Maine Moves to Ban Gender Specific Bathrooms, Sports Teams →
Yes, the article's a little biased, but seriously? WTF?
[Edit] The proposal says: "Transgender students must be allowed access to bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity or expression or, if they prefer, to existing single stall bathrooms,…With respect to locker rooms and shower facilities that involve undressing in front of others, transgender students must be provided with accommodations that meet their needs and that take into account the legitimate privacy concerns of all student involved," the proposal says. Thanks to http://nuditynotprudity.tumblr.com/
Democrats Reach New Lows
The Democratic Party's favorability rating has dropped to the "lowest point in the 18-year history" of Gallup testing that number, the pollster reports. Just 41 percent of voters have a favorable impression of the Democratic Party, compared with 42 percent who have a positive view of the GOP. Democrats held an 11 percentage point lead on this question when Gallup polled it late last summer.
Still think health care was the right thing to do?
Source: Politico
Agenda of Nuclear Talks Leaves Out a New Threat →
We let Pakistan make more nuclear weapons when they can't control their own country? South Africa has weapons-grade uranium? Interesting...
The Rise of New Calvanism →
A fantastic article from the Christian Science Monitor on a theological and cultural shift in the American church today, between "emergence Christianity" and "new Calvanism".
Since the article doesn't actually lay out a good definition of Calvanism, I thought I'd give a short introduction. The main beliefs of Calvanism are often distilled into the "five points":
- Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability or Original Sin) We are completely sinful, and in complete enmity with God in our natural state, unable to, of our own will, turn to God for salvation.
- Unconditional Election God elects, or chooses, some to be saved, and others not, by virtue of His will, not our actions or our future choice to have faith.
- Limited Atonement Jesus died only for those elected by God. Though Jesus' sacrifice was and is sufficient for all, it was not efficacious for all.
- Irresistible Grace The elect cannot resist the working of the Holy Spirit that brings them to a position in which they willingly come to God.
- Perseverance of the Saints (or Once Saved Always Saved) Those truly saved are eternally secure in Christ. No action can cause the loss of salvation.
The "opposite" interpretation of the Scriptures that support Calvanism lead to a theology known as Arminianism. Finally, one can believe in any or all of the above points, making them what people label a "4-point" or "5-point" Calvanist, for example. If I were to label myself, I would be a "4-1/2-point Calvanist", as I have difficulty with unconditional election as I don't think it properly describes a God who is outside of time.
As the article says: "Today we have more Bibles and more study guides to Scripture than ever before, but people know the text itself less and less." I would encourage you to know what the Bible says, to, in the words of The Matrix, "know thyself", to what you believe, and to be prepared to give account to God for those beliefs and your resulting lifestyle as in Romans 14:1-12.
LaDiDa →
An iPhone app that makes music from terrible singing, and I assume ever better music from better singing.
IE9 Hardware Acceleration →
I have to admit, I'm officially impressed with the results of the hardware acceleration being added to IE9. I think this puts another nail in Flash's coffin, though.
Apple vs Google: A Generals' War →
Interesting perspective from DaringFireball on the corporate animosity emerging between Google and Apple.
The Gaping Loophole in Obama's Nuclear Posture Review →
Politics is all about perception.
Logarithmic Calendar View →
A great proposal for improvements to the humble calendar.