Friday, July 31, 2015

A Brief Analysis of the Religion of Evolution

The theory of evolution is quickly becoming the only accepted concept allowed to be taught to children. As a nation and in other parts of the world, the conversation has been closed based upon one major fallacy: the general popular has been convinced that evolution is science and Creationism is religion. The reality is that both are religions.

Evolution has the backing of scientists because evolution has the backing of scientists. That’s an example of the mindset that has befallen the intellectual nature of evolution, but it’s not the only one. We have seen circular reasoning prevail in the dating system of the geologic column where bones are dated by the layers in which they found while the layers are dated by the bones that were found in them. There’s the concept that the missing link must exist and explain man’s evolution since we’re missing a link that connects man with primitive primates. Perhaps the biggest example of circular reasoning lies in the idea that evolution breaks second law of thermodynamics, entropy, through mutations and therefore these mutations are being demonstrated as “luck of the draw” examples of when entropy can by its very nature yield an increase in information at a cellular or molecular level.

In the very near future, we will explore the extremely important topic of why evolution has taken off so well (and no, it’s not because it’s logical, scientific, or correct). For now, we’ll turn to a nicely done video by White Rabbit that helps present an understanding of why evolution truly is a religion and not science.

The post A Brief Analysis of the Religion of Evolution appeared first on Judeo Christian Church.



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#Organic #Breakfast #Awesomeness


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I upgraded and thought I would give Microsoft Edge a chance, but... well, Fred and gang know my feels...


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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Monday, July 27, 2015

Sunday, July 26, 2015

License Plate Awesomeness.


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1 Peter 3:15 – ‘be ready always to give an answer’

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:1 Peter 3 15 (KJV)

Anyone who takes the Bible seriously has been faced with an occasion to properly spread the Gospel, to answer questions from those who are seeking them. Sometimes, it can be very daunting since we can feel the weight of the responsibility. Other times, we fall short in our explanations because of animosity or doubt that we feel creeping in from the person we’re speaking to and translating over to us.

It is not for us to have all the answers, but it’s important to be prepared to allow the right answers to flow through us. It can be very challenging to let it go, to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us and answer questions in ways that our minds would never be able to express on our own. The best preparation is to know the truth of the Bible, reading it always and praying constantly. Only then will we have the understanding that our words are always going to be inadequate but His Word is perfect.

The post 1 Peter 3:15 – ‘be ready always to give an answer’ appeared first on Judeo Christian Church.



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Saturday, July 25, 2015

Concept cars that need a lot more work

The beauty of showing a car as a concept is the fact that an automaker can test the waters and take in the public opinion before actually releasing the car for sale.  Some concepts are so over the top it’s hard to ever imagine them as becoming actual cars that are seriously sold in any country.  Other concepts are actually fairly close to reality and just might make it with a little bit of adjustment or changes to the look.  Here we have for you five concept cars that in their current form should not make it to the dealer lots, but just might once a few changes take place.

Lexus LF-SA Concept

New Lexus LF-SA Concept

When a subcompact car shows up with the spindle grill that appears to take over the entire front end of the car, there are going to be some serious opinions about the car.  Even though we know Lexus loves this look on the front of every other car, it’s possible the LF-SA could do with one that is a bit smaller and not quite as pronounced.  On the other hand, considering a majority of this car is angular in design, giving it a great shape and futuristic look, it might turn many heads and have the luxury subcompact buyers lining up to drive a car that is so hideous but so attractive.

Citroen Tubik Concept

Citroen Tubik Concept

The Tubik is an odd shaped vehicle that may or may not be an actual car.  From the outside it looks like it belongs on the front of a train with the shape from the front wheel forward and once the doors are opened the appearance is that of a step up on one side into a party bus that opens with wing doors.  There really is no telling what the Tubik really is but before this French automaker unleashes this on the public, there are certainly points that need to be addressed, one of them functionality.

