Cube Illusion

Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

Cruise ships still find a Haitian berth

Sixty miles from Haiti's devastated earthquake zone, luxury liners dock at private beaches where passengers enjoy jetski rides, parasailing and rum cocktails delivered to their hammocks.

The 4,370-berth Independence of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean International, disembarked at the heavily guarded resort of Labadee on the north coast on Friday; a second cruise ship, the 3,100-passenger Navigator of the Seas is due to dock.

I actually have a little sympathy for the cruise line. They are stuck in a no-win situation. Avoid Haiti and you take away the only real income opportunity for a segment of the population. Go to Haiti and they are painted as uncaring. I don't know what I would do in their shoes.

Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

PolitiFact Texas

PolitiFact Texas is a partnership of the Austin American-Statesman and PolitiFact.com, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Web site of the St. Petersburg Times, to help you find the truth in politics.

Every day, reporters and researchers from the American-Statesman examine statements by Texas elected officials and candidates and anyone else who speaks up on matters of public importance. We research their statements and then rate the accuracy on our Truth-O-Meter – True, Mostly True, Half True, Barely True and False. The most ridiculous falsehoods get our lowest rating, Pants on Fire.

Click the image to go to the site.

Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

How can I Tell a Cult?

Our church is in the middle of the sermon series called 'Your Questions'. People have submitted questions and each week the congregation gets 4 to choose from. You text in your vote and the 'winning' question is the sermon for the next week. The staff will then answer some of the 'losing' questions on the church blog.

One of the losing questions this week was 'How can I Tell a Cult?'.

A non-Christian religion is an organized group that teaches something clearly different than Christianity does about God or the spiritual/supernatural realm.

A cult is a group that can, at first, appear to be aligned with the orthodox teaching of Christianity but upon further examination actually does not hold to the same beliefs as Christians on core doctrinal issues. Often these groups will deem themselves to be “Christian.” Trying to discern? Start with these questions:

Click on the image above to read the blog post.

Wanna Watch Netflix Movies On Your Wii?

If you have a Wii and a Netflix account you will soon be able to stream movies to your TV. Click on the link above to read more.

Big Picture: Haiti six days later

Haiti remains a place of profound need, anguish, desperation and danger, with a few glimmers of hope and slowly growing capabilities to receive and distribute the international aid now flowing in. Sporadic looting, sometimes violent, was met with force by security oficials and ordinary citizens, resulting in a number of further deaths and injuries. The tenuous security situation has led to at least one temporary evacuation of a medical facility, to protect the care-givers. Despite the long time since the earthquake, at least five people were pulled from the rubble alive this weekend, including a young girl trapped inside a supermarket who was fortunately surrounded by food, and survived on fruit snacks. (38 photos total)

Click the image to see the full collection. Warning: Some images are graphic.

SpaghettiOs Creator Donald Goerke Dies

The Campbell Soup Co. executive who was behind the enduring brands SpaghettiOs and Chunky Soup has died.

Donald Goerke (GUHR'-kee) was 83. A Campbell spokesman confirmed that Goerke died of heart failure Sunday at his home in Delran in southern New Jersey.

Goerke was marketing research director of Campbell's Franco-American line in the early 1960s when his group started dreaming up pasta in shapes that would appeal to kids. He chose the o's. They were marketed with the unforgettable tagline, "Uh-oh, SpaghettiOs."

Later, he helped introduce Chunky Soup, a hearty ready-to-serve soup that stood out from the company's traditional line of condensed soups.

The Waukesha, Wis., native worked for Camden-based Campbell for 35 years, retiring in 1990.

Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

Spitting Cobra - Artillery in Afghanistan

From Michael Yon, and Independent Journalist in Afghanistan.

Artillery is called “The King of Battle.” When it comes to the delivery of force, probably nothing outside of nuclear weapons can outmatch the sustained delivery of extreme brutality. Cannons also can deliver small atomic weapons.

Click the image above to read the dispatch and see Mr. Yon's incredible pictures.