November, 2007

All

What do you believe?  It is a theme known universally, but it is not a universal theme.

The moment a word is uttered, the limitations begin.  Accused of teaching Universalism, Karl Barth faced the inquiry as to whether he believed all men would be saved.  His answer -- "I cannot say; and I cannot not say."  They answered, "Then you are a Universalist."  In a strange twist of language, could he have been showing us the limitations of descriptive language?

continue reading "Limitations of Descriptive Language"

In recent months, after major vendors like EarthLink pulled back from their once-ambitious plans to offer wireless broadband in many major American cities, the future of municipal wireless services was seen as dismal.  It was disappointing to learn that a promising new local commons might not, in fact, be economically viable.  The good news is, wi-fi is alive and well.

Esme Vos, one of the leading champions of municipal wi-fi, points out in her “2007 State of the Market report” that wi-fi is hardly stalled, as many people seem to think.  Although the projected growth of wi-fi over the next several years has declined, it is still growing and is likely to exceed $900 million by the end of 2010, Vos predicts.  But the growth will be concentrated on small and mid-sized cities, not the major cities, and it will have a different economic model than the one originally envisioned.   

continue reading "Ethiopia and Shrouded Conflict in Ogaden"

I only just recently returned home to Glasgow, Scotland after a long three week trip to the USA that included four multiple-leg airline flights. On Monday coming, I fly once again to Amsterdam, The Netherlands only to turn around on Wednesday and fly back. So I’m learning a lot about what I now refer to as "airplane spirituality." Here’s just a couple thoughts on it for your consideration. (There might even be a bit of application hidden within.)

continue reading "Airplane Spirituality"

For those of you who haven’t heard, Bangladesh was struck by Cyclone Sidr earlier this month. Thanks to a very efficient pre-storm warning and evacuation system, the confirmed death toll so far is around 3500; previous cyclones in the 70’s and 80’s each killed hundreds of thousands.
However, even though the immediate death toll was minimized, tens of thousands have lost their homes, beds and clothing just as winter is beginning. Hundreds of thousands have also lost their crops and livestock, upon which their income for the next several months depended.

continue reading "Call for post-cyclone relief for Bangladesh"

For those of you who haven’t heard, Bangladesh was struck by Cyclone Sidr earlier this month. Thanks to a very efficient pre-storm warning and evacuation system, the confirmed death toll so far is around 3500; previous cyclones in the 70’s and 80’s each killed hundreds of thousands.
However, even though the immediate death toll was minimized, tens of thousands have lost their homes, beds and clothing just as winter is beginning. Hundreds of thousands have also lost their crops and livestock, upon which their income for the next several months depended.

continue reading "Call for post-cyclone relief for Bangladesh"

Hollywood studios have always insisted that piracy hurts the financial returns for a film – and likes to count every unauthorized viewing as lost revenue.  Critics generally respond that pirated DVDs do not necessarily represent lost revenue, especially in countries where ticket prices are high and average wages are low.  Piracy in those circumstances is symptomatic of an out-of-whack market that refuses to meet actual consumer demand.  

No one has ever been able to “win” this debate because there is very little empirical evidence to be marshaled.  Now comes the Brazilian film, “Tropa de Elite” – “The Elite Squad” – a gritty, thinly fictionalized account of Rio street crime and police torturers.  

Atma Bodha (Treatise on knowledge of soul) is one of the master pieces penned by Adi Sankaracharya (believed to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva). It contains 68 Sanskrit verses and explodes the secrets of Soul. This article presents the contents of Atma Bodha in simple English verses, Part II.

See Part I. and Part II.

continue reading "Atma Bodha: Treatise on Knowledge of Soul, Part III"

Got this in my Inbox today. What utter and complete crap.

