The New National Anthem

O say, can you see(if you cannot say or see we'll force everyone else around you to accommodate you by changing everything from entryways to job requirements in an effort to make you feel just good as everyone else),
by the dawn’s early light,(Unless of course those lousy Big Corporations continue to destroy the environment with their toxic fumes that have not really caused all that much damage but makes us environmentalists feel important to predict the end of humanity)
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming(But not too proud, in fact, we should feel very guilty for all the poverty us rich Americans have caused all over the world by being one of the most free and prosperous societies in history, and we should give more to the poor through oppressive taxation)?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight (Well, we don't believe in fighting anymore and also those stripes and stars are offensive to certain groups, so in light of these please take that flag down, ok?),
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming (Listen, there is nothing gallant about war or the military either, so no more glorifying murdering innocent children and spending money on defence that should be feeding all our single mothers' kids out there)?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air (Well, we now consider all war wrong, no matter what, so see above for what we should do with all the money being spent on rockets and bombs that are killing innocent babies all over the oppressed world),
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there (Unless we ourselves burn it in an act of free speech, that is),
O say does that star spangled banner yet wave (Please don't ask us to speak, there are those out there with speech impediments who may well be emarassed, or even offended),
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave (Can we really say "free" when most states don't allow gay marriage, there is rampant institutionalized racism?, and some people are not allowed to use marijuana for medicinal proses? Not to mention there are some Neanderthals out there who actually want to take away a woman's freedom to kill her unborn baby. And bravery isn't a virtue we really want to be encouraging. That breeds distinction, and we would like there to be no distinguishing characteristics in our society thank you, especially not those backward, evil, homophobic, anti-abortion, traditionalist, gun-totin' kind of characteristics. Well, you can be as radical as you want, just make sure it's as far left as you can go. Then we will call you "brave.")

External HD

I know there are a couple of techies who sometimes stumble in here, so I have a question:
I am looking for an external HD. I have a library program, Libronix, that is oh, 6 gigs (it contains literally thousands of books in digital format, all searchable, pretty cool), and could expand quite a bit. They let you install it on multiple computers (3, I think), so I got to thinking that I could install the base program on my wife's laptop, then install the library on an external HD so as to not fill her internal HD
So, I need to know if I should go with a USB or Firewire connection, or both. I want to be able to (fairly) quickly search the library when I am in class or on the road somewhere. It doesn't have to be lighting, but 3 hours won't cut it either.
Here is another issue. My desktop does not have USB 2.0 (thank you Lexar) or a Firewire connection, so if I want to transfer anything, is there a Firewire card for PC's, or a way to repair my USB 2.0 bus (I think the Lexar jump drive fried it, but I haven't had the time to look at it, not that I could tell. Suffice that anything I plug into my front USB ports gives me the popup "USB device found.....There is a malfunction with your device, unplug it and try again.")?
Any advice will be received with gladness and thankfulness.

Guess Who!

See if you can figure out who said this:
"And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Hint: It was written in Rome

Just for Fun

Check out this site and see what sounds are the worst for you!

LEXAR=EVIL

NEVER BUY A LEXAR JUMP DRIVE!!!

Karen bought one a month ago and it failed, fair enough. But now I cannot plug in any USB devices! Somehow the Lexar jump drive has corrupted my USB recognition software. And here is the transcript of an "online Tech help chat" with Lexar. I don't think this guy's name was really Justin. Unless Justin's first language is not English and he lives in Bangladesh or somewhere.

robert : We bought a Lexar JDCL-256-00-500 about a month ago and just began using it. We saved some files to it and took it to another computer and the other computer tells us there is "no disk in the drive." I disconnected the jump drive and the drive letter remained. I unistalled the "Mass storage device" and plugged in a different device ( A Lexar Multi-Card reader) and have the same problem. It says there is no "disk in drive." There should be 4 drive letters for the card reader, not one. I went online to find out that the JDCL-256 is a bad device prone to failure, so I just want to unistall the USB driver for it so I can use other devices and go buy a new jump drive. So far I cannot plug in any other USB devices (printer, mouse, ect.). They will not work. Please help

You are now speaking with Justin of Lexar Support.

robert: Hello Justin

Justin: Thank you for contacting Lexar. I will be assisting you today!

Justin: Hello Robert

robert: hello

Justin: May i know the operating system of teh computer?

robert: Win XP service pack2

Justin: Are you using the JumpDrive for the first time in this computer?

robert: well, I was trying to, but it did not work

Justin: ok.