Scion Hako Coupe Concept

Scion Hako Coupe Concept

This concept was introduced in 2008 and thankfully never made it to production.  The Hako shows up with many rounded edges and a squared off cabin area.  The car gives an appearance of almost being unfinished or decapitated by design and seems to be somewhat inspired by the xB, but certainly does not carry in the style and presence of the xB.  The Hako is more likely to be a car you find in a box of Hot Wheels cars rather than actually driving on the road.

Fiat FCC4 Concept

Fiat FCC4 Concept

What do you get when you cross a pickup truck with an SUV with a sedan with a coupe with a…?  You get the idea; the FCC4 was what Fiat came up with that appears to have put together every segment of the automotive world into one glorious vehicle.  Unfortunately the glory did not take place and the FCC4 proved to us once again there is a reason all the different segments of vehicles exist and can’t be meshed into one, at least not all of them at once.

BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage Concept

Concept Car BMW 3.0 CSL

This car was supposed to pay homage to some of the cars of the past and when it started with the rear spoiler and Dakar yellow paint on the widebody design it should have been a no brainer to make a car that would entice many.  Then BMW had to add the wrap up fenders and strange rear wheel wells that simply made a design that should be sent back and started over with a much simpler look and feel.

These five concept cars all have some merit to them and certainly took talent and creativity to design, but somehow fell short of what a car should be.  Even though each one may be a work of art in its own right, cars need to be functional and give us the ability to enjoy the drive and be proud of the look of the vehicle.  If these five just had a few changes to them they might all be awesome new cars to be released over the next couple model years.  Thankfully they are all concept vehicles; the interesting part will be what happens when they become production models.

The post Concept cars that need a lot more work appeared first on Uberly.



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The Rapidly Growing Need for More Voices Fighting for the Faith Online

There’s a war going on and we’re losing it, at least by human reckoning. The digital world is embedding itself more and more in our lives and so much of it is non-Biblical at best, anti-Biblical at worst.

Not to add to the inherent doom and gloom of the early part of this article, but there are worse challenges we’re facing. The doctrines that many are spreading in the name of Jesus are not always righteous. There are so many blogs, websites, churches, and “causes” that are claiming to be fighting for the faith but that are often fighting for the dollar or even promoting doctrines that go against a proper Biblical perspective. The lukewarm church is in many ways more dangerous than the blatant evils that fill the internet.

In looking for more sources and faithful bloggers, video makers, and other components of online ministry, I was shocked to find so many who had thrown in the towel for whatever reason. Life happens. We get that. It’s discouraging to go through a list created in 2011 of the top Christian blogs only to find that most of them had either stopped posting long ago or had shut their websites down altogether.

It made me a little angry at first, but patience and understanding filled me. Life happens. Fear creeps in. We have no right to judge someone for stopping. For all we know, they had to stop because of major personal issues. Perhaps they’re traveling the world spreading the Gospel directly and they don’t have time for their blog anymore. There are many reasons why the content might stop.

Then, of course, there are those who stopped based upon persecution. Even our tiny ministry receives emails, comments, and other forms of attacks that are cruel. The misinformation is strong out there which makes some of our perspective hard to swallow and easy to attack. If our small readership and YouTube viewership is getting attacked so hard, I can only imagine how challenging it can be for those who achieve a broader voice. It could even be scary with some of the threats that we’ve seen.

We’re in the middle of this war for the hearts and minds of the people in order to expose them to the truth. Nobody but God can truly touch souls, but it’s important to bring the other components around so they are open to the ideas of the Bible. It’s the responsibility of every believer in Yeshua as Lord and Savior to fervently promote the Word and help to make disciples in these perilous times. It’s for this reason that we’re finally opening up our pages to accept content contributions. If you have a message, we would love to help you share it on our pages and social media channels.

There needs to be more, though. We need those of you who have the time, talent, and faith to step out and spread the Word. The world is falling and while we cannot stop that from happening, we can help many to come to the Light before it’s too late.

Even if you’re not a blogger or other form of content creator, you can share through social media. We have very active Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter pages if you need ideas about what to share.

