Monthly Archives: April 2013
Fakery and futility
If you live in New Zealand and you click the Play button on the top video, expect to see the following message.
This video contains content from EMI, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.
If you click the Play button on the bottom video, you should see identical content published by EMI.
Go figure.
Intellectual property is fake property, and enforcement of copyright is futile in the digital age.
If you want more than asseveration, I have actual arguments for my view that IP is a crock here and here. And here’s a good one from Stephan Kinsella.
“copying” is merely a subset of learning, emulation, competition. None of us can oppose “learning” as a general matter. So I have yet to hear an argument that some forms of learning are okay but not others.
Affordable City is go!
Affordable City Launched – New Zealand’s Nationwide Local Body Political Party!
New Zealand now has new force in local body politics: the Affordable City national umbrella of local body political parties. The move was announced today by party spokesman Stephen Berry, who will be standing as a candidate in the Waitemata & Gulf council ward for Affordable Auckland. “Now there is a real alternative to the rash of councils who make property ownership unaffordable through over-regulation and excessive rates.”
Currently six Affordable parties have been established throughout the country, with candidates contesting council seats in Auckland, Hutt City, Wellington, Masterton, Porirua and Invercargill. “As the local body elections approach, Affordable City will be launching local body parties in more districts and boroughs around New Zealand.”
All Affordable parties under the Affordable City umbrella share the view that the only real way to achieve affordable living in our cities and districts is through less council interference in the lives, money and property of ratepayers. Each party is committed to five key policies to achieve this:
- Lower rates
- Balanced Budgets
- Affordable Housing
- Restoring Private Property Rights
- Spending On Core Services
Stephen Berry says, “Councils around the country are making home ownership a struggle for young families and those on fixed incomes. Rates that go up every year, irresponsible spending and rampant borrowing guarantee difficulty for the ratepayers of the future. Incompetence by the big spenders in Kaipara has resulted in the entire Council being sacked, while Auckland City Council borrows over $2.5 million a day.
“Protecting the right of property owners to build on their own property, as well as reducing rates, regulations and compliance costs is the key to affordable living,” Berry concludes. “Ratepayers will only find that by voting for their local Affordable party!”
The hope which is In Christ. Terrible grief shall be turned into great joy!
Jakob Antone Santos at the Bedside of his Best Little Buddy Deven Leonis.
Deven Leonis and Jakob Antone Santos many years ago when Dev was fighting PLE. Jake has always been there for Deven, no matter how hard it has been to see what he was going through. Even at 17 years old, Jake has been Devs best friend!
March 23 Deven’s Mom posted to facebook “At 8:36 am, my angel gained his wings…..”
He was 15.
Since that terrible day Deven’s Family and friends have been doing their best to cope.
Deven’s Mom keeps posting to face book, expressions of grief, the things which go through the mind of Moms whom loose their precious children.
She shares her pain with the world, in the hope that it will stimulate us into action… into supporting the fight against Cancer and other diseases which steel away the lives of the young and innocent.
And it is because I am a person whom cares about humanity that I join up to such Face book pages like Devens which reveal the struggles of Families facing these types of horror.
We who care join up in the belief that in some tiny way we can bring some comfort… to show that the world is not completely indifferent to their plight.
That many people do care.
It is so difficult to know how to help her (and all the other Moms, Dad’s, Brothers, Sisters, etc whom experience such loss) esp as a complete stranger, Yet I do what I can.
The one thing I have is the Gospel Hope which is in Christ.
It is so precious to me, and it is my hearts desire that other people, esp those buckling under the weight of despair, realise the hope which is in Christ is something real and important to hold on to in such dark times.
