Controversy

Should K-12 School Teachers Be Required to Work During the Summer?

I live in the state of Michigan. I also live in one of the most overpaid school districts in the entire country filled with racism (African Americans are not hired). The school district where I live is known as the East China School District, because it is based in East China Township – a geographic area supporting both Marine City schools and St. Clair schools. A teacher with a bachelor’s degree will earn over $70,000 per year, and receive an automatic increase in pay when a master’s degree is earned!

But is it really fair for a high school gym teacher with a bachelor’s degree working only about 50% of the days of the year to be paid $30,000 more per year than a General Motors engineer with a master’s degree working the entire year? I say this is absolutely not fair at all! I realize there is nothing that can be done about Christmas vacation, Thanksgiving vacation, and several other holidays. However, the incredibly long three months of summer vacation stands out from the crowd.

I believe high school teachers, middle school teachers, and elementary school teachers should be required to work during the summer in order to earn their salary. It is unbelievable the way teachers are paid over $70,000 per year in the school district I live in, and then will go apply for a job as a coach or as a summer school teacher in another school district during the summer. This helps these overpaid teachers receive even higher rates of pay than ever.

Other teachers with a bachelor’s degree use their first several years of summer vacation as time to enroll in summer semester college classes in order to work towards a master’s degree in education. The instant a master’s degree is attained, the rate of pay shoots up by a large percentage. Once a teacher has earned a master’s degree, the teacher has free time in the summer again. If the teacher decides to teach summer school classes, it means cheating someone else out of a job and earning even more money.

What I believe is that high school teachers, middle school teachers, and elementary school teachers should be required to work during the summer! Rather than hiring “new” summer school teachers, school districts could easily reduce expenses by making sure their existing employees simply do their job – teach, during the summer that represents 25% of the year these teachers are paid for!

In all probability, no school district will need that many summer school teachers. But I believe these teachers should still be required to work during the summer, since they are being paid. Even if the teachers are told to do basic things such as street patrol in order to help reduce crime, at least it would represent some form of productive action. Paying teachers three months of wages to do absolutely nothing during the summer is not a good idea and has helped put school districts into debt.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Do you believe it’s fair for teachers to be paid three months of wages, even though they essentially aren’t doing their job? Some schools offer brief training programs during the summer, but what about when those programs are over? And couldn’t those training updates take place during the long Christmas vacation the teachers are paid for? When you add up the summer vacation, weekends, and the other vacations, K-12 teachers only work about half the days of the year. Is this fair?

Is The Ultimate Warrior on his way to TNA?

Ever since Hulk Hogan arrived in TNA, there have been references to The Ultimate Warrior. Several fans were allowed to speak on camera saying “My two favorite wrestlers when I was a kid were Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior.” This happened several times on a show that is not broadcast live, which is why I know it was intentional. I really believed there was a plan to bring The Ultimate Warrior into TNA at some point in time.

But several injuries to Hulk Hogan’s back may have prevented the Ultimate Warrior from appearing on TNA Wrestling. We know Hulk Hogan was originally scheduled to appear in pay-per-view events, but it was not possible. But that doesn’t mean people such as The Ultimate Warrior and Bill Goldberg aren’t eventually going to make an appearance when the time is right.

Over the last two weeks on Impact Wrestling, Eric Young has made references to The Ultimate Warrior. These were very subtle references that many people may not have noticed. Two weeks ago, Eric Young was the tag team partner of Sting, just as The Ultimate Warrior used to be in the early days of their career. But did you take a look at the boots of Eric Young? They were exactly like the boots of The Ultimate Warrior!

Last week we saw Eric Young continue to wear those boots. There was even a point when Eric Young was referring to people as a “Warrior.” The word “warrior” is not particularly common, but it could have been a coincidence in a wrestling locker room. However, when I see a person wearing boots like The Ultimate Warrior and I hear that person using the word “warrior,” it makes me think it isn’t a coincidence.

Hulk Hogan has repeatedly said his back feels better now than it has in ten years. And over the last two weeks we’ve seen Sting make progress in turning the fans into supporters of Hulk Hogan. I believe Hulk Hogan will turn into a good-guy soon. And when he does, it wouldn’t surprise me if characters such as The Ultimate Warrior and Bill Goldberg make an appearance in TNA. Those two men are two of the greatest wrestlers of all time and they represent untapped human resources in the world.

Are the Kardashians a Waste of Our Time and Money?