As individuals, we can do nothing good. If we open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit and allow ourselves to be guided, God will perform amazing works through us. Be a vessel. Become a channel. Share the Gospel. Spread the Word.

The post The Rapidly Growing Need for More Voices Fighting for the Faith Online appeared first on Judeo Christian Church.



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Juuuust sit right back...


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Clinton Invokes Power Over NY Times Even Before She Wins Her Presidency

If Hillary Clinton can bully the NY Times into changing stories about her now, what will happen if she wins the nomination or even the Presidency? State-run media is already a problem in America today. If Clinton gets the office that she feels entitled to, we should expect further quashing of dissenting views by journalists.

The story in question first put the inquiry and potential wrongdoings on Clinton herself. After her campaign got a hold of the journalists involved, it was edited to have all inquiries and accusations tied to the email account itself. This might seem like a minor distinction (who operated the email account if not her?) but its intention is to keep her direct name out of the spotlight. Unfortunately, it isn’t working; even left-leaning Politico is crying foul about the Clinton team and the NY Times for this clear manipulation of a news story to do less damage to the candidate herself.

According to Politico:

The Times’ report also includes the following error: It states that a hearing in Washington about the State Department’s refusal to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests had taken place on Monday. That hearing took place last week.

Read more on Politico.

The post Clinton Invokes Power Over NY Times Even Before She Wins Her Presidency appeared first on Conservative Haven.



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Friday, July 24, 2015

Why Donald Trump Should Run for Vice President

Nobody runs for VP. They support the ticket in elections and run interference when in office. Donald Trump should change that paradigm. He would be the perfect counterpart for most of the GOP candidates.

The reason that Trump is making such a splash in the early election news cycle isn’t just because he’s controversial. He is doing two things that make him appealing across the board for journalists and taste makers: he’s saying things that many conservatives want a candidate to say and he’s making waves for liberals that distract from the shortcomings of their candidates, particularly Hillary Clinton. The latter was astutely noticed by MSNBC of all venues:

Donald Trump cannot be President. I know that many who support him now don’t want to hear that, but in the long term he will not be able to bring in enough states in order to win a general election. Despite how well he’s doing in current polls, he will not be able to win the nomination barring some major change in the calculus. While some are calling him a sideshow, I believe he’s more than that. He might not have enough going for him to win the nomination or the general election, but he has enough to help someone win.

In other words, he’s ideal for Vice President to a conservative candidate such as Ted Cruz or Scott Walker.

It has happened before when a run was made for a nomination with hopes of establishing support and credentials for a cabinet post or running mate status. This is different. Trump can do better than Sarah Palin did while running with John McCain in 2008. He can pull in votes that make sense in a contrast to a conservative candidate.

That’s what he should do. Here’s what he shouldn’t do. He should not even threaten to run as a third-party candidate. While some may view it as a way to run simultaneous Presidential campaigns while positioning to be someone’s running mate, there are too many risks for someone who will likely attack the GOP candidate in such a case.

This can drag out and probably will, but in the end he is pragmatic and will not push the boundaries all the way to a drawn out conclusion. Once he realizes that his chances are too slim to win the primary, he should immediately shift to supporting the candidate who is likely to win. Then, when the candidacy is announced, he should come out as the running mate.

It all sounds farfetched because it is. That doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t work beautifully.



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Thursday, July 23, 2015

Trump Inadvertently Helps Clinton

Love him or hate him, he’s making an impact. Unfortunately, it’s not necessarily the type of impact that conservatives should really want.

Two things are clear about Donald Trump’s candidacy:

  • He is gaining popularity amongst conservatives, saying things that many have wanted a candidate to say for a long time.
  • Hillary Clinton’s shortcomings are being pushed aside as a result of the attention that Trump is getting.