9 April Deven’s Mom writes… “I cannot forget that image. Watching him take his last breathe. Keeping my hand on his chest while his heart continued to beat for another 3 minutes!!! His hear was supposed to be his weakness, but it was so strong!!! It wanted to keep going! Seeing his Daddy carry his lifeless body to the stretcher just about killed me!! I know we shouldn’t have let him do that, but he did. It was horrible!! Watching my baby get taken away in a van. Knowing he was sitting down the street for over a week waiting for them to burn his body! Waiting to put my baby’s ashes 3 feet into the groung while his baby brother couldn’t let him go!
I am so haunted! No matter how many pictures I look at or videos I watch, all I see is that last week. Then I go back through pictures since January, and I can see that he was changing. I didn’t see it as it happened, but now I do! I wish we would have know. I wish I wasn’t in denial. I wish I would have taken more videos. I wish we would have had more time! I WISH I HAD MY BABY BACK!!!! I WISH HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN BETTER INSTEAD OF BEING DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Such Anguish!
My Reply…
“You did everything you could for Him… and he knows that. You fulfilled your Duty! You Loved/Love him… and Death is more sad for those left behind, because there is a most wonderful surprise awaiting those whom pass over in faith in Christ. One day you will experience that surprise and Deven will be a part of it! Your sadness will be instantly transformed into an overwhelming Joy! That is the hope which is in Christ and the power of his Resurrection.”
I also posted Cold Play’s ‘Fix You’
Why have I written this Blog post and shared Deven’s story today?
Many Reasons!
One is as a Tribute and Memorial to Deven and his Family.
Another is to help Deven’s Mom get the message ‘out there’ to rally caring people into contributing whatever they can to finding a cure for Cancer, and other evils.
And yet another… just as important reason… to serve as an example to other Mom’s/ families whom suffer the loss of a Child, that though they grieve, that they must appreciate the fact that they did everything possible to save their children, and that they should take comfort in the fact that their Children Know this… they Know they are loved.
And finally I share this Facebook interaction in the hope that others going through such darkness can see the Light and hope which Christ offers to those whom reach out to him in Faith.
I hope it dawns on Mom’s and Dads with terminally ill Children what a wonderful story of Hope the Christian gospel is, and that if they share it with their little loved one, that it could instill a beautiful restful faith to hold onto as they approach the door.
Trusting in Christ These little children can rest assured that death is not the end, that they will be going to a wonderful place… that God loves them…and that one day soon they will be reunited with their Mommy and Daddy.
I hope it dawns on those whom have no faith, what a wonderful thing Christianity really offers and that Unbelief is absolutely dark and empty by comparison.
If Jesus really did rise from the Dead it is the greatest… most important truth…. Ever!
And that It really happened is evidenced by the conversion of St Paul and the Fact that the Resurection of Jesus Christ Changed world History.
Early editions of Pears Cyclopedia admitted that Jesus Christ is the Greatest Figure of Human History! (for some unknown reason they cut that out of latter editions… we can speculate that it was cut out because it annoyed atheists)
The Bible story is very amazing in another very special way.
It clearly teaches that God is not indifferent to the trials and tribulations of us Terrestrial beings. It teaches us that God experienced the loss of his own child… by that terrible Evil… murder… and so he is well aware of how it feels.
The super amazing thing about the story of the Son of God is that though God allowed him to be unjustly killed by evil men, he had a secret plan which would turn this apparent tragedy into the most wonderful hope for all mankind!
The testimony of the Resurrection of Christ and the declaration of God’s Love for us, and his plan of Salvation to save us not only from our sins… but from Death itself!
I don’t expect those in the immediate pangs of grief to always be in a frame of mind to consider these things, yet It is my hope to communicate these truths to them ASAP, so that they might find hope and comfort… and not be destroyed by bitterness and Hatred towards God… whom loves them and sent Christ that we might have hope.
I intend to use this Blog post as a means to communicate the gospel to those in need.
And I will update it, and add to it, as a memorial for others.
Tim Wikiriwhi.
Team Deven’s facebook page Here:
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Little Miette passed over March 27 2013
From her facebook page…
“Miette survived her DIPG for 1 year, 8 months, 3 days…..
