Conrad Johnson's Blog, page 24

Dr. Ian Miller (a true Renaissance Man) and Red Gold from the archives. Not white stone.

New Zealand chemist and science fiction writer, Dr. Ian Miller, guides us through the Martian landscape in his novel, Red Gold.

Why does Quentin Tarantino need to take a ride in a cop car?

What with all the divisive issues tearing apart at the fabric of American society today, movie maker Quentin Tarantino decides recently to put his Hollywood head on the chopping block of public opinion and to speak out against cops in the most spiteful manner. I believe he needs to take a long ride in a cop car and here's why.

Yesterday, my vehicle got stuck deep on a back road in a National Forest while I was alone shooting nature pictures for my blog, www.writersalive.com.  I had to climb a steep hill to get a cell phone signal so that a Michigan State Trooper could come find me after emergency dispatch pinpointed my position and it took hours, but Trooper Kelly reached me before nightfall and saved the day. I had to abandon my vehicle temporarily but the kind officer took my dog and me home in his patrol car, a souped up Blue Angels blue Chevy Tahoe. It was already dark and I felt relieved and talkative and so did he and we had a good old fashioned, backwoods neighborly chat about cars, fishing, family life and just life in general on the way back to my house. Here's what I learned.

1. Even though there are some bad cops like there are bad people in every profession, all of them are still human. Trooper Kelly is a solid family man with homespun values who started his adult life as a concrete construction worker but now has a quarter century on the force, children, a pet cat and a big fat pet rabbit.

2. People who are drawn to nature, like myself and Trooper Kelly, endure hardships and dangers that become a way of life just to enjoy God's paradise on earth. When I asked him to describe some of the specifications of his patrol car, we started talking about hitting deer on the road--a common fatality that affects everyone where I live eventually. But I had to add him to my prayer list when he said that it's always in the back of his mind that if he's racing down the road in hot pursuit, a deer might jump out of the bush at anytime.

3. Fishing just off the campground point of Union Bay in Lake Superior on the shore of the Porcupine State Park in the spring produces monster walleye catches.

4. A person who dedicates themselves to a career that protects the public safety, by default, automatically deserves respect.

5. Hollywood push faces like Quentin Tarantino shouldn't really be mentioned in a quality blog like mine but, I believe (along with many, many others), Jesus is coming soon  and the Day of Judgement is at hand. Prepare your defense before Yahweh, Mr. Tarantino. I'm going to ask my attorney, Mr. Emmanuel to represent Trooper Kelly. So say "what" just one more time when you stand before God, QT.

Why Quentin Tarantino needs to take a ride in a cop car

What with all the divisive issues tearing apart at the fabric of American society today, movie maker Quentin Tarantino decides recently to put his Hollywood head on the chopping block of public opinion and to speak out against cops in the most spiteful manner. I believe he needs to take a long ride in a cop car and here's why.

Yesterday, my vehicle got stuck deep on a back road in a National Forest while I was alone shooting nature pictures for my blog, www.writersalive.com.  I had to climb a steep hill to get a cell phone signal so that a Michigan State Trooper could come find me after emergency dispatch pinpointed my position and it took hours, but Trooper Kelly reached me before nightfall and saved the day. I had to abandon my vehicle temporarily but the kind officer took my dog and me home in his patrol car, a souped up Devils Angels blue Chevy Tahoe. It was already dark and I felt relieved and talkative and so did he and we had a good old fashioned, backwoods neighborly chat about cars, fishing, family life and just life in general on the way back to my house. Here's what I learned.

1. Even though there are some bad cops like there are bad people in every profession, all of them are still human. Trooper Kelly is a solid family man with homespun values who started his adult life as a concrete construction worker but now has a quarter century on the force, children, a pet cat and a big fat pet rabbit.

2. People who are drawn to nature, like myself and Trooper Kelly, endure hardships and dangers that become a way of life just to enjoy God's paradise on earth. When I asked him to describe some of the specifications of his patrol car, we started talking about hitting deer on the road--a common fatality that affects everyone where I live eventually. But I had to add him to my prayer list when he said that it's always in the back of his mind that if he's racing down the road in hot pursuit, a deer might jump out of the bush at anytime.

