Somewhere in Pakistan

I never expected to have a link to the exotic country of Pakistan. The link I have with this land is that some fucker, or group of fuckers, stole over $3000 of my money through hacked ATMs in Pakistan. I'm guessing they got my pin from a likewise hacked ATM that I attempted to use at convenience store in Newark, CA on Friday, Oct 29. I suspected something was odd with the ATM at the time, but didn't bother making the trek to my bank to change my pin because I was in a hurry (I was trying to use a convenience store ATM for a reason). That will learn me.
At first, I thought I may have been hit by a spoof email (maybe I just wasn't paying attention, half asleep when I did it?), but I looked back in my emails records to find no such emails claiming to be from my bank. That's when I remembered that suspicious ATM. In fact, now that I think of it, the convenience store owner was acting kinda shady when he saw I was having an issue with the ATM. I asked him a completely different question (unrelated to the ATM completely) and he was all, "I've got nothing to do with that ATM," in his Pakistani accent. hmm. Who do I contact to report this?

Ripped Pin Number

Well, I believe my pin to my debit card has been ripped. My checking account has been sucked dry of cash, just as I mailed off a bunch of checks for bills. This month is going to be a bit of a mess. Arg. Hopefully, everything can get straightened out soon.

Bothersome trolls

I had jury duty Monday and Tuesday. Here's how it went.

 
On Monday, I got to the Hall of Justice. I waited in the security screening line. The security guys held onto my Treo 600 cuz it has a camera. Arg, it's my main form of entertainment! I got upstairs and checked-in to the jurors office. I went into the jurors' waiting room. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. Some announcements were made that had nothing to do with my juror group. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. We were released for lunch. I had lunch. I returned on time. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited.

 
Ok, finally, we were assigned a judge and a case. We all filed upstairs to the court room. I waited. I waited. Once the judge came in, he gave us instructions, we all took an oath. They gave us a questionnaire. I filled it out and headed home.

 
On Tuesday, I got to the court just in time. More waiting in that security line. I din't bring my Treo this time. ha. I got to the jurors' waiting area just in time to be called up to the courtroom. I waited. I waited. I waited. We were waiting for all the jurors to show up. Well, a lot of them got stuck outside the room (afraid to come in, I guess), and it took someone leaving for the restroom to give them a clue to come in. Finally all the jurors were there. The judge comes in, called off a bunch of names (I'm among them) and releases us. I go to work.

Comment about Bush

I figured I might as well make a brief comment about Bush.
Bush Jr. failed to fulfill his duties as President of the United States of American. Bush Jr. has simply bungled in ways that would have led to impeachment several times over in normal circumstances. Being wrong about his reasoning for war demands impeachment. Either he lied to the American people (showing he is immortal and unpatriotic), or he didn't do his job and determine his was being lied too (showing he isn't fit for office). If the latter is true, he has allowed the world's only Super Power to be used like a homeless hooker by Iraqi dissidents, the U.K., and related Oil interests to fulfill their own selfish lusts. Through this, he has weaked our country in the most ridiculous fashion. Sorry, I'm not interested in any more of his excuses. I'm interested in making American truly strong again.

Off to Napa, Sideways, Prop 72

I'm off to Napa Valley this afternoon for a day with my friend to just relax and let the stresses of life melt away, if only for a day. Speaking of a Napa trip, I want to see that movie Sideways.

 
BTW, I already voted via absentee ballot. One of the problems about voting early is that you might end up with second thoughts about your choices. I'm reconsidering how I voted for Prop 72 which will require health insurance for employees by medium to large employers. I realized that companies like Walmart don't offer health insurance and that my tax dollars are paying for it instead to cover unpaid medical expenses for preventable emergency care visits.

Is abortion allowed by the bible? Well, yes actually!

Ecclesiastes 6:3-5 reads from the New American Standard: 3)If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he, 4) for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. 5) "It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he." 

Truth 

This text is clearly comparing the quality of life of the unborn with someone that can't appreciate life, and makes the statement that the unborn have it better in such cases. Please read all of Ecclesiastes chapter 6 to see that I am applying this text in context. 

Terms 

The word "abortion" is a modern term. For the bible to apply to abortion, ancient equivalents have to be established (otherwise the bible makes no statements regarding abortion at all, for OR against!). With that said, the word "miscarriage" is also translated in various bibles as "premature pregnancy", "stillborn", "pregnancy ending before its time", or similar terms. All of these terms can refer to ending a pregnancy through natural or induced methods. So, it is responsible to conclude abortion is covered by this passage in the context of modern times. Also, notice that the scripture specifically says that the unborn "never knows anything". Other translations use the words, "not conscious of anything" or similar wording. This is exactly opposite of what Christian Fundamentalist try to claim. These people obviously don't read the bible for themselves, otherwise, this scripture would be paramount in their various religions and I wouldn't have to correct them now. Ironically, by saying that the unborn "never knows anything", this scripture contradicts Pro-Life arguments on a whole separate level.