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this week's commentaries 03.27.05
Saturday (04.02)
my thoughts and prayers are with those grieving this week
The inevitable death of Terri Schiavo and imminent death of Pope John Paul II were the top stories this week, but remember also the 1,000 Indonesians dead after Monday's 8.7 earthquake. Here are some resources that I hope will be helpful during this time:
- Dealing with death and grief
- Why? Answering life's tough questions
- Will we live after death?
Friday (04.01)
jameswatkins.commentary to change format April 1
I'm not getting as many page views as I'd like, so starting today, I'm relaunching my site an an online pornographic Rolex store run by philanthropic Nigerian widows. April Fools! But if you'd like to help drive traffic to my site, please let your email friends know about the "heavy topics with a light touch" at www.jameswatkins.com. Thanks! (And if not, would you like to buy a really nice Rolex for $19.95?)
Thursday (03.31) 11:00 am EST
my thoughts and prayers are with Terri Schiavo's family
CNN has just reported that the brain-damaged 41-year-old woman is dead after the courts ordered her feeding tube removed two weeks ago. This case has been heart-breaking and soul-searching on so many levels (click for Monday's commentary). I pray for peace and comfort for her parents and a renewed respect for life in our state and federal court system.
- Dealing with death and grief
Thursday (03.31)
'top ten' ways airlines are cutting back
As a frequent flier, I loved Letterman's 'Top Ten' list Tuesday. My favorite:
8. To maximize space, seats no longer recline a luxurious inch-and-a-half.
- My annual airline survival guide
- My top ten things not to say at airport security
Wednesday (03.30)
Schiavo's parents offer to trade daughter for Scott Peterson'
Scott Ott (scrappleface.com) offers this solution to the Terri Schiavo controversy: "Just minutes after a federal judge denied a request to provide a starving, dehydrating Florida woman with food and water, Terri Schiavo's parents offered to trade their 41-year-old daughter for convicted double-murderer Scott Peterson. 'What we're offering to the state of California is an even-up trade,' said Bob Schindler, Mrs. Schiavo's father. 'Scott Peterson, who murdered his wife and son, gets to come to this nursing home where he'll die in a week or two. Our daughter goes to death row in San Quentin, where she'll likely live a long life as Peterson's case is appealed.'"
(click for Monday's commentary)
Tuesday (03.29)
The Da Vinci Code is fiction, friends, fiction
I finally read Dan Brown's kabillion-selling novel The Da Vinici Code. It's a well-written, plot-twisting, page-turning novel. My problem with it, however, is that in an early page dubbed "FACT," Brown makes the point that there is a "Priory of Sion" and an "Opus Dei," and that all art descriptions are "accurate." My fear is that the reader will assume (I know that's dangerous) it's also a "fact" that Jesus was a mortal human being and not the Son of God—which would make it well-written, plot-twisting, page-turning heresy.
- Genuine Jesus or counterfeit Christ?
- Who Was Jesus? Modern Myths vs. Biblical Basics (by Dr. Craig L. Blomberg)
Monday (03.28)
owner fined for not watering, feeding horses
In light (or darkness) of the Terri Schiavo case, this interesting note in Sunday's paper: "The owner of eight Belgian draft horses rescued from a rural Waterloo farm last December pleaded guilty Thursday in DeKalb Superior Court to two misdemeanor charges of animal neglect. Mike Murray also relinquished ownership of the horses and forfeited $6,000 in bond he has posted for the care of the animals. [Judge] Brown said he believes the resolution of the case also sends an important message against neglecting animals."
- ‘Horse sense’ needed in Schiavo case [new]
- 'Jumbo shrimp' and 'mercy killing' (moral and ethical oxymorons)
- 'Million Dollar Baby' throws in the towel (big screen euthanasia) [new]
- Is Schiavo a 'human non-person? (by Wesley J. Smith)
Sunday (03.27)
I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
I trust you had a joyous Easter. I'm back from giving up my website for Lent and ready to get back to whatever it is I do here. Here's what I wrote on 'spring break'
- Memo to Michael Jackson: Grow up! (02.21) [new]
- US Department of DUH on weight loss (02.28) [new]
- Dead Pope jokes?! Some humor no laughing matter (03.13) [new]
- I'm diving into the 2008 Presidential race with my 'Pool Party' [new]
- Celebrating spring [new]
Last week
East and Lent resources
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