Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
America's New Moral Code
Is American culture experiencing an “end of moral absolutes?” That’s surely a question that reasonable observers will have after exploring a new study that analyses what’s happening with morals and ethics among the U.S. populace.
“Christian morality is being ushered out of American social structures and off the cultural main stage, leaving a vacuum in its place — and the broader culture is attempting to fill the void,” reads a recent report by the Barna Group.
The report reveals an intriguing — and ironic — dynamic: a population that is increasingly concerned about the state of morals and ethics, while also admitting that there is some internal uncertainty for many citizens in determining right from wrong.
Barna Group
When it comes to moral truth, just 35 percent of Americans surveyed believe that it is absolute, with 44 percent saying that moral truth is related to circumstances and 21 percent admitting that they had not thought much about it.
But there was a notable difference among practicing Christians, with 59 percent saying that moral truth is absolute, compared to just 22 percent of those individuals who have no faith.
Overall, respondents made their concerns over the nation’s moral standing more than clear, though. In fact, 80 percent of those surveyed expressed concern, with Christians distinguishing themselves as the most concerned (90 percent) when compared to people of other faiths (72 percent) or of those with no faith at all (67 percent).
While there’s sweeping concern over the state of morality, 57 percent of Americans said that awareness of what is right or wrong is “a matter of personal experience,” Barna reported, noting that this proportion grew to 74 percent among Millennials.
And 65 percent of Americans agreed that “every culture must determine what is acceptable morality for its people.” Despite believing that culture does play a role in setting cultural norms, there was also widespread support for biblical ideals.
A majority of Americans surveyed — 59 percent — believe that “the Bible provides us with absolute moral truths which are the same for all people in all situations, without exception.”
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Saturday, May 28, 2016
IG Report Shows Hillary Broke Federal Law
IG Report Shows Hillary Broke Federal Law
By Federal law, this means Hillary Clinton is ineligible to run for President, according to 18 U.S.C. § 2071(b), which states:
“Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding, map, book, document, paper, or other thing, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.”
Friday, May 27, 2016
Watter's World & Mark Dice Memorial Day
Memorial
Dice
Dice
The videos illustrates why Memorial Day observations are in decline, with less than 5 per cent of Americans typically attending a parade or visiting grave sites.
According to a 2000 Gallup poll, two thirds of Americans knew exactly what Memorial Day was about, although a 2011 survey found that 80 per cent of Americans had confessed to having “little” or only “some” knowledge of the military holiday.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Ian Hunter, Saturday, 11th, NYC; Sunday, 12th, Hoboken; Saturday, 18th, NYC; 19, Sellersville; & 25 NYC June Gigs
Hoboken Arts and Music Festival – 12 June 2016
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band will be headlining the 2016 Hoboken Arts and Music Festival on June 12. The are scheduled for 4:30 PM on the Observer Highway Stage.
Sellersville Theater – 19 June 2016
Ian Hunter has confirmed an appearance with his Rant Band at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville PA on 19 June 2016. Tickets are on sale now!