The Kardashians are incredibly greedy and selfish people. This family is very self-centered and they care only about themselves and the amount of money in their lives. Each member of the family is also arrogant and narcissistic – trying to be seen as a celebrity or some form of successful entrepreneur or model. In reality, the current generation of Kardashians are not successful in any of these ways!

For example, the overwhelming majority of money in the Kardashian family was generated by the men in the family. Kris Jenner, previously known as Kris Kardashian, is the former wife of Robert Kardashian – a lawyer who earned his living helping criminals such as O.J. Simpson be declared not guilty for murder. You need to give Kris Kardashian credit, though. If it wasn’t for her marriage and divorce, she and her children would not have received so much money to form entrepreneurial businesses with.

Currently, Kris Kardashian is the producer of the TV show her children are a part of. Kris doesn’t care whether her kids appear in pornographic magazines or pornographic videos as long as she is getting a royalty or watching publicity grow. Nobody makes a sex video without the belief that someone else will watch it, which means her daughter Kim knew what was happening when she made that video. Kris Kardashian seems to believe in the philosophy that says “If people are talking about you, it means you must be doing something right.”

Kim Kardashian is one of the three siblings in the Kardashian family. Kim always tries to portray herself as a lovely princess – an innocent virgin waiting for her prince charming in life. But in reality, Kim Kardashian is an immoral slut! In Bible times Kim Kardashian would have been stoned to death. And in today’s society there are still plenty of countries where Kim Kardashian would still be stoned to death!

Do you really think it was an accident that a pornographic video of Kim Kardashian was released? No! Each time something controversial with the Kardashian family was revealed to the media, it happened at a time when they were losing popularity. Obviously the Kardashian family would prefer that good things are said about them, but in Hollywood we have continuously learned that something is better than nothing.

Honestly, Kim Kardashian does not meet the strict requirements needed to be a model in today’s environment. Kim Kardashian is very short – only 5’2” tall. This would be considered too short to do her line of work at most modeling agencies. But, because she inherited money from her wealthy father, she can play the role of a narcissist paying to do things on her own. Sadly, there are actually people dumb enough to pay attention to her!

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick prove that “reality” shows share more in common with professional wrestling than real life. Kourtney has given birth to a son of Scott, yet the couple has not married. This is further proof of the lack of family morals and ethics in the Kardashian family. Perhaps this is because a wedding as a season finale might help spike ratings if popularity sees a decline.

I just want to know how much executive producer, Kris Kardashian, has used money to influence scripts and other events on that so-called reality show. In a real world, if American citizens would have performed the immoral and criminal actions we saw Scott Disick and the Kardashian family do, we would have seen people go to jail! But we don’t see this type of realism on this “reality” show because it isn’t real!

Khloe and Lamar is perhaps the funniest of all, in a bad way. If you own a large HDTV, you can clearly see that half the time Khloe puts on the act of crying there are no tears at all! The bad thing is there are still plenty of people who don’t own HDTV sets. These are the people the Kardashians take advantage of in life by wasting their time and promoting overpriced products.

Robert Kardashian Jr., known as Rob, is another member of the Kardashian family that brings disgrace and shame to his family name and reputation. Currently, he is involved in a friends-with-benefits relationship with multiple people on this reality show. Apparently this form of behavior is fully acceptable to the Kardashian family, as long as “protection” is used.

I think it is absolutely pathetic that Rob Kardashian was allowed to be a part of the 2011 NBA Celebrity Game. Rob Kardashian is not even seen as a celebrity in the eyes of most people, including me! I recognize Rob Kardashian as the son of a high-profile criminal attorney who wasn’t known prior to defending NFL superstar O.J. Simpson. I think it’s a bit disappointing that an immoral person like Rob Kardashian ends up inheriting all that money to invest as an entrepreneur, while plenty of other people out there pray to God and sow seeds in fertile soil, yet they never receive anything.

I also think it’s disturbing that Rob Kardashian is narcissistic enough to believe he can be a model. This man isn’t in particularly great shape and he doesn’t have distinctive features that stand out. Rob Kardashian is often seen in brands of products his family is associated with, but if it wasn’t for those custom products, unusual scarves, and limousines he wouldn’t win a survey as the man who is the model. In comparison, a model like Cindy Crawford would be seen as a model no matter what she was wearing.

It’s actually very disappointing that the Kardashian family would be able to acquire so much wealth in their lives; they certainly didn’t earn it with resources of their own. Rob and Khloe are the only siblings to have attended and graduated college so far. But why bother spending all that time and money on college when you inherited so much money from daddy, right? And you will always be known in the eyes of the media as the Kardashians – the children of the lawyer who was friends with O.J. Simpson (forever known as “Canned Juice”).

