Not What They Were Expecting

Whale harpooned, hauled in by Japanese boat in front of whale-watching tourists

SAPPORO -- Eco-tourists on a whale-watching vessel, looking forward to observing the mighty creatures in their natural habitat, were instead greeted by the sight of a harpooned whale being dragged in by a Japanese whaling vessel on Friday.

At about 10:44 a.m. on Friday, a whale was spotted spraying water from its blowhole near a whaling boat, about 3.5 kilometers away from the whale-watching vessel off the coast of Hokkaido's Shiretoko Peninsula. But when the vessel approached, the passengers on board found that the whalers had harpooned the Baird's beaked whale, and it was hauled in by the whaling boat about 20 minutes later.

About 20 passengers on the whale-watching vessel looked on, voicing their pity as the whale was captured. A French woman who was on the vessel with her husband reportedly said the experience made her feel ill.

There were two other whale-watching boats nearby, but one of them left after a child started crying.

The 46-year-old captain of the passenger vessel was disappointed by the incident, which took place about 14 kilometers east of Rausu Port in Hokkaido.

"It's my job to show people whales and it's the whalers' job to catch them, but I wonder how this can be avoided," he said.

One of the two whaling companies operating the whaling ship, meanwhile, filed a protest against the whale watching vessel with the Rausu town government.

"The passenger boat approached us, which was extremely dangerous. We think this could be considered dangerous sailing, and we want you to issue a warning," the protest said.

This reminds me of the seals that were rescued from an oil slick and nursed back to health in California. On the special day when the seals were to be released back into the wild, bus loads of school children & a marching band were brought in to see the seals regain their freedom. The seals were released into the water and as they were swimming out they were devoured (eaten) by a whale. All of this happened right in front of the children, the marching band and the horrified teachers. Children & teachers were crying, the tree huggers just stood there in shock.

OOPS!

Welcome to the real world!

Pastor Steve

Theological Baffonery

Obama attends church service in New Orleans.

(CNN) — Speaking to Sunday church congregants in New Orleans, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama invoked Jesus' Sermon on the Mount days before the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

"Getting ready to talk to you today, I recall what Jesus said at the end of the Sermon on the Mount," Obama said at New Orleans' First Emmanuel Baptist Church. "He said, whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock."

"The rains descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. But it did not fall, because it was founded on the rock," he continued.

That rock, he said, was a principal of brotherhood exemplified by the church during Hurricane Katrina — but not the federal government. (emphasis added by PSC)

"Something was wrong in America. Our foundation wasn't built on the rock," he said.

Obama blasted local, state and federal response to the storm, and touched upon ingredients necessary for the city's rebuilding, namely more employment opportunities for residents to rebuild, community-based law enforcement to tackle the city's crime epidemic, and improved health care.

President George Bush and several presidential candidates plan to visit New Orleans this week to commemorate the hurricane's anniversary.

Obama spent Saturday in Miami, where he brushed aside criticisms of running his campaign on the intangible platform of hope, calling himself a "hope monger," and proposed easing travel restriction with Cuba.

– CNN Political Desk Editor Mark Norman

Wow That is very interesting Biblical Theology. Unique interpretation --- NOT EVEN CLOSE!! But what do we really expect from any ploitical candidate! 'Nuff said.

Pastor Steve

You Can't Fix Stupid!

Iowa wideouts Douglas, Bowman suspended after arrest

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ESPN.com news services

A year after the lack of a respectable passing game saw the Iowa Hawkeyes drop out of Big Ten title contention, the school announced that sophomore wide receivers Dominique Douglas and Anthony Bowman have been suspended indefinitely by the team following an arrest on Sunday.

The two wideouts were arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a credit card, but were later released by authorities on their own recognizance.

Douglas, who led the team in receptions (49) and receiving yards (654), was charged with making more than $2,000 in purchases to credit cards belonging to two other people, Johnson County District Court record said.

The felony charge is punishable by five years in jail and a fine up to $7,500.

In a statement issued Monday, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz announced the two would not participate in any team activities.

"The accusations are serious and, if proven to be true, are extremely disappointing for everyone associated with the University of Iowa and our football program," Ferentz said. "As always, we will work with the appropriate individuals and entities on and off campus as this matter works its way through the legal system.

"As is often the case in matters of this nature, I am aware of inconsistencies in what may or may not have taken place. We need to let the legal process run its course."

Iowa finished a disappointing 6-7 last year, losing in the Alamo Bowl to Texas, and will open the 2007 season Sept. 1 against Northern Illinois in Chicago.

Another Day In My Life & The Value Of Good Friends!

On the way to Daniels wedding in Nevada we stoped at Story City to get some cool drinks before arriving at the Church.

When we returned to the van it would not run! My diagnosis was that the fuel pump was shot. After everything I could think to do was done I called Pastor James Reynolds and had him come get us. Pastor James tried everything he knew and we left the van and headed off to Nevada.

After a few phone calls I had a guy from Eldora come and tow my car and fix it. At 8 AM on Saturday he called to say I was right and my fuel pump was DOA. However, he had replaced it and it was ready to be picked up.

The problem was that I was just a bit busy on Saturday and had no time to retrieve my van from Eldora. Problem solved - my very good friend Nick Oliver said he was willing to go after the van and bring it back to Nevada.

Nick took off and found the van just as the mechanic said it would be. Nick gets in and the van started with no problem ... except that none of the electrical wass working. No power windows, no A/C, no turn signals.

Now this is not a problem that we have not had before. All you have to do is turn the van off and start it again, no big deal. However, Nick does not know this and he can not reach any of us because we've all ditched our cell phones because of teh wedding.

So Nick drives our van from Eldora to Nevada, approximately 45 miles, in nearly 100 degree weather in a van with no A/C and the windows up! To say the least he was hot in more ways than one when he arrived at the church in Nevada.

Words can not convey my thankfulness to Nick for his help on Saturday or how bad I feel about the way things worked out. Good friends are hard to find and I about lost one on Saturday!

Thanks again Nick and I owe you HUGE!!!

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Cox

Dan and Maggie's wedding was last Saturday and it was truly a blessing.

There were a ton of friends and family there and everyone was so excited for Dan and Maggie's future.

the wedding went off without a hitch! Although there were moments, like Daniel jumping the gun on the "I DO's" and the Pastor getting all choked up and crying. I gave the kids the same bit of advice that was given to me on my wedding day and that was this: No matter what happens; 30 minuets after you start you will be married!

Now that they are back, I can tell you that Dan & Maggie honeymooned in Colorado. Word is they had a wonderful time and are glad to be back home in Ankeny!