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Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005
Perhaps
this was taken out of context, and perhaps there is more to the story, but I am quite appalled that any Christian figure would be calling for someone to be assasinated.
I am not against assasination on principle. I think there are times when it could be necessary to stop greater evils from taking place.
However, that is a government official's job to decide, NOT an evangelist's.
I am hard-pressed to imagine the Apostle Paul calling for Nero's assasination. If I remember correctly, Pauls
instructions were quite a bit
different.
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 4:07 pm
Saturday, September 10th, 2005
As I write this from the Apple store in Newport Beach, I am waiting to board the boat for the wedding. In just a few short hours I will be a married man.
:D I am seriously ecstatic.
Thanks to everyone who is coming and everyone who cant, but wants to.
We'e really looking forward to it.
Okay, off to browse for more crap to burn money on!
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 7:06 am
Thursday, October 20th, 2005
Because I have been harrowing away on
another application, I've been working out some different things.
So, I have added Dynamic RSS feeds to the site.
In order to access a sections RSS feed, just replace the word "Content" with "feed" (sans quotes, of course).
The main news feed is http://alterform.com/feed/ , but the other ones are http://alterform.com/feed/Art/ and http://alterform.com/feed/Art/Digital, etc etc.
They're also prettier than your standard RSS feed, so click the links and check them out :)
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 2:06 pm
Monday, January 16th, 2006
Here is what I got in the mail today:
"man, anti-abortion but pro capital punishment. not right. you go on about the death of an innocent in the womb yet have you considered the death of an innocent on death row? it happens. it has happened. it will happen again. if the death of one innocent is alright when you kill some guilty too, then i guess you can sleep easy at night.
sick."
Just a few points to make on this one:
- Innocents die on death row? Really, when? I'd like to see a case or two of people who were executed and later exonerated since we reinstituted the death penalty in 1977.
- But, even if we have executed an innocent person, while that is a terrible occurrence, that does not invalidate the death penalty. It simply means we need to use current technologies (eg DNA testing, advanced forensics, etc) to their fullest to make sure we have the right man.
- If you're so dead set against capital punishment because an innocent MIGHT be killed, then surely you're against driving, as there are confirmed cases of innocents dying on the roads all the time, or against alcohol, or against electricity, and on and on and on.
- And no, Im not comparing capital punishment to driving, I am saying that in all human endevours, mistakes get made, and sometimes, those mistakes cost a life. I wish it wasnt so, but that possibility shouldnt stop life as we know it.
In the end, the entire argument against the death penalty that because an innocent may get killed (which, as far as I know has never been shown since 1977), makes it wrong, is fallacious on it's face. The solution to ending traffic fatalities is not getting rid of cars, but making people better drivers, and the roads safer.
Ah well...
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 2:41 pm
Wednesday, January 25th, 2006
It appears that Joel Stein doesn't support the troops. I personally don't see what all the hoopla is about.
Frankly, I can respect the fact that he doesn't support a group of people he opposes. I think it's a tad retarded whenever senators blast the president, but "support the troops". Support them doing what? Following the president's orders? Just say you hate em all, and get it over with.
I, however, disagree with Joel Stein. I think the war in Iraq was justified, even without WMD's, but the fact that all my fellow conservatives are getting all pissy because this guy doesn't support what the troops are doing is a bit ridiculous. I can guarantee you that any politician, celebrity, or other moron that is against the war sure as crap hates the military for doing what they're doing.
At least Stein is honest about admitting it.
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 9:40 am
Thursday, February 02nd, 2006
Well, it turns out that Britney Spear's forthcoming appearance on Will & Grace is causing quite the stir, and NOT because of Britney's acting.
A conservative Christian group, and yes, I am a conservative Christian, is complaining that NBC is "denigrating Christians".
I am sorry, but a Christian cooking segment called Crucifixins? That's freakin hilarious! And I am NOT a fan of Will & Grace.
Since when did we turn in such a whiny bunch of babies? Even if they're motive is to attack us, I hardly think poking fun at us is cause to get into an uproar.
I mean, seriously, with what the early Christians went through, I hardly think this compares. You don't see them sacrificing actual Christians, and feeding them to live lions for entertainment, do ya?
And since when can we not laugh at ourselves?
Rail against the message of Will & Grace, disagree with it's potrayal of the gay lifestyle, disagree with the politics, but sheesh, don't become so narrow that you can't laugh.
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 12:06 pm
Thursday, May 25th, 2006
After reading Dustin's post about forgetting addEvent, I have to disagree.
Not with the part about using Yahoo's new Event Utility (that part I DO agree with), the part I disagree with is dropping of the addEvent function.
You see, most folks already have some form of addEvent, with all of the standard params, so why force them to go through their code, and replace addEvent with "YAHOO.util.Event.addListener"?
The easier solution is to take your current addEvent function, and make it a wrapper for the new Yahoo event utility, like so:
function addEvent(el, sType, fn, oScope, bOverride){
YAHOO.util.Event.addListener
(el, sType, fn, oScope, bOverride);
}
Now you have an easy way of integrating it into your current scripts without having to rewrite all of your code.