This is something we’ve been seeing brewing for a week now, but even MSNBC was able to make the same basic conclusion (albeit with reluctance and a bit of animosity) with a story that was supposed to be about Trump’s unfavorable numbers. They even acknowledged that they “missed the lede” on the story by focusing on Trump’s numbers rather than pointing out how badly Clinton was performing in key swing states.

Trump is getting attention, forcing GOP candidates to change their strategies and allowing Clinton to keep her poor performance under the radar. For Republicans who support him, it’s a calculated risk. If they can get him the nomination, then it was a valid play. If he fails to get the nomination, he would have inadvertently helped Clinton by keeping attention off of her during this crucial time. If he fails to get the nomination and runs as a third-party candidate, he’s handing the White House to the Democratic nominee.

It’s the type of action that might make one wonder which side of the political fence he’s really on: America’s or his own.

The post Trump Inadvertently Helps Clinton appeared first on Conservative Haven.



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Google Street View Takes Privacy Very Seriously


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Got my copy of the book!


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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Best. Wheels. Ever.


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Mercedes-Benz Type 150, 1935.


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Sunday, July 19, 2015

Chrysler PT Cruiser


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Food truck lunch after cheer camp. #FoodRewards


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Saturday, July 18, 2015

5 Popular Modern Day Perspectives that Go Against Biblical Teaching

The last century has seen a shift in the mentality of people around the world. As a people we tend to believe that our modern perspectives are superior to those of the past and in many cases this is true. Culture, particularly in western society, has developed in a way that allows worldly opportunities like never before in history. The last thirty years in particular have seen us achieve many advances in morality and common worldview… or has it?

Some of the most common teachings from both a secular and Christian worldview have become popularized today but are actually downgrades from a truly Biblical perspective. We’re not going to tackle newsworthy debates in this video such as acceptance of LGBT lifestyles, the rise of Islam, or Christian persecution. Instead, let’s look at some of the popular deceptions that have filled the accepted thinking of western society but that are actually against the teachings of the Bible.

You Can Do It if You Believe in Yourself

The rise of self-help doctrines and positive mantra teachings has become a very popular deception that most in western society consider to be a positive thing. At book stores or on Amazon, we see so many publications that teach people how to help themselves achieve greatness. We see popular ad campaigns glorifying the talents and hard work of people. A quick scan on LinkedIn shows that success is something we achieve.

In all of these, it’s very rare to find a mention of God’s hand in all of this.

True humility is an uncommon trait today. All that we accomplish is through the Grace of God. Everything. That doesn’t mean that all worldly success is inspired or that only true believers are rewarded. Reading Daniel 4 shows that a wicked man who honored himself over our Heavenly Father was able to become the most powerful man on the planet. Nebuchadnezzar did not know or acknowledge that his blessings were part of God’s plan for the world and was even punished for his arrogance.

God works through all of His creation, through every man, woman, and child. Just because someone does not believe this fact doesn’t mean they won’t be successful by society’s standards. However, it’s imperative for believers who want true success in the form of eternal rewards to put away the self-help books. They might teach you how you can achieve success in this world, but those teachings are meaningless at best and possibly even detrimental come Judgment Day.

Handouts Hurt People

From a political perspective, I’m considered by most to be extremely conservative. It’s for this reason that people are often surprised that I believe in giving directly to the poor and the homeless. The concept that those of means should be giving to those without is a topic that has many perspectives. There are plenty of people on both sides of the political fence that call it enabling, that say we’re not helping when we give someone money knowing there’s a good chance they’ll use it to buy alcohol or drugs.

It’s not about money. It’s not about motives. Giving is something that we should all do within our means whenever we are asked. The caveat is this, and it’s a perspective that will certainly annoy non-believers. When we give, we should make certain that a message is given as well. It could be as simple as telling someone that Jesus loves them. It could be as tangible as giving a Bible with the money as well. We are incapable of knowing what our giving will do and it’s possible that the adversary will compel them to use what we give to hurt themselves or others, but true faith comes with blessings in our giving.

