Previous date | Next date





Home




James Watkins




Author




Speaker




Editor




Threat to society






jameswatkins.communicator
'Heavy topics with a light touch'





June 18, 2007: Blog, e-zine or whatever it is I do here
'heavy topics with a light touch'

• Resources for responding to London, Glasgow terrorism attempts (6.30)
TERRORIST ATTACKS RESOURCES
• Top topic: Who will meet Deathly end in Harry Potter Hallows? (6.27)
WILL IT BE HARRY, HERMIONE, RON . . .?
• Annual salute to summer (6.18)
FATHER'S DAY ARTICLES, HUMOR
Code of conduct
BLOGGERS' CODE OF CONDUCT
• Did 'roid rage' contribute to wrestler murder/suicide? (6.29)
CHRIS BENOIT'S USE OF STEROIDS
• Drury's insightful (and incite-ful) site (6.18)
KEITH DRURY
• Escaped Arian Brotherhood member a marked man (6.26)
DUH!
• I'm giving away free advice, books! (6.30)
COMMUNICATE TO CHANGE LIVES
• Is media producting 'viewspapers'? (6.25)
BLOGGERS' CODE OF CONDUCT
• Not enough Almighty in Evan sequel (6.29)
EVAN ALMIGHTY NOT ENOUGH MORGAN FREEMAN AS GOD
• Top ten habits of highly effective writers (6.25)
HUMOR: TOP TEN LIST
• Were US founding fathers 'Christian'? (6.30)
COMMUNICATE TO CHANGE LIVES



COVER OF HARRY POTTER: DEATHLY HALLOWS
With sixty kabillion sites you could visit, thanks for stopping by here! I hope you'll come back regularly for constantly updated humor and commentary on sex, society, the supernatural and, of course, my plot to overthrow society as we know it. (Please save it as a favorite, then tell a friend.)





Saturday, June 30, 2007
I'm giving away free advice, books in atlanta!

I'll be in Atlanta July 6-7 for an American Christian Writers' Conference. (Actually, you have to pay for that, but it's cheap!)

Then, get a free, authographed copy of Communicate to Change Lives at the Wesleyan Publishing House booth during the International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta at 10 am Monday July 9.
• Free writing advice
• Even more free writing advice

Later in the day Saturday
were u. s. founding fathers 'christian'?

It's that time of year to once again set off some fireworks concerning the claim that the United States' founding fathers were 'Christian'? Some were but some, like Thomas Jefferson, were very anti-Christian.
• Check out their faith in their own words


COVER OF COMMUNICATE TO CHANGE LIVES



Friday, June 29, 2007
did 'roid rage' contribute to wrestler murder/suicide?

The murder/suicide of pro-wrestler Chris Benoit's family is disturbing on many levels: he allegedly bound and strangled his wife and strangled his mentally-challenged son, then laid Bible by their bodies; he spent several hours after their deaths sending cryptic text messages to friends before hanging himself on exercise equipment. While toxicology reports are pending, many are speculating that the wrestler's use of steroids could have contributed to the murder/suicide. Here's what I wrote about steroids in The Why Files:


Anabolic steroids—the synthetic male hormone testosterone—has been used illegally to build up muscle and strength in both male and female athletics and body builders. And while steroids are effective, especially for women athletes, they have some deadly side-effects. They not only build up muscles but tumors. They can cause heart disease, liver damage and hormonal imbalance.

Side effects in men include prostate cancer, shrinking testicles and enlarged breasts; in women: a lower voice, more facial hair, shrinking breasts, and even baldness. Steroid use can lead to aggressiveness ("roid rage"), depression and mental illness including hallucinations and "hearing voices."

Perhaps this tragedy can bring some good: a warning against this dangerous drug used by athletes of all ages.
• Read more from The Why Files

Friday night
not nearly enough almighty in evan sequel

Lois and I just returned from Evan Almighty. The new film made me laugh (especially the dance video at the end), but Bruce Almighty, it's predecessor, made me marvel. Morgan Freeman, who played God with a wonderful blend of wit, wisdom and warmth in the original, is reduced to almost "extra" status in the sequel—and with really bad theology as well. Bruce was filled with subtle, supernatural humor, while Evan is reduced to slap-stick comedy with the obligatory


dog-bites-man-in-crotch (repeatedly). So,while the new film has its humorous moments, it doesn't have Jim Carey's nuanced performance, deep theological themes or—most disappointing—enough of Morgan Freeman as God. (One thumb up. One thumb down.)
• What's your review?
Slate's spot-on review



Wednesday, June 27, 2007
who will meet deathly end in harry potter hallows?

Even muggles (people without magical powers) know that the latest—and last—Harry Potter book, Deathly Hallows, flies into bookstores July 21. Arguments are flying like bludgers at a Quidditch game as to who will and who won't survive.

So, here's my totally unscientific poll. For whom will the "hallows" prove "deathly"? Please say it isn't Hermione, although she has proven the most loyal, and thus most logical person to give her life for the boy wizard. (A British bookie bets it's Harry himself.)

Apart from the ending, Harry continues to conjure up controversy as to whether the incredibly successful series is a force for good or evil. I'm still debating myself on this topic.
• Harry Potter: the good, the bad, the muggly
• What do you think?






Tuesday, June 26, 2007
escaped arian brotherhood member a marked man

Curtis Allgier, 27, was captured today after escaping his Utah prison. He was found baracaded in a house, but had fallen through the ceiling when he tried to escape to the attic.

You would think the member of the white supremist group, Aryan Brotherhood, would have blended right in with the citizens of Utah with his short blonde hair and fashionable soul patch. Go figure!






