jameswatkins!com on Israel-Hezbollah war, Mel Gibson's DUI, Shiites vs. Sunnis, plus free .mp3 music . . .

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JAMES WATKINS!COM: HEAVY TOPICS WITH A LIGHT TOUCH

RAUNCHY MUSIC INFLUENCES TEENS' SEXUAL HABITS

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hot topics

august 1, 2006

middle east cease fire

pc turns 25

shiites v. sunnis

'red' terrorist alert

contents

adultsite4adults [pg-13]

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original music in .mp3

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XarisCom

about moi

All that's really important
to know is that I love God,
my family, writing, speaking,
and Chinese food—
in that order.
If you want to know more—
or have a really bad case of
insomnia—click here.
Jim

daily favorites

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GospelCom.net

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ThinkChristian.net

weekly favorites

Chuck Colson

David Drury

Keith Drury

Dawn Eden

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Barbara Nicolosi

Rachael Phillips

Kayleen Reusser

Rhonda Rhea

Gary Varvel

Lawrence W Wilson

welcome!
Thanks for stopping by! Hi, I'm Jim Watkins: author, speaker, threat to society. I hope you'll come back regularly for constantly updated material (click "Refresh" at the top of your browser to assure latest edition). And tell a friend. Thanks!
• Over 300 articles, columns, .mp3 songs, reviews, "top ten" lists and more
• Top ten sites from last month

'peace on earth' doesn't sell newspapers, draw viewers
(8.14) With the fragile Israel-Hezbollah cease fire less than a day old, the month-long conflict has dropped to the "in other news" category on TV news and "below the fold" in afternoon newspapers. In 2004, I wrote a column noting that "peace on earth" is apparently not newsworthy. (And even though it's no longer the lead story, please pray for peace in the region.)
• Click here for column
• Click here for thoughts on the conflict

happy 25th birthday to first personal computer
(8.12) On August 12, 1981, IBM released the 5150 PC which gave us word and data processing. This would eventually lead to a communication and cultural revolution of email, the Internet, amazon.com, and online dating. And I would still be pecking away on my first book if I still had to do it with a typewriter (tip-rit-er, n. ancient tool that manually stamped letters and numbers onto

RADIO SHACK TRS 80 MODEL III
FROM HOME COMPUTER MUSEUM

paper using an inked ribbon.). My first book was written on a Radio Shack TRS 80 Model III (see pic) which in 1982 retailed for over $4,000 and could only run one program at a time. It's 16 kilobytes of memory was 50,000 times less powerful than modern PCs. You've come a long way, PC! Thanks, IBM!
• Story from CNN
• Notes from my "Online Communications" course

despite heightened terrorism threat level, life solidly 'green'
(8.10) With this morning's reports of twenty-four men arrested in a London-based plot to bomb at least ten international flights, Homeland Security has raised the airlines alert level for incoming international flights to 'red' and outgoing to 'orange.' Despite the all the media attention, life in America is still solidly 'green'.
• Some thoughts on the whole 'color code' thing
• Resources for dealing with terrorism

our annual 'back to school' special
(8.10) Here's advice to seniors, as well as thoughts on evolution, falling in love, prayer in school, school shootings (you're twice as likely to be struck by lightning), "safe" sex, teen drinking, and much more
• Click here

reader responds to 'top ten reasons i'm not divorcing my wife'
(8.09) "Is it right, to stay in a marriage where the family is miserable? Is it right to have to stay when you get nothing from the relationship because the spouse is drugged up day in and day out? Does God really expect us to live that way?" [name withheld]
• Top Ten Reasons I'm Not Divorcing My Wife
• Reader's question; my response
• How would you respond?

'raunchy music influences teens' sexual habits'
(8.07) A Rand Corporation study has just caught up with what I've been teaching at schools and camps since 1977.

"Songs depicting men as 'sex-driven studs,' women as sex objects and with explicit references to sex acts are more likely to trigger early sexual behaviour than those where sexual references are more veiled and relationships appear more committed. Teens who said they listened to lots of music with degrading sexual messages were almost twice as likely to start having intercourse or other sexual activities within the following two years as other teens who listened to little or no sexually degrading music."
• The study's findings
• My thoughts on sex and teens

why do shiites hate sunnis?
(8.07) While testifying before Congress concerning the "possibility" of civil war Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned, "Shiites and Sunnis are going to have to love their children more than they hate each other." But why do they hate each other?
• Click here

speaking at minneapolis writers' conference
(8.01) I'll be speaking at the American Christian Writers' conference in Minneapolis Friday and Saturday. This is a great (and economical) way to get an overview of opportunities in Christian publishing. Holly Miller, contributing editor to The Saturday Evening Post, is also speaking along with David Horton, an editor with Bethany House.
• Click here for conference details
• Click here my writing resources page

COLOR-CODED MISSILES, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I THINK THEY ARE

the new Crayola missiles in 64-color box?
(7.30) Send me your captions for this photo. To get you started: "Get your Hezbollah back to school supplies," "Israel introduces the new Crayola missiles in the 64-color box," or "The pen is mightier than the sword!"
• Email me your suggestions.
• Thanks to John Campbell for sending in these suggestions:
     "Um, do these come in pink?"
     "Missiles to match your shoes, purse, and belt."
     "Who says hate is not about color?"
     "We've declared war on neutrals!"
     "The new Crayola missile, color for your universe."
Thanks!

last issue's hot topics
The Isreal-Hezbollar conflict, Christy Brinkley and George Michael's very different reactions to infidelity, Brits bonkers over bare-chested blokes, the ACLU defends "God Hates Fags" hate group, new columns online from "Irreverent" and a possible solution in stem cell controversy.
• Click here to go back in time

july's top ten sites
I have in my right hand, direct from my home office, last month's top ten sites . . .

• 1 Home page

• 2 "The Platypus Players"' billabong page

• 3 "Jim Shorts" on sex

• 4 Quips and quotes of encouragement

• 5 Falling in love . . . and getting back up

• 6 "Adult site" for adults

• 7 Top ten reasons I'm not divorcing my wife

• 8 "Jim Shorts" on issues

• 9 Writers' resources

• 10 "Jim Shorts" on health issues

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Read a book excerpt, then go to amazon.com and buy them for yourself, family, friends, co-workers, next door neighbor, paperboy, dentist, pastor, . . .

sandy cove writers conference
Refine your writing and speaking skills, be mentored by editors and professional writers, network with editors and professional writers and expand your vision of how God can use you. On the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay in Northeast, Maryland.
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incredible offer: you can earn $100 with one email!

Yah, yah, yah! You're seen all those come-ons, but this one actually works. I’m editorial advisor with ACW Press, a Christian self-publishing company which provides quality book publishing at low prices. It’s expanding its marketing program, so for every lead you provide that results in a traditional publishing contract earns you a $100 referral reward. (There’s also a $10 referral reward if it becomes a print-on-demand contract). Here are the three simple steps:

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and now more from our sponsor . . .

Thanks for stopping by! Hi, I'm Jim Watkins. Each week I try to bring my guests "heavy topics with a light touch" in articles and editorials on a variety of subjects—everything from sex to sects.

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