Let’s be reminded of the need for physical giving as we offer blessings to those in need:

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.James 2:15-17

I’ve heard people calling handouts a form of socialism that keeps people down. They say that they should be given opportunity to work for their living rather than be given gifts that enable their “freeloading.” I’ve even heard people talk about tithing as their giving, putting trust in churches to somehow vet out the people in need who deserve it. That’s another topic altogether, but know this: giving within your means to those who need it and accompanying the act with a message of faith is by no means socialism, enabling, or a reward for freeloading. Give to all the people you can and trust your Father that His Will be done to those who you bless.

Prayer is for Helping

The power of prayer has been documented and shown to have an effect on our lives, our bodies, and even forces outside of our control. It has become common for people to pray for others who are in need, to pray for blessings, and to pray for guidance. These prayers work. In fact, they can sometimes lead to miraculous results.

There are others who pray the Lord’s Prayer as instructed by Yeshua in Matthew and Luke. They take heed and understand that our Father knows our needs better than we do.

Both of these are fine and important aspects of our life, but there’s another portion of prayer that is often neglected. In fact, it’s the most important part of prayer that should be ongoing throughout our daily lives. This is the prayer of worship, gratitude, praise, and honoring our Father. As modern day believers we have grown accustomed to asking for blessings but we do not put enough emphasis on blessing the God of Heaven. Yes, we should bless God even more than we ask God for blessings.

In Daniel 2, we see Daniel and his companions ask for mercies so that they would not be killed. God granted Daniel a night vision that would help him and his friends.

19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.Daniel 2:19-23

We cannot forget that the world and all who are in it are and were created for God’s pleasure. He gives when we ask, but prayer is more than asking for things. It’s about giving praise and being humble before our Creator.

Family First

Of all of the things that have crept into our modern mindset that can be dangerous to our souls, one of the most dangerous and hardest to shake is the idea that our family comes first. We love our families and we feel like we would do anything for them, but there’s a problem with this mentality that will be considered unpopular by many of you. Serving God supersedes all things including family.

Today, this isn’t a huge problem for most. Most of us are not in a position to have to choose between faith and family. However, some of us are and in the coming days it’s very likely that we will be forced to choose between our earthly loves and devotion to our Father. There are those today who are forced to choose. In the Middle East and other regions of the world, believers are told that they and their families will be harmed or even killed if they do not renounce their faith. If you are ever put in that situation where you must choose between letting a loved one suffer knowing that you can save them by renouncing your faith, you must make the hard choice. No matter what happens, openly and honestly following Christ as your Lord and Savior is non-negotiable even if it will bring pain or death to you or your loved ones.

It’s a terrible thought. I’ve gone over it in my mind imagining how difficult it would be to let my family suffer over my faith, but there is no suffering that can be brought onto you or them in this world that can compare to the loss of your souls in eternity.

Those are extreme examples, but it also applies to day-to-day life. Some of you may have a job that provides wonderfully for your family but that hurts your spiritual life, that pulls you further away from God. Maintaining your lifestyle is something many people choose over truly following Christ. Your lifestyle will seem like such an insignificant and petty endeavor when you’re standing before judgment.

Bad Things are Punishments, Good Things are Rewards

One of the reasons that I’m so against the doctrines of the prosperity gospel is that it places so much emphasis on happiness today. It’s not just about money and health, things that false teachers use by spreading mangled Bible verses talking about favor and blessing. The reality is this: good things can come from bad places and bad things can come from good places.

The Apostles did not live rich lives of comfort and ease. The Prophets were not living lavish lifestyles. Most of the Apostles and Prophets died horrible deaths after living difficult lives. Their blessings await them in Heaven.

I’m not suggesting that your faith will get your crucified or beheaded necessarily, nor am I suggesting that blessings in this world do not come to the faithful. However, it’s important to know that we have no way of comprehending how good things and bad things will play out in our lives. We can only take life at is it given to us living day by day and listening for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to show us the way. If something happens to you that seems bad now, don’t automatically assume that it’s a punishment. Stay faithful through the good and the bad and know that we can be put into terrible situations that are part of God’s plan.