She lived for:
2715 days, 20 hours, 30 minutes and 0 seconds
7 years, 5 months, 7 days, 20 hours, 30 minutes
So on a day just as the most beautiful sunrise was happening, Miette grew her wings. She stayed with us in the house for another 3hrs. More time to lay with her and spend precious time that slipped away. Some of the girls coloured her hair the colours of a rainbow. Xander got to say his final farewell and described to me a bit later while played the wii, how the spiderman in the game was the tumou…r and he wrecked Miettes brain.(a building spiderman crashed)
Glen and Natalie are laughing one minute,and a ball of tears the next. They need us all now more than ever.
The funeral people came and Glen carried Miette down stairs. It looked like she was just being carried after falling asleep. Onto the streacher where we all kissed her goodbye & cried & cried & cried.
Then she was wheeled to the car, more goodbyes, then driven away.
Lots of hugs and more crying.
A little while later flowers started to arrive. Tara brought balloons and a poster from the school. The (eye) donor lady showed up with papers to be signed.
The ripple effect will go far and wide. My 2 younger boys(Miettes cousins) will be home from school soon. More hugs and tears. AS many other families come to grips with this as well.
It weighs heavy on Natalies’ heart that their story has made everyone so very sad. But people have been touched and chosen to follow, comment, share or like status’ about the journey they are on. If they didn’t want to, they wouldn’t be here.
Natalie needs people to talk with and will retreat when she needs too. Glen is doing okay, but locks himself away if it gets to much. Those waves of emotions are going to be so erratic. There will be lots of dumper waves coming their way but with the love of everyone they will get back up, even if it’s just to take a quick breath.
Family ♥ Friends ♥ Aquaintances ♥ Strangers ♥
Kym XXXXXXX… ”
Miette’s Journey… Face Book Here
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“Waylin Grace was a 2 and a half year old little boy who fought Stage IV High-Risk Neuroblastoma. He fought for 6 months and gained his wing 02/01/13.”
Waylin’s Facebook page Here:
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Ryder. Not quite Two years old Here.
Ryders Kites.
So I wanted to share a funny story about our little hero. For a long time m&m’s commercial featured the “I’m sexy and I know it” song. Ryder apparently thought this was his theme song for a while. Lol. It got to a point when I could just l…ook at him and smile and whisper “do it”! He would smile and shake his little booty and sing “iiiiii’mmm sexy and i know it” really fast and then return to business as usual. Made me laugh til I cried every time… 😛
RIP RYDER JACK 12/13/06-03/14/13. Fly high my little hero. Mama loves you.
So I have been fighting in my mind about weather or not to post this picture of Ryder finally at rest. As I Iay awake and face burying my beautiful baby boy in the morning I feel the need to show those who can only be here in prayer and spirit how at peace our little hero is. He is finally free. I love you Ryder Jack.— with Ryder-angelo.
Ryders facebook page here:
‘Ryders Army Childhood Cancer Awearness’
Please like this page. This is the page in Ryders name we will use to help build awareness to childhood cancer. Support other families. Support other groups and organizations that are doing the same.
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Let us all be committed to Charity, and helping those families struggling to cope.
I encourage everyone to join and share Facebook pages which are set up to tell the stories and rally support and charity for Children (and others) aflicted with serious illness.
Remember that the parable of the good Samaritan was the tale of a Stranger helping a person of a different Faith and culture… A Jew…. whom at the time Christ spoke looked down upon the Samaritans with bigotry and hate.
Yet still the Good Samaritan did not hesitate to help his fellow man in distress.
It’s called loving our Neighbor as ourselves!
We might live many thousands of miles away, yet still we can act and show our love…One of the best things we Christians can do for sick Children and grieving and struggling families is to Pray for them… and let them know we are praying for them.
I believe such prayers, Encouragement, and Charity to be one of the most valuable contributions we can make in our lives.
While so many other endeavours can seem futile(Eg like trying to establish a free society)
Charity can have real results!
