The Billy Letters

Radar magazine has featured letters written by a guy named Bill Geerhart. Posing as a 10-year-old “Billy” wrote letters to Alan Greenspan, Dick Cheney, Larry Flint, and convicted felons like Charles Manson and Richard Ramirez in 1998 and 1999. He followed up this past year writing letters posing as a student at an ivy-league university.

To his surprise, replies soon started pouring in. Everyone from Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld (on tree-fort diplomacy) to Oprah Winfrey, Mister Rogers, Janet Reno, and members of the Supreme Court had words of wisdom for Billy. (”I like the Egg McMuffin,” wrote Justice Clarence Thomas when asked about his favorite McDonald’s food. “Actually, I like almost everything there.”) Responding to Billy’s idea for a “Hustler for kids,” Larry Flynt wrote back encouraging the fourth grader to “Hang in there. You’ll be 18 before you know it.”

See Radar for the full article and responses.

Earthquake coverage

There was certainly a difference in how the earthquake was covered by WAVE 3 in Louisville and WFIE 14 in Evansville which were both live on the air when it happened.

As usual, the weather is the most important part of the news in Evansville.

Its been awhile

Since the last time I’ve posted Indiana has moved to the center of the political universe. Both Obama and Hillary have been to town, Chelsea’s been here twice and Bill Clinton has stumped in Boonville. Oh, and I can’t forget about Michele Obama, she’s been here too. There was some talk about the Abercrombie & Fitch guys from the Obama rally. It was picked up by the New York Times and USA Today but mostly ignored by the local media. I’m doubting product-placement on behalf of the retailer, but maybe Barack is just trying to get that all-important gay vote in Indiana. </sarcasm> Anyways, I’ve already voted and decided I’m not attending any more political rallies. I’m still enjoying the attention, but the same old stump speeches are getting old. I will still pay attention and add commentary to this blog, or not.

Starbucks to close

Starbucks will close all of its 7,100 stores nationwide today for three hours today to retrain workers on how to make the perfect espresso. Suburban police forces nationwide are gearing up for the riots that are sure to ensue.

When asked about preparations being done to prevent rioting, Warrick County Sheriff Marvin Heilman laughed and deferred questions to the Newburgh Police Department, which declined to comment. Evansville Police spokesperson Sgt. Stephanie Loehrlein, who finally returned a phone call after three attempts, said it is the department’s policy “not to comment or give details on the department’s plan-of-action prior to an event.” When I specifically mentioned Starbucks riots, however, she stated that “if a protest comes up the department is prepared to dispatch horse-mounted and bicycle patrols to keep things peaceful and orderly.”

Meanwhile, the University of Southern Indiana and the University of Evansville, which rely heavily on fuel provided by Starbucks, have canceled all evening classes. The Evansville-Vanderburgh Public School Corporation, which operates the Southern Indiana Adult Enrichment Center, will be operating and offering classes at the Adult Enrichment Center to teach ordinary people how to make their own coffee. This program is free and open to the public, and attendees will receive a certificate of completion and a coupon for a 8 oz. tin of ground coffee. This program is being funded by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency secured by Indiana’s 8th District Congressman, Brad Ellsworth.

Study to investigate why we believe in God

No, the government isn’t funding it.

(London) — The age-old question of why people believe in God will be the focus of a major religion study at England’s Oxford University, according to “Times Online.” During the three-year study, researchers will try to develop “a scientific approach to why we believe in God and other issues around the nature and origin of religious belief.” They will try to determine if belief in God has given humans an evolutionary advantage and whether faith is a byproduct of human characteristics like sociability.
Psychologist Justin Barrett, one of the lead researchers, compares believers to three-year-olds who “assume other people know almost everything there is to be known.” He said while that childish tendency lessens as people grow up, it remains strong when it comes to belief in God.
The study also will explore questions such as whether the conflicts associated with religion are products of human nature, and whether belief in the afterlife is something that needs to be taught.

From TriStateHomepage.com

The LORD’s Table

Every time you enjoy a rich, buttery croissant roll you are celebrating the victory of Christianity over Islam.

When the alliance of Austria, Hungary and Poland finally defeated the Turkish Muslims who were threatening the whole of Western Europe, the Austrian King declared a holiday at the end of the siege. A French-Austrian baker developed a tasty new treat for the occasion. It was a unique blend of a yeast bread and a pastry and he formed it into a crescent shape and called it a croissant (French for crescent). As the Christian monarch and his court consumed the rolls, it symbolized the superiority of the Cross over the crescent (symbol of Islam.)

Hat tip: UnclaimedTreasure

I propose we adopt this as a form of communion and ditch the styrofoam pellets we scrunch our noses and consume every week. We could work out a deal with the Donut Bank or Great Harvest Bread and Apolo or Frontier Liquors to supply the elements, and support the local economy every time we remember our Lord.

Sexual predators

EVANSVILLE - NEWS 25 learns a former UE student who is facing child solicitation charges is also an EVSC substitute. Robert Gillespie was arrested Saturday after he tried to pick up a 14 year-old girl who he met on the internet. Just one problem: that girl was actually a detective.
From WEHT

When I first read the news of Robert Gillespie, an EVSC substitute teacher who allegedly drove to Indianapolis to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl for sex, I didn’t give much thought to it. His picture looked familiar and I realized I went to high school with him and I crossed paths with him on a couple of occasions, but after hearing his name repeated in the news I recalled more about him and began feeling a little more sympathetic. To tell the truth I myself have many vices. Maybe they’re not as severe in the eyes of the law, but I can certainly understand this man’s problems. Even if I don’t go looking for trouble, sometimes it seems to find me in a vulnerable moment and I’ve been known to cave.

I’ve also reflected on this particular crime which has become somewhat of an epidemic lately. If an alcoholic came forward asking for help they would get it, and so could a prostitute or a crack addict. They could even get the government to pay for their treatment if they needed, yet they would still not be judged by society as harshly as someone struggling with immoral sexual attractions. When someone struggles with this temptation they have no one to talk to and nowhere to go for help. They are forced to deal with the problem alone. How many alcoholics and drug addicts recover without support from their families, friends and churches? Personally I don’t know of any.

Maybe I haven’t committed the same crimes as this guy, but we do have one thing in common. We are both worthy of eternal separation from God. Neither of us deserve to ever be in the presence of the Lord, yet that has been made possible by an incredible gift of redemption and salvation from God.

Barack Obama at King’s Church

Upcoming events

I’m looking forward to some exciting events coming to the river city.

Seventh Day Slumber will be at the USI campus on Feb. 1st.

Lincoln Brewster will lead worship at Crossroads on Feb. 20th.

The Newsboys Go tour will be at the Centre March 16th.

Hawk Nelson plays at FCCN on April 17th.

And of course the big Winter Jam takes place Jan. 31st at Roberts Stadium. It will feature Newsong, Skillet, Steven Curtis Chapman, Barlow Girl and many others and a message from Tony Nolan.

Check out Liberation Productions to stay on top of Christian acts coming to Evansville.