Look at Joseph. He was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, committed to jail, and forgotten by those he helped. He suffered for over a decade in ways that most of us cannot imagine. All of this suffering brought him to an incredible series of blessings that paved the way for the land of Israel to come into being and to bring us a Messiah to save us all. It is not written whether or not Joseph lost faith or felt abandoned by God during his tribulation, but we can speculate that he maintained his faith through the hard times. He didn’t know God’s plan, but he knew that God had a plan and he allowed it to play out day by day.

Keep in mind that I’m not suggesting that God does not punish transgressions or reward righteousness. I’m saying that we are incapable of understanding God’s plan and therefore we cannot know when blessings come in a form that can seem like punishments to our human perspectives. Read the Book of Job and you’ll see that we have no right to let our faith be shaken when bad things happen.

Finally

Every day it seems like a new false doctrine or accepted worldview is popping up that goes against the Bible. Remain stalwart in your faithful convictions, brethren. Don’t let the world distract you from the plan that God has for you.

The post 5 Popular Modern Day Perspectives that Go Against Biblical Teaching appeared first on Judeo Christian Church.



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She said I could have anything at all for my b-day meal. #Homemade bread and hand-churned butter, please.


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Friday, July 17, 2015

Perfect headline


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Tuesday, July 14, 2015

The best way to watch Jaws


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Sunday, July 12, 2015

Friday, July 10, 2015

Is this Reddit’s ‘Steve Jobs Moment’ or Something Bigger (while thinking smaller)?

Yes, the question requires clarification. We’ll get to that. First, let’s quickly go over the news itself for those who don’t know. Ellen Pao is out as interim CEO and the original CEO Steve Huffman is back in the top spot at Reddit. This comes after a tumultuous couple of months that culminated in a revolt. No need to rehash details. If you’re a Reddit user you already know and if you’re not a Reddit user you probably wouldn’t understand.

Back to the question. The first part is pretty self-explanatory. Most would agree that the best move that Apple made was to bring back Steve Jobs to lead the company from the brink of destruction to unmatched success. Apple probably wouldn’t be here today if they didn’t decide to bring back Jobs. Is the choice to bring parts of the old team (Huffman will be working with cofounder Alexis Ohanian) back to lead Reddit going to be as significant as the Jobs return? No. We think it will be bigger than that, albeit on a different scale.

Those of us who have been on Reddit for several years know that the changes that have been happening to the site started with an infusion of users from Digg’s demise, was antagonized by weakness in policies that were contrary to the old open ways, and hit a tipping point in recent months with censorship mentalities that are all a part of joining corporate America. Reddit has been more of a business than a community for some time.

We feel that Huffman and co. will be able to improve Reddit’s community and improve the revenue for the company by taking cues from the past and modernizing them to scale for a large audience. It won’t be easy and has a chance of utter failure, but if the core principles that made the site wonderful for so many years can be worked back in while heeding corporate goals, they may be able to make the site bigger financially while narrowing its scope and even its reach. In essence, bigger can be smaller if they do things the way they used to do.

Here are some key points in bringing back a modern version of “old Reddit”:

  • Strength through Diversity: It’s no surprise that subreddits were being sniped based upon a desire to fight discrimination, hate speech, and common decency. However, a community that is self-policed is more stable than one with arbitrary judgments deciding what is acceptable and what is unworthy. Diversity that only excludes what is against the law should be the law of the Reddit land. To paraphrase Peter Griffin (no, it wasn’t Voltaire), “I may not agree with what your subreddit says but I’ll defend in a blog post your right to say it.”
  • Do What’s Right First: There was a certain sense of pride that I felt as a user when people learned that Reddit was leading the charge with much bigger companies following them in their question to stop SOPA/PIPA. We were on the right side of the debate and we were there first. We fought harder and longer because it was right.
  • Refresh and Unban: The community can be trusted to sniff out spammers. Somewhere along the line Reddit decided to start policing it and sites were banned. While nobody likes spam, it falls under a lesser category than many of the offensive subreddits when it comes to morality and ethics. Unfortunately, revenue was deemed more of a pressing need than decency so spammers were targeted and removed. I don’t like spammers. However, the community is robust and content should be allowed to stand on its own even if a site once paid people to submit and vote for their stories. Free speech includes annoying speech and the community is mature enough to fight spam just as it is mature enough to pick which subreddits it wants to see. Banned users – that’s up for debate if they weren’t banned for breaking the law or posting taboo items like personal information.
  • Make Money Creatively: If there’s one trend that was going on in recent years that should continue, it’s that the company chose innovative ways to make money. I get the feeling they’re trying to shift to more traditional forms of revenue generation. This would be a mistake long-term. Take advantage of the robust community by offering more things like Reddit Gold. Get creative. Don’t look at normal revenue methodologies like Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. It hasn’t happened yet but it would seem that this is the direction that corporate is heading. Please. No.

If Reddit can latch onto the original concepts that made it great, i.e. thinking smaller, they’ll have the best chance of getting bigger. Of course, “bigger” is a complex notion since that could mean more users, more traffic, more power, increased revenue, some of the above, or all of the above. Bottom line: sky’s the limits and we’re very hopeful about the resurrection of the old guard at the top.



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Thursday, July 9, 2015

The Growing Plague of Google Analytics Spam and How to Filter It

If you’re one who checks Google Analytics often to see how your traffic is doing, you’ve problem seen a lot of sites popping up in analytics over the last year or so that don’t make sense. It would seem like these you’re getting traffic from strange sites, particularly those selling SEO or other marketing services.

It’s spam. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it’s not really hurting you. The better news is that you can get rid of it.

You may have checked out some of these sites to find your link. Wait, where is it? There’s no link to your website there. How did… what the… wait a second. You just did what they intended you to do. They got you to their website in hopes that you’ll think, “Hey, I need SEO. Let’s see what these guys can offer.”

Google Analytics Spam

Unfortunately, it works. They spoof traffic through a key sending requests from their website to yours, making it look as if they’re visiting your website when they’re not. This is how they get business. This is how they market their services.

Let’s let the annoyance or anger (it infuriates me) die down a bit. Now, let’s offer a solution. Filtering. It’s the only thing we’ve found to work. One by one, site by site, you have to plug them into a Google Analytics filter and eliminate them from your numbers. Here’s how, courtesy of SomethingIDidNotKnow:

To add a filter:

  1. go to your Administration page (last tab on your home page)
  2. All filters (on the leftmost column)
  3. New filter
  4. Choose Filter type “Custom” > “Exclude”
  5. Choose “Referral” from the Filter Field menu
  6. Set this as Filter pattern:
    semalt\.com|ilovevitaly\.co|priceg\.com|forum\..*darodar\.com|blackhatworth\.com|hulfingtonpost\.com|buttons-for-website\.com
    
  7. Select the views that you want to be filtered (I chose “All web site data”)
  8. Save

The filter pattern is a regular expression, so every time you find a new source of spam, simply add another “|spammersite\.com” (remember to escape dots with a backslash, as they mean “any character”).

Now you know how to fix it. To stop it from continuing, don’t support these companies. If you see them doing it, do not buy from them. In fact, we canceled a service (Semalt) once we started seeing that they were doing this. It’s a plague that needs to be eradicated.



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1964 Buick Wildcat. #ClassicCarWeekContinues


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Tuesday, July 7, 2015

#Stellar.


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Saturday, July 4, 2015

Steampunk Lincoln.


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Should Churches have Armed Security?

As a conservative, the answer for me should probably be “yes.” As a faithful believer in the plan of God, I’m going to have to go with the unpopular response and declare that churches should not adopt armed security measures to protect their congregations. To do so would be to declare that we have faith, but…

The tragic events in South Carolina last week scarred the nation and has caused an uproar that is rocking the politics and activism of the entire country. One man acting in the spirit of hate is making church pastors around the country take matters into their own hands rather than to trust in the plan of our Father.