Here is something for us to think about, though. If the Kardashians can do what is best for their lives by wasting our money and wasting our time, shouldn’t we be doing what is best for our lives, even if it is at the expense of the Kardashians? For example, rather than wasting hours on the weekend watching those Kardashian television programs, wouldn’t it be better for us to use that time studying, trying to find a job online, or writing a résumé.

The Kardashians are a perfect example of the saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” If those young Kardashians had not received a large financial inheritance from their father, you wouldn’t see them in the roles they are today. Thus, the praise should be given to Robert Kardashian Sr. – the man who helped free a murderer.

Is it Possible to Pass Gall Stones Without Surgery?

About eight months ago, I was diagnosed with gall stones in my gall bladder. I was told the reason for this is probably because I take so many medications for epilepsy. I was immediately told that I needed to have the gall bladder removed. I was specifically told the sooner I had surgery, the better.

But this brought back memories from 1999 when I was originally diagnosed with epilepsy after having two grand-mal seizures. When the doctors at Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan saw the MRI, they specifically said “Here you see the tumor that is causing the seizures and it needs to be removed very quickly.” But I didn’t want to have a major surgery like that without a second opinion.

Part of the reason why I didn’t want to have that surgery without a second opinion is because the doctors told me there was a very good chance I would lose the ability to speak or lose my memory due to the fact that the surgery would be taking place on the left temporal lobe of my brain. The other reason is because I had a bad feeling that these doctors were in it only for the money. I’m not kidding, many of these doctors involved in neurology had a grin on their face the moment they thought there was an opportunity for the high-cost brain surgery.

Thankfully, when I went to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, I was told not to have any form of surgery. In fact, when the University of Michigan did an MRI, they said there never was any form of tumor on my brain! I was told the doctors at Henry Ford hospitals should not have given me that type of false information. I was told the image on the MRI was some form of irritation and inflammation, not a tumor – since tumors do not disappear.

But now I am in a similar position with my gall bladder. I saw a look of “profit” on the doctors faces every time I asked if I should have my gall bladder removed. The doctors never hesitated to say “You need to have your gall bladder removed because the ultrasound shows you have gall stones.” Each time I would ask if it was possible to pass the gall stones using custom-designed diets, the doctors instantly said “You can’t pass gall stones.”

The reason why I’m questioning whether or not this is true is because I know two people who claim to have passed gall stones using a custom diet. One person is a social worker who told me she saw the gall stones in an ultrasound test when she was originally diagnosed. This woman said the gall stones were constantly hurting her at all times, until she eventually completed a custom recipe designed to pass gall stones.

But when I asked this woman if she ever had an ultrasound test to verify that she had passed the stones, she said “No, I didn’t need one because I don’t feel the pain anymore.” I didn’t want to discourage her, so I didn’t bother telling her the stones could still be inside her gall bladder. I once went eight months without a gall bladder attack, but the problem still existed. Thus, I believe this woman’s claims cannot be verified.

But today a neighbor came to visit my family for the first time in years. She said that several years ago she was diagnosed with gall stones, as proven with an ultrasound test. But this neighbor told me that she completed some form of custom recipe program involving asparagus and several other ingredients. I then asked her if an ultrasound test confirmed the stones were no longer in her gall bladder. I was very pleased to hear her tell me “Yes, I had excellent insurance and I wanted to know for sure. When I got that second ultrasound, none of the gall stones were there anymore; they had all been passed.”

With that in mind, I would appreciate it if any of you could offer some help or advice in this controversial area. I know some of the recipes and diet programs out there claim they can heal you of anything, but in reality the only thing they are going to do is make your wallet smaller. I don’t want to have my gall bladder removed if there is a way to pass the gall stones manually. I have an appointment with a doctor only two days from now, so please leave a comment quickly.

If you have experience in the area of gall stones or kidney stones, please share your thoughts. I was told it is possible to pass kidney stones in a way that is incredibly painful. However, I was told by the doctors that gall bladder stones cannot be passed. I was told that “sludge” in the gall bladder can be passed, but not the true gall stones.

The most annoying thing is that doctors don’t even try to filter the gall bladder or clean out the stones, even though the technology may exist to do such a thing. Instead, the greedy doctors just want to remove your gall bladder in a quick, easy, and efficient one-day operation. After all, this is the type of low-cost and high-profit operation that helps generate a lot of money for the medical industry.

Is Kurt Angle Entering the 2012 Olympics for Publicity?