Monday, June 25, 2007
top ten habits of highly effective writers

Each year the
St. David's Christian Writers' Conference features a faculty roast with hilarious assignments. For my roasting, conferees were to add advice to my "Seven seven habits of the purpose-driven writer" chapter fromWriters on Writing. Here are three to round it off to an even ten from winner Linda Au:

8. At tax time, include your bathroom in your home office deduction since the toilet is the only place you can get some peace and quiet to write.

9. Go to your family reunion and take notes for that article you're writing on grotesquely dysfunctional families.

10. Change your domain name from jameswatkins.com to freelove.freelancer.porn.

Thanks, Linda, for those suggestions, but I think I'll pass on number 10. (I'll stick with AdultSite4Adults.com.)

Here are resources from what I taught at St. D's and the Kentucky Christian Writers conferences:
• Crossing over with the cross
• David and the giant publishers
• First Corinthians 12 for writers
• Heavy topics with a light touch and • Spreading the Word with wit
• How to be your own editor
• How to hook today's online users
• Planning, designing, promoting your site
• Researching online

Also Monday . . .
while I was gone . . .

My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the nine firefighters killed in the South Carolina fire and the missing Ohio woman whose body was recently found.
• Coping with death and grief

Also, last week, outgoing UK prime minister, Tony Blair, accused the media of producing "viewspapers."
• Some thoughts from this side of the pond.



Monday, June 18, 2007
annual salute to summer

• Lazing in the hammock is productive work
• Top ten clues a man should wear a shirt in summer
• School vacation: out of my routine—and mind
• It's not a vacation if . . .
• Travel the world without leaving the state
• Guide for summer flying
• Top ten things not to say in airport security line

Later Monday
keith drury's insightful (and incite-ful) site

While I'm off speaking this week, my friend Keith Drury will be substituting with his insightful (and often incite-ful) site. I love his unique perspectives on issues. Then, again, you may loathe them, but you definitely won't be bored by them!
• Keith's Tuesday Column
• St. Davids Christian Writers Conference
• Kentucky Christian Writers Conference






May 7, 2007
last issue's 'heavy topics with a light touch'

Wow, a heavy issue! The death of Ruth Bell Graham, Don Wildmon's wild speculations, angry atheists on the best-seller lists, and, of course, Paris in the pokey. I promise the current issue will have much more humor.
• Click here to go back in time



May 2007
last month's top ten sites

  1. Home page / blog
  2. Quips and quotes of encouragement
  3. "Jim Shorts" on sex
  4. Is it a life or a choice?
  5. Women in ministry issues
  6. Top ten reasons I'm not divorcing my wife
  7. "Jim Shorts" on spirituality
  8. "I just want to die" (suicide)
  9. "Adult site" for adults
10. "Jim Shorts" on media



But wait, there's more . . .
code, copyrights, comments . . .

We subscribe to proposed 'blogger's code of conduct' I'm glad to see the online community developing a set of guidelines to bring civility and credibility to the blogsphere. I've adapted the proposed policy (printed in red) to create my own code of conduct.


1. Responsibility for our own words First, I believe that, as a follower of Christ, I am responsible to "speak the truth in love" and to "let all [my] conversation be full of grace." Jesus never backed away from controversial subjects, but He was "full of truth and grace." Second, I believe plagiarism is stealing and thus a violation of the eighth commandment. All material on my site is original with me unless credited to someone else. And third, as a journalist, I must be objective, accurate (I will verify all facts with at least two reliable sources) and fair (I will quote people in context and strive to present their position accurately).

2. Nothing we wouldn't say in person We must be as responsible and civil we are in the real world. I believe that personal attacks, name-calling, profane or vulgar language, and racist, sexist and ethnic humor have no place in the real or virtual worlds.

3. Encouragement of responses (That's currently not in the code, but it should be!) I include guest's comments at the end of articles and columns as well as encouraging comments on my host's online discussion board.

4. No anonymous comments Commenters must supply a valid email address before they can post, though I allow commenters to identify themselves with an alias, rather than their real name for sensitive issues.

5. Discretion to delete comments I refuse to post comments that do not conform to my own code in point 2.

6. Vigorous enforcement of blog hosts' terms of service

7. Nothing harmful We will not engage in any activity that would cause physical, mental, social or spiritual harm or encourage anyone to do the same.

I'll probably be tweaking this as I go along, but for now, those are the promises I'm making to you as a guest on my site.

Blogger's Code of Conduct [off site]
Legal Guide for Bloggers (also very good!) [off site]
Some thoughts on blogging and responsibility



And finally . . .
if you found this site helpful, please tell a friend

You can use the form below to tell them about wwww.jameswatkins.com. Thanks!

Your name:
Your email:
Friend's name:
Friend's email:

Powered by SearchBliss Web Tools


© James Watkins All text and graphics on my sites, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted © in my name, James N. Watkins, and are protected by United States copyright law and international copyright law under the Berne Convention. Please visit the
press room for information on reprinting any text or graphics. Thanks!




Author

'Adult site' [pg-13]

Articles, book excerpts

Blog, archives

Bookstore

Comedy/drama scripts

Humor

Infrequently asked questions

Most popular sites

Spiritual resources

Writing resources

Speaker

Topics

Endorsements

Schedule




Threat to society

Bio [if you're bored]

Email

E-newsletter

Plot to overthrow society

Press room

Support the plot

Surveillance camera

'Taking the Word to the world'

We support these other threats to society:

Christian Humor Writers

Next Steps Ministries

World Hope


Please consider a donation



This site is hosted by . . .

Gospelcom.net alliance member