>Prophet (Muhammad) peace be upon him
>
>An Important Message for every Muslim
>
>The Danish man who has insulted and abused our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on
>drawing funny offended cartoons last year was found deadly burned
>(expired) with all members of his family. The relevant authority (Danish
>Government) has hid this news (did not disclose it).
>
>All who has love with Prophet (PBUH) are requested to disseminate this
>information to other 25 persons when receiving this e-mail; as a religious
>and pious Palestinian girl and other devout man witnessed that they have
>seen Prophet (PBUH) in dream and were advised to circulate this news to
>others. Those who do so will see bright changes in their health, wealth
>home and have all happiness and pleasure; while those who don’t circulate
>it to others will get so sad and gloomy and will face problem in home,
>health, wealth etc; because they are not defending for prophet against his
>enemies.
>
>Take it seriously and don’t miss the chance.

continue reading "More Foolishness and Ignorance"

Got this in my Inbox today. What utter and complete crap.

>Prophet (Muhammad) peace be upon him
>
>An Important Message for every Muslim
>
>The Danish man who has insulted and abused our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on
>drawing funny offended cartoons last year was found deadly burned
>(expired) with all members of his family. The relevant authority (Danish
>Government) has hid this news (did not disclose it).
>
>All who has love with Prophet (PBUH) are requested to disseminate this
>information to other 25 persons when receiving this e-mail; as a religious
>and pious Palestinian girl and other devout man witnessed that they have
>seen Prophet (PBUH) in dream and were advised to circulate this news to
>others. Those who do so will see bright changes in their health, wealth
>home and have all happiness and pleasure; while those who don’t circulate
>it to others will get so sad and gloomy and will face problem in home,
>health, wealth etc; because they are not defending for prophet against his
>enemies.
>
>Take it seriously and don’t miss the chance.

continue reading "More Foolishness and Ignorance"

The day after Thanksgiving is purportedly the busiest shopping day of the year, so naturally Adbusters, the culture-jamming magazine based in Vancouver, B.C., has proclaimed today “Buy Nothing Day.”  It’s an inspired idea to raise people’s consciousness about the excesses of consumerism, which increasingly has a more apocalyptic implication, global warming.  The colossal cycle of production and consumption, much of it gratuitous and contrived, is literally starting to jeopardize the future of life on earth.  

It’s always revealing to see how the mainstream media react to Buy Nothing Day.  Newspapers always seem to fill up their newshole on this slow-news weekend with amusing, offbeat subjects like protesting tree-sitters in Berkeley, celebrity "news" and…the idea of buying nothing for a day.  How zany is that?! 

To those living in America, happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are enjoying your turkey :)

I would like to thank God for all that he has blessed me with and for the internet that enables us to discuss things with each other even if we live in different parts of the world. Never has the body of Christ been so “one” before. I also would like to pray for those who are not so fortunate; may God bring blessings upon them.

continue reading "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Bob McChesney is that rare bird, a scholar’s scholar who is not afraid to plunge into the real world with both feet.  Five years ago, at a time when the media reform movement desperately needed some fresh ideas and energy, Bob and Josh Silver co-founded Free Press, a new grassroots, activist organization that has led the charge against media concentration. 

It was a daring move because, historically, media concentration had elicited only yawns from the national press and the public.  With help from colleague organizations and skillful use of the Internet, however, Free Press stopped the FCC’s plans to loosen media ownership rules (which have recently been revived by FCC Chairman Martin).  Drawing up on his own rich knowledge of history, McChesney made the case that media concentration was (and is) politicizing journalism, homogenizing expression and subverting open, democratic culture.  Congress and a federal court eventually told the FCC to back off.

continue reading "Turkey Wages War Under the Mat"

continue reading "Faith is a Verb"

There is a growing category of Internet-based companies known as “open businesses” that deserve far more attention than they are getting.  These companies incorporate the spirit and mechanisms of the commons into for-profit business operations.  To the either/or mind, which insists that everything must be public or private, profit-making or nonprofit, the idea of open business sounds like an oxymoron.  But as it has been said about Wikipedia, "It works in practice, just not in theory."  While we wait for a theory of open business to be written, it's time to open our minds to some new realities.