Ian Hunter – City Winery Summer Residency 2016
The City Winery in New York City has announced Ian Hunter’s Summer Residency, three consecutive “saturday gigs” in June 2016. Tickets for Vinofile members are on sale now, and the public sale begin at 3 PM (EST) on Thursday, March 31 2016.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
See Something, Say Something
 WASHINGTON -- One day after a prominent U.S. Muslim leader reacted to the November 2015 Paris attacks with a declaration that the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, has nothing to do with Islam, President Obama made the same assertion.Who exactly is the enemy we face, not only in the Middle East but also within our borders? Is it "murderers without a coherent creed" or "nihilistic killers who want to tear things down," as some described ISIS after 130 people were brutally slain and another 368 injured in a coordinated attack on Western soil that authorities say was organized with help from inside France's Muslim communities. After the Paris attacks, Obama, himself, described ISIS as "simply a network of killers who are brutalizing local populations." But how much do words and definitions really matter? According to the legendary military strategist Sun Tzu, if "you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one (battle) and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle." When the Department of Homeland Security was founded in 2003, its stated purpose was "preventing terrorist attacks within the United States and reducing America's vulnerability to terrorism." The Bush administration's definition of the enemy as a tactic, terrorism, rather than a specific movement, proved consequential amid a culture of political correctness. By the time President Obama took office, Muslim Brotherhood-linked leaders in the United States were forcing changes to national security policy and even being invited into the highest chambers of influence. A policy known as Countering Violent Extremism emerged, downplaying the threat of supremacist Islam as unrelated to the religion and just one among many violent ideological movements. When recently retired DHS front-line officer and intelligence expert Philip Haney bravely tried to say something about the people and organizations that threatened the nation, his intelligence information was eliminated, and he was investigated by the very agency assigned to protect the country. The national campaign by the DHS to raise public awareness of terrorism and terrorism-related crime known as If You See Something, Say Something effectively has become If You See Something, Say Nothing. To be released by WND Books on May 24, 2016, in See Something, Say Nothing: A Homeland Security Officer Exposes the Government's Submission to Jihad, Haney ? a charter member of DHS with previous experience in the Middle East ? and co-author Art Moore expose just how deeply the submission, denial and deception run. Haney's insider, eyewitness account, supported by internal memos and documents, exposes a federal government capitulating to an enemy within and punishing those who reject its narrative. Haney discloses:
• How much the Obama administration knew in advance of the Boston Marathon bombing and how it launched an ongoing cover-up on behalf of a major ally; • The administration?s stealth policy to protect Islamic leaders with supremacist beliefs and violent-jihadist ties, allowing them to freely travel between the U.S. and the Middle East; • The scope of access to the White House and the classified information the Obama administration gave to members of Muslim Brotherhood front groups; • The damning intelligence on Muslim Brotherhood-linked leaders invited to sit at the table and help form national-security policy; • The "words matter" memo imposing the demands of radical U.S. Muslim leaders on the DHS, including stripping intelligence and official communications of any mention of Islam in association with terrorism; • The purging of training material that casts Islam in a negative light; • The erasing and altering of vital intelligence on terrorists and terror threats; • The fear-based tactics imposed by the Muslim Brotherhood front groups in the U.S. and their accomplices that paralyze officials, members of Congress and any Department of Homeland Security employee who dares to expose or resist their agenda; and • Much more ... In this well-documented, first-person account of his unique service with DHS, Haney shows why it's imperative that Americans demand that when they see something and say something, the servants under their charge do something to prevent a cunning, relentless enemy from carrying out its stated aim to "destroy Western Civilization from within." Philip Haney studied Arabic culture and language while working as a scientist in the Middle East before he was hired as a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. After becoming an armed Customs and Border Protection officer, he served several tours of duty at the National Targeting Center near Washington, DC, where he quickly was promoted to its Advanced Targeting Team, an unprecedented accomplishment for an agent on temporary duty assignment. Officer Haney won numerous awards and commendations from his superiors for meticulously compiling information and producing actionable reports that led to the identification of hundreds of terrorists. He has specialized in Islamic theology and the strategy and tactics of the global Islamic movement. He retired honorably in July 2015. |
Monday, May 23, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
Foundations of the Islamic State
Islam
The authors conclude that according to the founders of the Islamic state it is "authentically Muslim (p. 32). "It also expected members to take religious obligations seriously" (p. 34).
The authors conclude that according to the founders of the Islamic state it is "authentically Muslim (p. 32). "It also expected members to take religious obligations seriously" (p. 34).
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Monday, May 16, 2016
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Obama Speechwriters Laugh at Keep Your Plan Lie
Obama Speechwriters Laugh at "You can keep your plan lie."
former-obama-speechwriters-laugh-at-you-can-keep-your-plan-promise
former-obama-speechwriters-laugh-at-you-can-keep-your-plan-promise
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Monday, May 9, 2016
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Friday, May 6, 2016
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Monday, May 2, 2016
Sunday, May 1, 2016
White House Comedy: Larry Gilmore Too
“Words alone do me no justice,” he said. “So, Mr. President, if I’m going to keep it 100,” Larry Wilmore said, before pounding his chest. “Yo, Barry, you did it, my nigga!”
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Declining Community College Enrollment
Despite all of the national focus on community colleges, enrollment in two-year institutions has been steadily declining, dropping 16 percent from 2010 to 2015, according to EAB, a research and technology group.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Thursday, April 28, 2016
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