Kurt Angle is considered one of the best professional wrestlers of all time. Kurt Angle is also considered one of the best amateur wrestlers of all time. The résumé of Angle is incredibly impressive as both a professional and an amateur. Kurt Angle is a 14-time World Champion in various professional wrestling organizations, and he won a Gold medal in the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kurt Angle recently revealed that he is currently training for the 2012 Olympics. Some people have questioned whether a 43-year-old man has the strength, speed, and endurance needed to compete in the Olympics. Critics have said Kurt Angle is promoting his Olympic training as a form of publicity to help market the TNA wrestling organization. This would seem to make sense, considering TNA wrestling uses a marketing plan based on “Impact Wrestling” that is real.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Do you believe Kurt Angle is really going to compete in the Olympics? Do you believe Kurt will perform at a competitive level? Or do you believe Kurt Angle is doing this to help promote TNA Impact Wrestling on Spike TV?

Are Arts & Crafts Supplies Always Overpriced? Utrecht Says No!

I know several people who really enjoy various forms of arts and crafts. But I’ve noticed these can be expensive hobbies if you insist on buying supplies at retail. Certain stores make it seem like these expensive prices are what you always need to pay for supplies dealing with arts and crafts. Thankfully, I recently learned this is not the case!

Utrecht is an online company selling supplies associated with arts & crafts at very reasonable prices. Discount art supplies can be purchased from Utrecht at 70% off of the manufacturers suggested retail price. Similarly, craft art supplies can be purchased with huge discounts or even on clearance. Easels can also be purchased from Utrecht at prices much lower than what you see at retail stores.

All of the top products from all of the top brands can be purchased online at Utrecht. This is a wonderful thing because overpriced supplies are what often prevent talented people with various skills from taking advantage of their talents and skills. Currently there are some excellent sales and summer promotions for you to take advantage of at Utrecht.

For example, if you enter the coupon code of “WEB15” through June 9, you can save 15% off your purchase of $99 or more and get free shipping if the bill adds up to $150. Also, there is a summer sale where you can save up to 55% off of arches watercolor sheets and blocks. There is even a sale where you can save up to 75% off of Utrecht canvas, linen, brushes, and brush sets!

If you are someone who enjoys arts & crafts, please share your thoughts on this subject. Isn’t it nice to be able to enjoy a hobby when you have a valuable combination of talents and skills? Even if your skills aren’t “valuable,” you can still be proud of what you are working on without investing a lot of money thanks to a reasonable company like Utrecht.

Halo 4 and Halo Anniversary Edition Announced! - Visit My E3 Coverage

Microsoft sitting, watching Microsoft's press conference at E3, I heard some official announcements I expected to hear because of industry insider friends I have in the videogame industry. I also heard some announcements I didn't expect to hear -- and those announcements were really awesome! If you want to learn more about those announcements, come to my new Controversy blog devoted entirely to daily videogame news. Make you to subscribe to this new blog: www.controversy.typepad.com/videogamenews

I can tell you Microsoft did announce the awesome Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition many of us heard rumors about. And I'll also wet your appetite by telling you Halo 4 was announced! Some of my reliable industry insider friends told me this might happen. But even I was amazed when Microsoft said Halo 4 would be part of a "trilogy" of new games involving Spartan super-soldier John 117!

New England College of Business and Finance - Setting New Standards Online

In 1999 when I was 19 years old, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I lost the ability to drive, which was truly disappointing considering I live in a small town with no public transportation. What’s worse is that I live in a country area where nothing is within walking distance. But thanks to online education, I was able to acquire various degrees and certificates at several different colleges and universities.

At the time I was diagnosed with epilepsy, I was enrolled in two classes at a local community college and the semester was about halfway over. Even though I was previously able to drive, I often complained that it took me so long to drive to the college and then drive back home. This was time which could have been used to study. Unfortunately, I was forced to drop one class since I could not find anyone to take me and pick me back up. But, I was able to get a ride from my mother in order to complete the other class.

After that semester was over, everyone I knew made it clear to me they would not be available to take me to college classes and then do grocery shopping or wait in a parking lot while I was in school. Back in 1999, I had absolutely no options available to further my college education. I didn’t know about online education at the time. I basically was forced to sit around the house very disappointed all day (just as I often do now, since I am still unemployed).

But in 2003 when I learned about online education, it really sparked an interest in my life! I enrolled online at Lansing Community College, where I eventually earned two associate’s degrees, in addition to three Microsoft Office Specialist certificates. I completed an online program where I earned a certificate in Time Management. I then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Process Management from Franklin University – a school my sister and I graduated from and recommend you do NOT attend!