3. Fishing just off the campground point of Union Bay in Lake Superior on the shore of the Porcupine State Park in the spring produces monster walleye catches.

4. A person who dedicates themselves to a career that protects the public safety, by default, automatically deserves respect.

5. Hollywood push faces like Quentin Tarantino shouldn't really be mentioned in a quality blog like mine but, I believe (along with many, many others), Jesus is coming soon  and the Day of Judgement is at hand. Prepare your defense before Yahweh, Mr. Tarantino. I'm going to ask my attorney, Mr. Emmanuel to represent Trooper Kelly. So say "what" just one more time when you stand before God, QT.

Julian Rose and In Defence of Life (book review)

In Defence of Life: Essays on a Radical Reworking of Green Wisdom by Julian Rose

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In his novel Hocus Pocus, Kurt Vonnegut reminds us in an opening scene the logical conclusion of humanity's spiral of self destruction. He describes an alien space vessel visiting earth, flying over the Grand Canyon in the U.S.A. and seeing graffiti spray painted across one of the cliffs which reads: "We could have saved the planet but we were too cheap."

In this collection of essays, Mr. Rose pleas passionately for individuals to "cast aside old fears and the illusionary comforts of the darkly beguiling status quo...by breaking the dull patterns of illusion which have indoctrinated...all of us." The author refers to the corporate globalization mindset that has duped and subverted most of us into an existence of indebtedness and short sightedness. His own life is a testimony to this call to action.

Sir Julian Rose is an English country gentleman who presides over an organic farming estate in Great Britain and who has, for many years, helped to organize the resistance of Polish farmers against the forced implementation of genetically modified crops into that country's historically famous soil. In Defence of Life is more than just a pamphlet. It's tone and style resembles early American Transcendentalism with its metaphysical and rational perspectives that resonate with strong currents of personal choice, freedom and the right to thrive independently. The essays are more than a call to action to resist the tyranny of unscrupulous politicians and their banking cohort gangsters--they are also an impetus for personal reflection. In short, the author believes that the only change that can affect humanity and save us all from ecocide and serfdom must begin at the local and individual level.

While one cannot deny the grim scenario that Rose expertly describes for us regarding the doomed financial and food system we are all trapped in, his over-the-top bashing of Christianity (read--officially organized) as an underlying cause sounds too basely Marxist, e.g., religion is an opiate for the masses. Instead, he leans toward Oriental mysticism to embellish his viewpoints and that works well and might work better sans the church bashing sentiment which probably automatically alienates a great number of readers. If one can objectively get past this issue, he or she will find much food for thought and a brilliant recipe for self action in this superbly written collection.

Listen to my interview with Sir Julian Rose at www.writersalive.com




View all my reviews

Support the Creation of a National Girl in Science Day (will you sign the petition?)

When Helena Zubkow learned a local school was having an event for boys to learn about science she started a petition asking to open the event to girls and won. Will you support another petition fighting for equal access to STEM subjects for girls? Sign the petitionJOHN –

As a web developer, Helena Zubkow knows how important it is for girls to have opportunities to learn STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
So when she learned that a local school was having a "Mother-Son STEM" night, she was "heartbroken." Helena then started a Change.org petition asking the school to open the event to girls and boys, and won!
But there's still work to be done.
The Invincible Woman Project started a petition asking that in honor of Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Marie Curie's birthday, November 7th be made National Girl in Science Day.
As the petition points out "less than 1% of all female college freshmen say they intend to major in computer science." So The Invincible Woman Project hopes that "her birthday can serve as the perfect focal point to encourage science mentorship and bring national attention to girls and women in science.”