Justin: lets try some detection steps.

robert: ok

Justin: Please connect the JumpDrive ot the USB port and disconnect all the other USB devices

robert : whoah, wait, I cannot do that, I have a network printer that is in use that is USB

robert : As well as my mouse

Justin: no Keep connected your mouse

Justin: i mean the other devices

Justin: After connecting the JumpDrive

Justin: Shall i proceed with the steps.

robert : I have only a mouse and my printer connected, so can I now connect the jump drive?

Justin: just disconnect the printer too and connect the JumpDrive directly to the USB port of the computer

robert : done

Justin: Right Click on "My Computer" icon Click on Properties Click on Hardware tab

robert : I have an error message that says, "One of the USB devices attached to the computer has malfunctioned and Windows does not recognise it."

robert : Also, I am to the Device Manager

Justin: ok. Click on the "+" sign next to "Disk Drives" Is the Lexar JumpDrive listed there?

robert : no

robert : the light on the jump drive is not on either

Justin: ok.

Justin: Click on other devices

Justin: Is the Lexar JumpDrive listed there?

robert : no

Justin: ok.

Justin: Click on "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" Do you see "USB Mass Storage" device listed there?

Check whether there is a yellow "?" or "!" mark next to it?

robert : Yes, there is a mass storage device, and it is "working properly"

Justin: ok do you see any yellow "?" or "!" mark

robert : no

Justin: ok.

Justin: Does the JumpDrive works in different computer?

robert : We tried it on another computer earlier today and it did the same thing

Justin: so earlier it workked in a different computer when you copied the files is that right?

robert : Correct. Yesterday we copied files onto it. Today we tried to copy those files to a different computer, and it gave us this error. Now I am trying it on this computer, and it doing the same thing it did earlier today.

robert : I believe the jump drive may be broken

Justin: do you mean copying the files again?

robert : Yesterday: Copied files onto Jump Drive

robert : Today: Tried to compy files from Jump Drive to second computer

robert : Right Now: Tried copying files from Jump Drive to third computer

Justin: ok still facing the same issue is that right ?

robert : Yesxd

robert : yes, sorry

Justin: Is that the USB Generic drivers fro the computer is updated?

robert : What? I do not understand.

Justin: I mean the USB drivers for the computer?

Justin: Kindly cobntact the system vendor to update it.

robert : Updated? From what to what? They are all USB 2.0

Justin: if still the issue persit, kindly get back to us.

Justin: yes may be some supporting files could be missing

robert : Could you tell me how to unistall the Jump Drive so I can use other USB devices in the mean time?

Justin: Doies the Jumprives works fine in the first computer in which you have copied the file?

robert : Let me check\

Justin: sure.

robert : As I took it out, I noticed the drive is very hot and there appears to be a spot where the outer cover is becoming deformed

robert : It does not work in the first computer now. Although the light came on, it read 0 bytes used and 0 bytes free when accessing it.

Justin: Ok.

Justin: When did you purchase the JumpDrive Robert?

Justin: Is that within a month

robert : About a month ago, but we just now used it

robert : It was on clearance, and I am beginning to think I know why

Justin: ok. Would you like to replace the product?

robert : Well, I believe it was only 17 or 18 dollars...

robert : The issue at hand right now is that on 3 computers I can no longer plug in USB devices. They will not work

Justin: ok, would you like to replcae it robert?

robert : If I have to send it somewhere I think that would be more trouble than the drive was worth.

robert : So probably not

Justin: you need to take care of one way shiping charge.

robert : Yeah, I thought so.

Justin: ok. would you like to replace it?

robert : No. Are you able to help me somehow unistall the Jump Drive or the drivers for it so I can use my USB devices?

Your party has left this session.

robert : Well, thanks anyway

Online: 37:21

Yup, 37 min and I am where I started. I looked around, and almost 100% of thier jump drives fail within a year. Grrr...Bill or Phil, if you know how to fix this, lemmie know please! I can't use my card reader or my camera because it always gives me this error, "Windows has detected a USB device that has malfunctioned." Grrr....

Merry Christmas

Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. 5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will beno end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isiah 9:1-7

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place of dwelling.
Glory in the Highest 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Luke 2:1-15

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14


Merry Christmas

He Is The Same Yesterday, Today And Forever

And as for you Son of Man, thus says the Lord God;
Speak to every sort of bird and every beast of the field:
"Assemble yourselves and come;
Gather together from all sides to My
sacrificial meal
Which I am preparing for you,
A great sacrificial meal on the mountains of
Israel,
That you may eat the flesh and drink the blood.
You shall eat the flesh of the mighty,
Drink the blood of the princes of the earth,
Of rams and lambs,
Of goats and bulls,
All of them the fatlings of Bashan.
You shall eat till you are full,
And drink blood till you are drunk,
At My sacrificial meal
Which I am sacrificing for you.
You shall be filled at My table
With horses and riders,
With mighty men
And with the men of war,"
Says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 39:17-20