The arguments are logical. Churches should be considered a safe haven for all who seek the Word of God. Fear should not be a reason that people can invoke when deciding that they do not want to go to church. Agents of hatred should not be able to see churches as easy targets to spread their mayhem. It makes perfect sense for pastors and church leaders to want to protect their flock. The problem isn’t with the logic. The problem is that the calling of discipleship and the spreading of the Word of God must be done with a heart that purely embraces the teachings of the Bible.

One may point to Luke 22 and declare that Yeshua told his disciples to sell their garments and buy swords. This can be used as justification to protect the church, but it is not so. Careful examination shows that even though they had swords and even used them to defend Yeshua, he rebuked them for the use and healed the man who had his ear cut off. Is this a mixed message? Is He telling his disciples to arm themselves but not use their arms? An argument can be made for that scenario, but it’s not likely.

Throughout the New Testament, we see that the sword is intended to protect earthly things while the true Sword of the Spirit that is part of the full Armor of God is the weapon of choice: the Word of God. At no point after the attempted defense of Yeshua is a sword used by the Apostles for defense of their earthly bodies. None died in battle. None engaged in battle. I have yet to see a compelling explanation of why Yeshua told his disciples to buy swords, but the rest of Scripture does not support the use of force for defense.

The world is a scary place to those who hold value in their lives. This is not our calling. Those who die as martyrs are revered. This is not to say that there is no place for defense such as law enforcement or war, but churches must allow their defense to come in the form of the Spirit, not the gun.

The post Should Churches have Armed Security? appeared first on Judeo Christian Church.



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Friday, July 3, 2015

The Fourth of July is About Reaffirming Freedom

Independence Day is known for fireworks, barbeques, and American flags sprawled on lawns like no other day of the year. Through all of the fun and revelry, it’s extremely important to remember that it’s not just a commemoration of the freedom that was declared in the Declaration of Independence. It should be a day of reaffirmation.

Now more than any time in recent history (yes, even more so than 2002, the first Independence Day after the 9/11 attacks), it is imperative that we follow through with the reaffirmation. It’s not just because of the holiday. It’s because the country needs it so badly right now.

Between ISIS, racial tension, disputes about marriage equality, and a fading place of prominence in the world, we are a country that needs to be united again under the blanket of freedom that the day represents. More importantly, it should act to return much of the adoration that the American people should have towards their country. More and more we are seeing people who appear to hate America living right here in our lands, going to our schools, and promoting a destructive agenda.

The United States will not fall to another country. If it falls, it will be from within due to forces at work in the country. Whether it’s the righteous judgment of God passed down upon us or the manifest machinations of the adversary at work on some of the people and even our leaders, we can pray that the end can be delayed. It’s time to become a stronger country again, not just militarily and morally but in the embracing of the Judeo-Christian core that made our country so great.

It doesn’t matter whether your a devoted patriot or a reluctant prisoner. This day should be felt as progress towards the healing that is required on so many fronts in America and abroad. Nobody knows how much time we have, but we should be striving to prolong our existence through shared blessings and renewed hope. Today is a day that is more than hot dogs and firecrackers. It’s about reaffirmation.

Our freedom has always been our greatest earthly strength but it is quickly turning into our biggest weakness. Don’t let the freedom to have fun and frolic get in the way of the reaffirmation of our commitment to protect those freedoms.

The post The Fourth of July is About Reaffirming Freedom appeared first on Conservative Haven.



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Drop me off here with a typewriter and I'll finally write my historical novel.


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A farmer's #Segway


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What came first, the chicken or the strawberry?


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My first "interview" in the car business. Posted for #ThrowbackFriday because #ThrowbackThursday is so yesterday.


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If you think your day is bad, at least a tar truck didn't tip over next to your vehicle. #FeelBadForThisGuy


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The view at last night's Cubs game...


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