Wes White and I helped run a TREK theological conversation with a group of leaders, pastors and students in various stages of emergence in Portland, Oregon, from 11th to 13th November, 2007. The theme for the conversation was: How and in what way is the church prophetic? Along with that, what is the prophetic ministry today and how is it done? These are some of the ten papers that were presented and discussed.

continue reading "TREK conversation in Portland, Oregon, on the prophetic church"

Atma Bodha (Treatise on knowledge of soul) is one of the master pieces penned by Adi Sankaracharya (believed to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva). It contains 68 Sanskrit verses and explodes the secrets of Soul. This article presents the contents of Atma Bodha in simple English verses, Part II.

See Part I also.

ATMA BODHA-- PART II

continue reading "Atma Bodha: Treatise on Knowledge of Soul, Part II"

It is something of an open secret that neoclassical economics has serious limitations as a way of understanding the world.  But because the intellectual mindset has become so pervasive – despite its remoteness from empirical realities – it is weirdly functional.  "Everyone" believes it, so it must be true. It reminds me of the closing joke in Woody Allen’s film, Annie Hall, about a guy with a crazy brother who thought he was a chicken:  “The doctor says, ‘Why don’t you turn him in?’  The guy says, ‘I would but I need the eggs.’”

How refreshing to discover an online economics journal that tries to re-integrate economics with the real world.  The Post-Autistic Economics Review has a monthly dose of what its tagline promises – “Sanity, humanity, science.”  As the Review puts it, “The PAE movement is not about trying to replace neoclassical economics with another partial truth, but rather about reopening economics for free scientific inquiry, making it a pursuit where empiricism outranks a priorism and where critical thinking rules instead of ideology.”

Bhutto’s return bodes poorly for Pakistan — and for democracy there.
By Fatima Bhutto
November 14, 2007
KARACHI — We Pakistanis live in uncertain times. Emergency rule has been imposed for the 13th time in our short 60-year history. Thousands of lawyers have been arrested, some charged with sedition and treason; the chief justice has been deposed; and a draconian media law — shutting down all private news channels — has been drafted.

continue reading "Aunt Benazirs false promises"

Bhutto’s return bodes poorly for Pakistan — and for democracy there.
By Fatima Bhutto
November 14, 2007
KARACHI — We Pakistanis live in uncertain times. Emergency rule has been imposed for the 13th time in our short 60-year history. Thousands of lawyers have been arrested, some charged with sedition and treason; the chief justice has been deposed; and a draconian media law — shutting down all private news channels — has been drafted.

continue reading "Aunt Benazirs false promises"

you may purchase a ticket on Soho’s website: www.sohotheatre.com/pl1381.html
For more information (if you’re curious or bored), check out other plays that Soho Theatre will also be showcasing for Kali Theatre Company’s Festival: www.kalitheatre.co.uk/whatson/Futures2007.htm
HOW TO GET TO SOHO THEATRE: the nearest tube station is either Picadillay Circus or Leicester Square.
The show is at 8pm, so be sure to come earlier and get your ticket and get a good seat.
I look forward to seeing some of you there.

continue reading "if you are in London.. come see my play on the 24th!"

you may purchase a ticket on Soho’s website: www.sohotheatre.com/pl1381.html
For more information (if you’re curious or bored), check out other plays that Soho Theatre will also be showcasing for Kali Theatre Company’s Festival: www.kalitheatre.co.uk/whatson/Futures2007.htm
HOW TO GET TO SOHO THEATRE: the nearest tube station is either Picadillay Circus or Leicester Square.
The show is at 8pm, so be sure to come earlier and get your ticket and get a good seat.
I look forward to seeing some of you there.

continue reading "if you are in London.. come see my play on the 24th!"