While I attended college online, I was very happy. I thought there was hope for the future. I literally was a double-time student – enrolled in up to nine classes at a time, earning a 4.0 in all of them! I saw this as a way to make up for lost time over the previous four years. I used this enthusiasm and hope as a source of fuel to study, do homework, and perform well on proctored tests.

Ever since I graduated, I have been trying to find work online. Sadly, I have not been able to do so. I can definitely confirm college improved all my skills associated with writing, math, finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurial business. But I know that one in three degrees received by students each year is in some way related to business. In other words, business is an area with tough competition and may require a master’s degree in order to give you a competitive edge.

One of the best accredited online MBA programs I’ve seen is from the New England College of Business and Finance. I know having an online degree in finance can help you get a good job, because my sister worked at a bank where the manager of the entire bank had this type of degree. However, it really does seem like most of the jobs today list a bachelor’s degree as a requirement while saying a master’s degree is preferred.

I really like the way the New England College of Business and Finance is the first school in the United States to offer a compliance training program dedicated to ethics in the world of business. This graduate course allows you to receive a Master of Science in Business Ethics and Compliance – also known as an MBE. When you complete this program you significantly increase your opportunity for employment working as a financial consultant, compliance officer, or corporate auditor. You will be the one setting the cultural standards relating to business ethics for non-profit organizations you work with.

I also noticed the hospitality degree offered by the New England College of Business and Finance. This is essentially a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specific focus on Hospitality Management. After doing some research, I learned this means you will be focused on gaining skills associated with hotel management, catering of food and beverages, event planning, and human resources.

I’ve known several people who worked at hotels and eventually worked their way up the ladder to impressive careers, enjoying their job the whole time. If this is an area you are interested in, it seems like this program will help you acquire all the skills needed in order to achieve your objectives. Plus, placing the emphasis of Hospitality on this bachelor’s degree can give your résumé an advantage over others in this niche market.

I can tell you that attending school online really is a great thing. You don’t need to waste money on gas, and you don’t need to waste time driving. I realize some people enjoy learning in a classroom – sometimes considering it a social activity. I also realize some people are involved in programs such as medicine and surgery where you need to see things in person. But I can tell from personal experience that the subjects associated with business are very enjoyable online.

Based on what I’ve seen online, it looks like the New England College of Business and Finance will be an excellent experience for students. If you have any thoughts or experiences to share about the New England College of Business and Finance, please do!

Jack "Dr. Death" Kevorkian Passed Away -- Should Suicide Be Legalized?

Dr. Jacob “Jack” Kevorkian passed away on June 3, 2011 at the age of 83. Dr. Kevorkian became infamous in the 1990’s because he helped over 130 people die via physician-assisted suicide. Dr. Kevorkian continuously said “Dying is not a crime.” In each of these suicides, it was the patient who committed the final action.

Believe it or not, Dr. Kevorkian was actually known as “Dr. Death” long before he helped people commit suicide. Colleagues throughout California and Michigan had always observed Kevorkian was particularly interested in dying patients. Dr. Kevorkian was a graduate of the University of Michigan. This is probably why he had a desire to settle down in Michigan and ultimately end up with a career writing articles about euthanasia, which were published throughout the world.

Dr. Kevorkian did not truly become famous until the 1990s when he invented a device known as the “death machine.” This medical tool gave consenting patients the opportunity to self-inject an anesthetic followed by a lethal dose of potassium chloride. Jack Kevorkian labeled this machine as the “Thanatron,” since it was named after Thanatos – the figure of death in Greek mythology.

Dr. Kevorkian and his volunteer attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, became well known all over the world because they continuously stood up to government laws, particularly in Michigan. The state of Michigan passed a law in 1993 preventing him from practicing physician-assisted suicides. Geoffrey Fieger constantly attacked Governor John Engler while supporting Dr. Kevorkian.

Eventually, Dr. Kevorkian lost his licenses to practice medicine in California and Michigan. Nevertheless, Dr. Kevorkian continued to help people “End their lives with dignity.” Dr. Kevorkian continuously pointed out that people should not be forced to suffer and live with pain, since they were inevitably going to die anyways.

Consequently, Dr. Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder in April of 1999. After serving eight years of a 10-to-25 year prison sentence, Dr. Kevorkian was released on parole after promising he would not aid in any further suicides. From that point on, Dr. Kevorkian devoted his life to oil paintings and jazz music. Occasionally, Dr. Kevorkian would market his work to the public.