We can have a real positive impact helping those whom need it most.
It is humanity at our Best.
This is especially true for Christians.
We are God’s hand’s and feet.
God’s Love of humanity ought to flow through our actions.
Tim Wikiriwhi
How can a Good God exist when there is so much evil in the world? Please Read This:
Lane Goodwin takes flight… Read:
‘Never Happy Again’… Read more here
Brave Boy Chace Topperwien His story here:
Car Crash! Here:
Is Faith in life after death rational?
What wise philosophers say about that Here:
Atomisation.
Saturday Night is fast approaching.
I’m ready to crack open a can….
I have only one strategy… ‘Atomisation’.
Better to be a Hammer than a Nail!
Psychoactive Substances Bill – First Reading
Smoothing the pillow of a dying institution
It’s all very well for the government to redefine marriage, but what then becomes of the heterosexual institution formerly known as marriage?
Clearly, marriage as it is now—the union of a man and a woman—is a subset of marriage as it will be—the union of a man and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. Traditional marriage will be assimilated and its cultural identity lost.
Apologists for Louisa Wall’s Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill are now smoothing the pillow of a dying institution.
But rest assured, traditionalists! Traditional marriage will rebound. And a hundred years or so from now, we’ll have our very own, government mandated and government funded traditional marriage television channel!
Kia kaha!
Should we shout? Should we scream?
RIP Margaret Thatcher.
Going viral
Copyright is the freedom to choose, says Peter Cresswell.
No, it’s not.
War is NOT peace, ignorance is NOT strength, and copyright is NOT the freedom to choose.
Copyright is the government telling you what songs you can and cannot sing in the shower.
This video, produced by the Copyright Alliance, is Orwellian bullshit.
Copying a tune to your medium of choice is like catching the flu on public transport.
Once an artist releases a song, the song is out there, like a virus.
The Metaphysics of the Miraculous
[Article by Mark I Rasskazov, Editor in Chief of the Transegoist Daily Journal. Syndicated.]
The Metaphysics of the Miraculous
My metaphysical model is monism, which means that I believe that there is one reality, and that everything in it is subject to a single set of physical laws (the Standard Model of Physics — until something better comes along). Now, most monists do not believe in miracles. Why? Because the term “miracle” typically denotes something which is supernatural — i.e., something which defies the laws of physics; something which requires that we appeal to metaphysical dualism: the idea that there are two planes of existence; a physical one, and a separate one, a spiritual one, which can override the physical.
The majority of people who believe in the existence of a Deity (or deities) accept some dualistic metaphysical model. I believe in God, and I accept a monistic model. I also believe in miracles. Is this a contradiction? No; but I’ve had to manipulate the concept of “miracle” somewhat.
It has been said: “That which seems miraculous is actually merely the unexplained.”
I consider that statement to be accurate.
I add one twist:
That which is, admittedly, physically explicable, yet is clearly not coincidental must be considered to be miraculous.
The Ten Plagues of Egypt can be explained as a severe natural disaster. Does that mean that it is coincidence that it happened to occur just as the time was right for the Israelis to leave?
The parting of the Red Sea in the book of Exodus has been explained as being the result of comet activity. Does this mean that it is coincidental that it occurred just as it began to look like the children of Israel had their backs against the wall?
When the Israelis arrived at the Promised Land, on two separate occasions, the walls of a city they were attacking spontaneously crumbled at a strategically advantageous moment. This could have easily been the result of seismic activity. Coincidence?
I think not.
What I think is that this entire universe is a magnificent machine, which operates in a flawless, albeit brutal and bittersweet manner.
God does have love for mankind. That’s not to say that He’s very nice. He’s not.
God’s miracles are physical events that He has set into motion long beforehand.
In that sense, inasmuch as God is sovereign, every waking moment that you experience is a clear and present miracle.
Do not squander the beautiful and terrifying miracle that is your life.