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The body on this guy! Unbelievable...

Hot Man of the Day

OBAMA A SHOO-IN?

Allan Lichtman, the American University professor, has predicted President Obama will win re-election. Why is this news?
His "election formula has correctly called every president since Ronald Reagan’s 1984 re-election."-

Lichtman developed his 13 Keys in 1981. They test the performance of the party that holds the presidency. If six or more of the 13 keys go against the party in power, then the opposing party wins.“The keys have figured into popular politics a bit,” Lichtman says. “They’ve never missed. They’ve been right seven elections in a row. A number that goes way beyond statistical significance in a record no other system even comes close to.”

According to Lichtman, Obama has nine of the thirteen keys needed. Finally, some good news. (See the link for the keys Obama does and doesn't have.) If, as has been the case since the 80's, this holds true, we can know hope.

Hot Man of the Day

Zen Buddhism Temple

I've been thinking of checking out places to attend Zen meditation services. Of course, Los Angeles is a great place for this as it is very large and diverse. I used to attend the Zen Center of Los Angeles, but it's so far away, it doesn't seem practical now (also, it's services are at 7 am on Saturdays, hard for me with my weekend work schedule). However, I've found another center on-line: Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo. They have Monday evening zazen (sitting mediation) and services starting at 6:30. This might be an option, at least to visit.There's also a monastery right down the street from me that has services Sunday mornings at 10:30. Although not a Zen center (it is Taiwanese in origin), they still practice meditation.

Perhaps, the important thing is not the place or type of zazen, but the intention and the effort put into practice. Mindfulness can be practices everywhere, after all. But, since the time of Buddha, people have come together for meditation and study, and it is good to have the help and support of others in one's practice, whether in Zen or other venues.

Rick Perry (again)

"Witnessing Tools"

Apparently, Evangelicals use symbols, know as "witnessing tools", to start conversations with the people around them with the goal of conversion. The famous fish symbol, seen on so many bumpers, is one, as are a myriad others. I've noticed this stuff, but I only thought it was the expression of the individual; I didn't know these had a name and an organized function. However, there is another analysis of them which makes sense by Fred Clark, wherein he sees them as instruments of contempt by their users:

   "The Jesus-fish on a car is not an invitation, but a declaration of tribal allegiance. It’s a signal that the driver of this car is an “Us” rather than a “Them.” And that Us-Them symbolism has far more to do with conflict than with any attempt at conversion. This is true as well of many of the other things we tell ourselves are “witnessing tools.” One one level, they may be intended as conversation-starters, but on another level they’re also intended as conversation-stoppers — as attempts to win some implied argument. They’re not really designed for evangelism. They’re just the graffiti and propaganda of the culture wars."

I have to say, I agree, considering the following as one example on a site selling t-shirts Clark lists. Yuck!