If you agree it’s important that girls receive the same support in pursuing STEM subjects as boys, support this petition asking Congress to make November 7th National Girl in Science Day.
Thank you,

The Change.org TeamSign the petition

The Pale Horse Of Islam Gallops Through Germany and Europe now fulfilling biblical prophecy

Carsten Koell/Getty Images
The anti-mass migration Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD) party held a rally in the German capital Berlin this afternoon, demanding the resignation of Chancellor Angela Merkel and calling for the country to adopt a strong policy on immigration.The AfD has seen its popularity surge as Germany struggles to deal with the huge influx of migrants, and is currently campaigning in local elections in the Saxony-Anhalt region that will be seen as an indicator of public sentiment on the issue. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.[Blogger's note: Interesting. I had a conversation with a Muslim turned Christian a few years ago. Tough SOB for obvious reasons. He explained to me that the pale horse mentioned in Revelation was actually the Koine Greek word for light green. Sure enough, I looked it up and he was right. It's also the color of Islam--green.] "And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth."--Revelation 6-8

Check out this article about why the color green is so important to Islam. Here it is re-posted:


The main rival of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the Iranian elections, Mir Hossain Mousavi, has adopted green as his signature color. The flags of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian group Hamas also include the color. Why is green so prevalent in the Muslim world? Because it was supposedly Mohammed's favorite color. The Islamic prophet is said to have worn a green cloak and turban, and his writings are full of references to the color. A passage from the Quran describes paradise as a place where people "will wear green garments of fine silk." One  hadith , or teaching, says, "When Allah's Apostle died, he was covered with a Hibra Burd," which is a green square garment. As a result, you'll see green used to color the binding of Qurans, the domes of mosques, and, yes, campaign materials. Green has other properties, too, that make it a natural fit for Islam and the Middle East. It's a symbol of nature and life—especially potent in the dry desert. Mohammed invoked this connection when he wrote about a folkloric figure called al-Khidr, or "the Green One," who symbolizes immortality. (Al-Khidr may have been an inspiration for the Arthurian character of the Green Knight, who in one story is described as worshipping Mohammed.) At least one commentator has speculatedthat because green is in the middle of the color spectrum and Mohammed preached moderation, one complements the other. (The Quran describes the Muslim community as "the midmost nation.") Green comes up a lot in Islamic history. It was the color of the flag of the Fatimid Caliphate, the last of the four Arab caliphates. During the crusades, Islamic soldiers wore green to identify themselves. (Likewise, crusaders avoided green in their coats of arms, just to be safe from friendly fire.) Some say the banner under which Mohammed fought in the war on Mecca was green with golden trimming. (The flag is currently locked away in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey—we don't really know what color it is.) For centuries in Persia, only descendants of Mohammed, known as the Sayyids, were allowed to wear green turbans—anyone else would be punished for it. Green was also favored by the Ottoman Empire, which after the Tanzimat reforms of the mid-19th century dyed its secular flags red and its religious flags green. More recently, the color has become associated with Hamas, which sports a bright green flag.
chlóros: pale green, paleOriginal Word: χλωρός, ά, όν
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chlóros
Phonetic Spelling: (khlo-ros')
Short Definition: green, pale
Definition: green, pale green.
NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Origin
akin to Chloé (in its ordinary usage)
Definition
pale green, pale
NASB Translation
ashen (1), green (2), green thing (1).
Thayer's Greek LexiconSTRONGS NT 5515: χλωρός

χλωρός, χλωρά, χλωρόν, from χλόη, tender green grass or grain); 
1. green: χόρτος, Mark 6:39 (Genesis 1:30); Revelation 8:7; πᾶν χλωρόν, . 2. yellowish, pale: ἵππος, Revelation 6:8. (In both senses from Homer down.) 

Strong's Exhaustive Concordancegreen, pale. 
From the same as Chloe; greenish, i.e. Verdant, dun-colored -- green, pale. see GREEK Chloe

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved--Romans 10:9

The Pale Horse Of Islam Gallops Through Germany and Europe Now fulfilling biblical prophecy

Carsten Koell/Getty Images
The anti-mass migration Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD) party held a rally in the German capital Berlin this afternoon, demanding the resignation of Chancellor Angela Merkel and calling for the country to adopt a strong policy on immigration.The AfD has seen its popularity surge as Germany struggles to deal with the huge influx of migrants, and is currently campaigning in local elections in the Saxony-Anhalt region that will be seen as an indicator of public sentiment on the issue. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.[Blogger's note: Interesting. I had a conversation with a Muslim turned Christian a few years ago. Tough SOB for obvious reasons. He explained to me that the pale horse mentioned in Revelation was actually the Koine Greek word for light green. Sure enough, I looked it up and he was right. It's also the color of Islam--green.] "And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth."--Revelation 6-8