I want to make it clear to everyone reading this that I am a Christian and I believe in God. I have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. However, I was very disappointed the way several large so-called Christian organizations were cheering and gloating like hypocrites when Jack Kevorkian died this week. One woman said, “I know Dr. Kevorkian now realizes there is a God, and I can guarantee you he will not be spending eternity with Him in Heaven.”

I just have one controversial question: How can that woman “Guarantee” anything? She is not God, and she is not in a position to judge Jack Kevorkian. If you examine the life of Jack Kevorkian, you will be surprised what a loving and caring man he was. And when you learn what I’m about to tell you, I believe you may change your mind about whether or not you will see Jack Kevorkian when you get to Heaven!

Jack Kevorkian came from a very religious family and was raised to be a Christian by his loving parents. It was at the age of 12 when young Jack started asking questions in Sunday school class. Jack asked the question, “If there is an all-knowing and all-powerful God capable of giving His son the ability to walk on water, He would also have been able to prevent the Turkish slaughter of his entire extended family.”

Jack asked valid questions like this every week at church. But at the young age of 12 he decided to stop attending church because his questions were not receiving acceptable answers, based on his point of view. I believe the fundamental problem is the way Jack Kevorkian only looked at things from his personal point of view. For example, Jack apparently thought to himself, “If I had the ability to walk on water or heal the sick, I would use those abilities to provide health to everyone and prevent millions of innocent people from being slaughtered by a tyrant like Adolf Hitler.”

This form of logic seems reasonable to most people, but once you read your Bible you realize that is not the way God works. Jesus Christ is a merciful God who wants to spend eternity with you. This is the reason why He personally allowed Himself to be tortured on a cross. When the supporters of Jesus Christ saw Him on that cross, they asked questions similar to Jack Kevorkian. They probably asked themselves things like “If this guy really is the same guy who previously walked on water and healed other people, why doesn’t he just heal himself and hop off that cross; then, everyone would believe!”

But the evidence suggests Jack Kevorkian didn’t read his Bible enough to learn it is a relatively violent book – describing various forms of judgment, fights, murders, and torture. If Jack did read his Bible from beginning to end, it’s disappointing that he didn’t become friends with the Lord along the way. You would tend to think that a man capable of understanding the concept that “Death is not a crime” would also be capable of understanding the concept that “Good days would not exist if it wasn’t for bad days.” In life, we often learn from bad experiences just as much as we learn from good experiences.

But this still doesn’t necessarily mean Jack Kevorkian won’t be in Heaven. We don’t know what happened during the last days of Jack Kevorkian’s life. During his last days, Jack Kevorkian probably thought a lot about his life, his family, and his loved ones. We know he was raised as a Christian, and we know God was always on his mind. How do we know that Jack Kevorkian didn’t ask forgiveness of his sins and accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, just as many of his painfully sick patients did?

There’s no question Dr. Kevorkian will be judged for his actions in life. But there’s also no doubt he would spend eternity with the Lord if he felt comfortable being with Him. How do you “Feel comfortable being with the Lord” you ask? Simple; cause the Lord to see you as He sees Himself. The way you do that is by covering yourself in the blood of Jesus Christ. You do that by asking forgiveness of your sins and accepted the work of Jesus on the cross. This is the whole reason why Jesus allow Himself to be tortured that way; He paid the price for everyone’s sins, even though His life perfectly agreed with the will of God.

I want to end this article by telling the enemies of Dr. Kevorkian that they should not be proud or happy that Jack Kevorkian may be in hell right now. Jesus Christ loved Jack Kevorkian enough to die for him. Keep that in mind before you run your mouth. And also keep in mind that the Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t like hypocrites!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on this. Do you believe suicide will be leglaized one day? How about the way hospitals take people off of life support all the time?

Al-Qaida militant killed in US strike in Pakistan - Direct from AP - Barack Obama Gets the Job Done Again!

By ISHTIAQ MEHSUD, Associated Press Ishtiaq Mehsud, Associated Press– 30 mins ago

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan – A top al-Qaida commander and possible replacement for Osama bin Laden was killed in an American drone-fired missile strike close to the Afghan border, a fax from the militant group he heads and a Pakistani intelligence official said Saturday.

Ilyas Kashmiri's apparent death is another blow to al-Qaida just over a month after bin Laden was killed by American commandos in a northwest Pakistani army town. Described by U.S. officials as al-Qaida's military operations chief in Pakistan, the 47-year-old Pakistani was one of five most-wanted militant leaders in the country, accused of a string of bloody attacks in South Asia, including the 2008 Mumbai massacre, as well as aiding plots in the West. Washington had offered a $5 million bounty for information leading to his location.