Perhaps a bit obvious to some, but perhaps helpful to others :)
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 10:40 am
Thursday, February 23rd, 2006
For the last four seasons, I have NOT been an American Idol fan, at all. Frankly, the only person who has really done anything with their celebrity, and actually produced decent music, has been Kelly Clarkson. The rest, especially Fantasia and Rueben have really kinda just grated on my nerves (Clay Aiken was good, but his style was just very appealing to the AARP crowd).
This season, though, there is some REALLY great and original talent. Right now, I have 4 people from both girls and guys that I can see winning, and right fully so.
The first two people on each list are my personal ties for the top spot, with the first of each list being the artist/musician, and the second person on each list being great talents, but also likable more than anything.
So, without further ado, here we go.
Guys
- Taylor Hicks
What cant you say about this guy? Astounding musician, and very atypical. He is not someone I would see winning American Idol, because of his style and looks, but he is just such a good musician, you cant help but enjoy him and his music.
- Chris Daughtry
This guys style is much more to my liking, though I've always wondered if a rocker-type was right for American Idol.
However, this guy has something that sets him apart from everyone else, and it's his personality. When everyone was getting the decision on the finals, this guy was the one clapping and cheering for EVERYONE that made it. He seemed genuinely happy for everyone else to make it. Something about this guy screams "great guy" that really contrasts nicely with his rough edge look. Overall, a really good musician, and even songs I dont like, he can make enjoyable.
- Elliot Yamin
There is something I dont like about this guy, but I cant put my finger on it. Something about him just puts me off.
However, there is no denying how great of a singer he is. He seems likable enough, but his talent is really what makes me place him here. Amazing singer.
- Ace Young
I would say the worst singer of the four here, though still a really great one. However, what sets him apart, of course, are his good looks and charisma. Great singer, but I think he's going to have a HUGE following among the girl segment of viewers.
Girls
- Paris Bennett
This is seriously one of my favorites in the competition. After hearing her sing Billie Holliday, I was hooked. This girl is such a natural performer. While her first performance was a little over the top, it was still amazing, and I think it was over the top just because no one else in the competition this season has done it as well.
It was a star level performance. This girl has the voice, and likeability factor, she just has it all.
- Kellie Pickler
"Pick Pickler". Who couldn't like this girl? Seriously, her personality is so sweet and endearing, it's really infectious. I really enjoy her singing, but her personality, and personal story help drive this one up to the top. An incredible combination of looks, voice, and personality.
And who doesnt love that super thick accent :)
- Lisa Tucker
This girl is so good. It's hard to imagine her being only 16, but she has the musical chops to go all the way. It's hard to stand in the light next to the top two, but she is great in her own right.
- Katharine McPhee
This girl I would say is the best looking of the top four girls, and a great voice too. Again, in comparison to the top two, it's hard to judge her, but she really does have an overall star quality.
Overall I see many of the people on these lists as getting some sort of deal out of this, no matter how they place in the competition. Should be exciting :)
But seriously, I can't do six hours of AI a week, so producer people, can we cut it down a notch? And please, no group singing this time around. It's my absolute LEAST favorite of all the singing.
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 9:07 am
Wednesday, July 13th, 2005
Harry Potter Is Evil?
Okay, I know to some I seem some hardcore anti-everything fightin' fundie, but I do not follow the party line on everything.
Personally, I think the Harry Potter movies are wonderful and amazingly imaginative, and I think the overall franchise is wonderful. It kind of bothers me that the new Pope is now coming out against it.
I truly dont see the moral difference between Harry Potter and The Lord Of The Rings (written by Tolkien, a Catholic), or even The Narnia series (written by CS Lewis, an Anglican and theologian extraordinaire).
I guess the charge is that the characters encourage sorcery, but that, in my humble opinion, is bullcrap. The characters obviously live in a fictional world, one where magic plays a huge part of life.
The story has greater themes behind it, though. It's no different than comic books. When you're an adolescent, you are struggling with this discovery of your own powerful abilities, and the proper and improper use of your abilities. This may be more so for boys, as well.
When you hit puberty, your testosterone levels increase by 800% (literally). You're changing from a child, to a young man, and this change is quite dramatic. I think the series deals with things like that.
I also think that the series is important in an essentially naturalistic Western culture. We tend to prize only the material, and ridicule the spiritual.
I believe the movie encourages the idea that there is a spiritual realm, there is something beyond our empirical grasp, and that there are clearly defined rules of good and evil.
Perhaps the movie isnt a "How to become a Christian", but neither is LOTR or the Narnia series.
Lastly, it's entertainment. No one is expecting to form a religious belief system off of a fictional series.
For instance, I am quite enamored with both the Roman periods of history, as well as the medieval. Does this mean that because I watched Gladiator, I'm going to start believing in Jupiter as a god?
I also have a thing for alien movies, like Signs, even when I was a kid. However, while I may wish for the fantastic to be true, it doesnt mean that I change what I believe over it.
I personally dont see the big deal over all of this. When I have children, I plan on letting them watch it, and also explaining to them the difference between what they see and read, versus what is true.
It's called parenting, people. You should be raising your children, not Harry Potter.
I guess the disagreement is over whether or not Harry Potter truly encourages children to practice sorcery, and I dont think so.
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 10:43 am
Tuesday, August 02nd, 2005
Feel free to use this little contract generator I coded up :)
http://www.shift22.com/files.php
» Nate Cavanaugh @ 5:01 pm
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