Check out this article about why the color green is so important to Islam. Here it is re-posted:


The main rival of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the Iranian elections, Mir Hossain Mousavi, has adopted green as his signature color. The flags of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian group Hamas also include the color. Why is green so prevalent in the Muslim world? Because it was supposedly Mohammed's favorite color. The Islamic prophet is said to have worn a green cloak and turban, and his writings are full of references to the color. A passage from the Quran describes paradise as a place where people "will wear green garments of fine silk." One  hadith , or teaching, says, "When Allah's Apostle died, he was covered with a Hibra Burd," which is a green square garment. As a result, you'll see green used to color the binding of Qurans, the domes of mosques, and, yes, campaign materials. Green has other properties, too, that make it a natural fit for Islam and the Middle East. It's a symbol of nature and life—especially potent in the dry desert. Mohammed invoked this connection when he wrote about a folkloric figure called al-Khidr, or "the Green One," who symbolizes immortality. (Al-Khidr may have been an inspiration for the Arthurian character of the Green Knight, who in one story is described as worshipping Mohammed.) At least one commentator has speculatedthat because green is in the middle of the color spectrum and Mohammed preached moderation, one complements the other. (The Quran describes the Muslim community as "the midmost nation.") Green comes up a lot in Islamic history. It was the color of the flag of the Fatimid Caliphate, the last of the four Arab caliphates. During the crusades, Islamic soldiers wore green to identify themselves. (Likewise, crusaders avoided green in their coats of arms, just to be safe from friendly fire.) Some say the banner under which Mohammed fought in the war on Mecca was green with golden trimming. (The flag is currently locked away in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey—we don't really know what color it is.) For centuries in Persia, only descendants of Mohammed, known as the Sayyids, were allowed to wear green turbans—anyone else would be punished for it. Green was also favored by the Ottoman Empire, which after the Tanzimat reforms of the mid-19th century dyed its secular flags red and its religious flags green. More recently, the color has become associated with Hamas, which sports a bright green flag.
chlóros: pale green, paleOriginal Word: χλωρός, ά, όν
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chlóros
Phonetic Spelling: (khlo-ros')
Short Definition: green, pale
Definition: green, pale green.
NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Origin
akin to Chloé (in its ordinary usage)
Definition
pale green, pale
NASB Translation
ashen (1), green (2), green thing (1).
Thayer's Greek LexiconSTRONGS NT 5515: χλωρός

χλωρός, χλωρά, χλωρόν, from χλόη, tender green grass or grain); 
1. green: χόρτος, Mark 6:39 (Genesis 1:30); Revelation 8:7; πᾶν χλωρόν, . 2. yellowish, pale: ἵππος, Revelation 6:8. (In both senses from Homer down.) 

Strong's Exhaustive Concordancegreen, pale. 
From the same as Chloe; greenish, i.e. Verdant, dun-colored -- green, pale. see GREEK Chloe

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved--Romans 10:9

Writers Alive and Sunshine Go Away (piss off, bastards)

Because Christianity is not for wimps



But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man--Matthew 16:23

John H. Byk and With Poland Behind Me (and Russia in the rearview mirror dust)