His death was not confirmed publicly by the United States or Pakistani officials. Verifying who has been killed in the drone strikes is difficult. Initial reports have turned out to be wrong in the past, including one in September 2009 that said Kashmiri had been killed. Sometimes they are never formally denied or confirmed by authorities here or in the United States.

But a fax from the militant group he was heading — Harakat-ul-Jihad al-Islami's feared "313 Brigade" — confirmed Kashmiri was "martyred" in the strike at 11:15 p.m. Friday in South Waziristan tribal region. It was sent to journalists in Peshawar.

"God willing, America, which is the 'pharaoh' of this, will soon see a revenge attack, and our real target is America," it said. The statement was handwritten written on a white page bearing name of the group, which has not previously communicated with the media.

The Pakistani official also said Kashmiri was among nine militants killed in the strike. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with his agency's policy. On Friday night, officials said several missiles hit a compound. The official Saturday said the men were meeting in an apple orchard near the house when the missiles hit.

Kashmiri's name was on a list of militants that the United States and Pakistan recently agreed to jointly target, officials have said. The successful strike could help repair ties between the two countries that were badly damaged by the unilateral American raid, especially if Islamabad helped provide intelligence leading up to the attack.

Said to be blind in one eye and missing a finger, Kashmiri was one of the country's most accomplished — and vicious — militants. He fought with jihadi fighters in Afghanistan and in Indian-held Kashmir in the 1990s and was so close to al-Qaida's central command that he had been mentioned as a contender for replacing bin Laden, though many analysts thought the fact that he was not an Arab meant he was unlikely to get the post.

Indian officials have alleged he was involved in the 2008 Mumbai siege that killed more than 160 people. He has also been named a defendant in an American court over a planned attack on a Danish newspaper that published cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in 2005.

In an ongoing terror trial in Chicago, testimony from an American-Pakistani militant has alleged that Kashmiri helped plan the Mumbai siege and wanted to attack U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Kashmiri had been angry over U.S. drone attacks inside Pakistan and wanted to target the company, David Coleman Headley testified.

Kashmiri has most recently been linked to last month's 18-hour assault on a naval base in Karachi. He is also accused of masterminding several bloody raids on Pakistan police and intelligence buildings in 2009 and 2010, as well as a failed assassination attempt against then-President Pervez Musharraf in 2003.

The U.S Department of State says he organized a 2006 suicide bombing against the U.S. consulate in Karachi that killed four people, including an American diplomat.

American drones began firing missiles at al-Qaida and Taliban targets along the border in 2005, but the attacks picked up pace in 2008 and have risen in frequency ever since. Pakistani army officers and politicians publicly protest them, too weak to admit to working with the ever unpopular America in targeting fellow Pakistanis, but the country's intelligence agencies have been known to occasionally provide targeting information.

Opposition to the strikes grew this year after a CIA contractor shot and killed two Pakistanis in the street, triggering ever more intense anti-American anger. After the bin Laden raid, which was seen by many here as an outrageous violation of the country's sovereignty, the parliament issued a declaration calling for the attacks to end.

Pakistani leaders were not immediately available for comment on Friday's attack. Kashmiri was accused of killing many Pakistanis, including police and army officers, so their public reaction may be muted.

The United States does not acknowledge the CIA-run program, though its officials have confirmed the death of high-value targets before, including the head of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, in 2009 — a strike welcomed by many Pakistan officials because he too was a sworn enemy of the country.

Washington says the strikes are accurately killing militants and are disrupting plots against the West as well as planned attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Videogame News - A New Blog Devoted to Daily News Coverage

Videogame News is a new blog I've created in order to focus on the daily coverage of the videogame industry.

Just click here or enter the following URL: http://controversy.typepad.com/videogamenews/

Make sure you become a TypePad Follower of this blog. Also, make sure you Subscribe to this blog and add it to your Favorites list. May the force be with you!

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection Package Coming to Xbox 360! - Remixed HD Graphics & 5.1 Sound

Breaking news from the World Wide Konami Press Conference, the Metal Gear Solid HD collection will be coming to the Xbox 360 in November of this year! The package will include High Definition versions of Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3 and the formally PSP exclusive Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

Kojima Productions unveiled the news in a very funny skit-like video featuring the sketch comedy group Mega 64. I couldn’t be happier with this announcement. The original Metal Gear Solid and its sequel are some of my favorite of all time. I rarely play them anymore, since their sound is outdated and they possess outdated graphics. But with graphics updated to high-definition and sound remixed to true 5.1, it will be a pleasure playing through the games again – particularly since I will earn Achievement Points along the way.

