perceptions of bright lights, vivid colors and shapes, as well as body movements and body or object distortions. Other effects include dysphoria, uncontrolled laughter, a sense of loss of body, overlapping realities and hallucinations (seeing objects that are not present). Adverse physical effects may include incoordination, dizziness and slurred speech.

More effects of DRUG B:
Slight echo phenomenon (which gives rise to time lenghtening);
A sense of novelty when perceiving things;
Slight alteration in the perception of movements;
A peculiar sensation in the eyes;
A feeling that the head is light or "empty", at the top of the cranium.

DRUG C:

DRUG C is the most powerful drug available.

DRUG C is a depressant. It depresses your cognitive functions, your physical functions, and your mood.

At high doses DRUG C can depress your central nervous system functions right into the grave.

Chronic heavy use puts people at risk for a variety of mood disorders including depression and anxiety, to name but two.

---

Alright. So, ponder away. Guess away. I will tell you this, however: All three of the drugs listed above are available and legal for consumption in the United States of America.

-Rockel
posted by Rockel @ 12:02 PM   3 comments
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Lyrics of the Week

ON THE NICKEL
by Tom Waits

("I'd like to do a new song here. This is eh, it's about downtown Los Angeles on 5th Street. And eh all the winos affectionately refer to it as The Nickel. So this is kind of a hobo's lullaby.")

sticks and stones will break my bones,
but i always will be true, and when
your mama is dead and gone,
i'll sing this lullabye just for you,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never comb their hair,
well they're lined up all around the block,
on the nickel over there.

so you better bring a bucket,
there is a hole in the pail,
and if you don't get my letter,
then you'll know that i'm in jail,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never say their prayers,
well they're sleepin' like a baby,
on the nickel over there.

and if you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star,
well you'll find out where the scarecrows sit,
just like punchlines between the cars,
and i know a place where a royal flush,
can never beat a pair, and even thomas jefferson,
is on the nickel over there.

so ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain,
and you're always late for supper,
and man you let me down again,
i thought i heard a mockingbird, roosevelt knows where,
you can skip the light, with grady tuck,
on the nickel over there.

so what becomes of all the little boys,
who run away from home,
well the world just keeps gettin' bigger,
once you get out on your own,
so here's to all the little boys,
the sandman takes you where,
you'll be sleepin' with a pillowman,
on the nickel over there.

so let's climb up through that button hole,
and we'll fall right up the stairs,
and i'll show you where the short dogs grow,
on the nickel over there.
45113638_202b79dc11
"We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe,
by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are,
but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."
 -- Madeleine L'Engle, "Walking on Water"