Click here to go to author's Amazon page
From the preface to the book:
It has been over a quarter century since I visited Poland in the summer of 1985. Ihave many relatives here in the States that frequently travel there and I am awareof the tremendous changes that have taken place in the country that the Britishhistorian, Norman Davies, refers to as the "cockpit of Europe." Included as part ofthe Schengen Agreement, Polish citizens are now free to travel Europe withoutrestriction as they were once forbidden while under Soviet control. However, inspite of their westward cultural inclinations and support of American militaryefforts in the Middle East, Poles are still treated as third world citizens when itcomes to visa applications in the United States. Despite the improved standards ofliving and democratic government that Poland now enjoys after decades ofcommunist oppression, the country is still treated as a pawn or potential killingfield in the continuing Great Game between NATO and Russia and countries stillculturally tied to the former Soviet Union. Poles are not so quick to forget theabusive history against them, especially with regards to the Germans and theRussians, as the world may like. Polish roots run deep and that's why they havemanaged to survive as a distinct linguistic and cultural society for centuries despitecountless attacks, massacres and rapes from foreign intruders. A true Pole is like aperennial plant that can remain buried under the soil in the harshest conditions,waiting for the slightest opportunity to sprout again, defiant and confident thatfaith, tradition and custom will provide the necessary impetus for survival. Theyare hard working, proud people who are not afraid to get their hands dirty andclean up the mess others have left for them in order to provide a better future fortheir children, even if it forces them into a temporary exile for economic reasons.
But one thing is certain. No matter how far a Pole travels from the motherland, hisheart remains rooted in the soil of his ancestors, anchored firmly in the memory ofwhat was once a sprawling empire that dominated central Europe, protecting thegates of civilization from barbaric forces that have repeatedly attempted to crushthe resistance of a fiercely proud culture that asks only to be left alone in order tocultivate prosperity and democracy. As the Polish proverb says, "As long as there'sa chicken in the pot cooking, Poland will always survive."This illustrated travelogue, which I composed during my graduate student years atNorthern Michigan University, is a stark reminder of Poland's most recent, darkestdays and a personal journey of self discovery that reaffirms my pride and culturalheritage as a first generation American, born of Polish immigrants who instilledvalues of determination, reflection and sober pragmatism in me that has helped meto endure personal struggles in my own life with courage and optimism, alwaysreminding me that faith, humor and honor are virtues that must carefully benurtured like a constant gardener.

John H. Byk and With Poland Behind Me (and the Lord rebuke Gog and Magog in the name of Yeshua)

Click here to go to author's Amazon page
From the preface to the book:
It has been over a quarter century since I visited Poland in the summer of 1985. Ihave many relatives here in the States that frequently travel there and I am awareof the tremendous changes that have taken place in the country that the Britishhistorian, Norman Davies, refers to as the "cockpit of Europe." Included as part ofthe Schengen Agreement, Polish citizens are now free to travel Europe withoutrestriction as they were once forbidden while under Soviet control. However, inspite of their westward cultural inclinations and support of American militaryefforts in the Middle East, Poles are still treated as third world citizens when itcomes to visa applications in the United States. Despite the improved standards ofliving and democratic government that Poland now enjoys after decades ofcommunist oppression, the country is still treated as a pawn or potential killingfield in the continuing Great Game between NATO and Russia and countries stillculturally tied to the former Soviet Union. Poles are not so quick to forget theabusive history against them, especially with regards to the Germans and theRussians, as the world may like. Polish roots run deep and that's why they havemanaged to survive as a distinct linguistic and cultural society for centuries despitecountless attacks, massacres and rapes from foreign intruders. A true Pole is like aperennial plant that can remain buried under the soil in the harshest conditions,waiting for the slightest opportunity to sprout again, defiant and confident thatfaith, tradition and custom will provide the necessary impetus for survival. Theyare hard working, proud people who are not afraid to get their hands dirty andclean up the mess others have left for them in order to provide a better future fortheir children, even if it forces them into a temporary exile for economic reasons.
But one thing is certain. No matter how far a Pole travels from the motherland, hisheart remains rooted in the soil of his ancestors, anchored firmly in the memory ofwhat was once a sprawling empire that dominated central Europe, protecting thegates of civilization from barbaric forces that have repeatedly attempted to crushthe resistance of a fiercely proud culture that asks only to be left alone in order tocultivate prosperity and democracy. As the Polish proverb says, "As long as there'sa chicken in the pot cooking, Poland will always survive."This illustrated travelogue, which I composed during my graduate student years atNorthern Michigan University, is a stark reminder of Poland's most recent, darkestdays and a personal journey of self discovery that reaffirms my pride and culturalheritage as a first generation American, born of Polish immigrants who instilledvalues of determination, reflection and sober pragmatism in me that has helped meto endure personal struggles in my own life with courage and optimism, alwaysreminding me that faith, humor and honor are virtues that must carefully benurtured like a constant gardener.