Hideo Kojima confirmed that he is in the planning stages of the “Next Metal Gear Solid Experience”. Speaking about the graphics engine for his next game, Kojima revealed it is called “The Fox Engine”. This new graphics engine is multiplatform for future titles.

The demo of the Fox Engine looked very impressive. The demo exhibited realistic foliage and dirt paths, but Kojima stressed that the engine is not using final assets from his next game. The items displayed were merely technical demonstrations, not actual software.

History has proven the Xbox 360 versions of the vast majority of multiplatform software ends up with better graphics and better online play than their PS3 counterparts. Even games as simple as Splinter Cell have proven this point. Whether or not the Xbox 360 version will be "noticably" better or "significantly" better remains to be seen. But like channel G4 said, "Even if the versions of a PS3 and Xbox 360 game are identical, it always makes sense to buy the Xbox 360 version because there are more people to play online with and a larger percentage of people online have headsets to chat with while playing." 

Controversy will have full coverage from the Konami conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo!

Forza 4 Racing Uses Kinect Head-Tracking Features!

Forza Motorsport 4 will be the biggest and best racing game ever released when it is launched for Xbox 360 later this year. It isn't just the amazing graphics, huge selection of high-quality cars, or the incredibly large number of tracks available in Forza 4 that make it a special racing game. Forza Motorsport 4 will be the first game in this excellent franchise to be fully optimized for the Kinect motion-sensor accessory, which is now in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-selling electronics item ever! This is what we've been looking forward to all along!

We've known from the beginning Forza Motorsport 4 would allow us to drive by using our hands as the racing wheel. Kinect uses its motion-sensing abilities to accurately and precisely determine where we wanted to drive based on which direction we move our hands! We were told that when this feature is used the game will handle acceleration and braking responsibilities for us. This is a very simple setup many casual gamers will enjoy, especially kids, females, and older gamers.

But I'm starting to question what was said because of a new video Microsoft recently released. Microsoft has now revealed the motion-sensing abilities of Kinect will be used to track all of your head movements in order to add an even greater sense of realism to Forza Motorsport 4! This feature looks absolutely amazing in the video, and you can also see how stunning the graphics are in the game! Can you believe the graphics in Forza Motorsport 4 are even better than the current racing champion – Forza Motorsport 3!

But one thing in particular leaves a bit of controversy. In this video, you clearly see the brake pedal and gas pedal being used. These pedals are part of an accessory Microsoft discontinued several years ago -- a product that is now considered the greatest racing wheel ever released because it offered excellent force feedback. As an industry insider, this makes me wonder if I may see Microsoft start selling their force feedback steering wheel and brake/gas pedal accessory again. Or, will Microsoft sell only the brake pad and gas pad accessory this time, since Kinect will essentially be providing the wheel.

Please share your thoughts on this subject. Microsoft says they will be revealing other secrets about Forza 4 at E3. I know Gamestop and several other retailers give you a special group of great cars if you preorder the game right now. But, it wouldn't surprise me to see Microsoft release Forza Motorsport 4 in arcades. Here is a video for you to look at proving all this:

Gifts from Myron Offer Personalization and Promotion

Personalized gifts and rewards add a lot of importance to most people. This is the time of year when students graduate and many marriages take place. Once, when I was the best man at a friends wedding, I received a nice pocket knife with my initials placed on it. This element of personalization really meant a lot to me.

Business is also an area of life that benefits from personalized forms of promotional products. When you look at a custom-designed business logo placed onto items such as promotional USB cards, pens, calendars and notepads, you feel a sense of pride. A business organization can also reward employees by personalizing USB cards, flashlights, key chains, mugs, and even a computer mouse! This form of employee recognition honors employees for doing a good job while simultaneously providing promotion for the business.

Myron is an excellent online website to buy these forms of personalized items for your friends and loved ones. A romantic couple can buy personalized gifts saying “Thank You” or “I Love You.” Children can celebrate the anniversary of their parents by purchasing gifts saying “Congratulations” or “Best Wishes Mom & Dad.” These forms of personalized items really do add a special feeling when a gift is given to a loved one.

Myron is also an excellent place to buy promotional items purchased for your business. Your business logo and initials can be professionally placed on executive items such as portfolios, journals, calculators, photo frames, and daily desktop calendars. Even items such as umbrellas and nail clippers can carry your business logo in order to help build brand recognition! If you are looking to advertise and promote your business for reasonable prices, I believe Myron will probably be able to help you out.

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