Rotate.....

Microdot sleeve: A few nights ago, when I was into thinkering, planning a redo on some paperworks and trying to keep a little stress off while lying on my back, I've decided to play a game(a type of tetris game) called "Nature Park" on my cellfon. It's been quite sometime since the last time I played it. The truth is, it's boring for me playing those cellfon stuffs. So, trying to make the time pass by, I've played a few hours with it, making hi's ang low's on the scoreboards, then stopped and decided to sleep.

So, why rotate? I guess that's one of the moves in the tetris game. Then one day, I received an e-mail from a Brethren with the following videos attached. I thought it was just some old funny video or something that can't even move a muscle on my face, but I was wrong. Well anyway, here's a Japanese Game Show called Human Tetris.

Enjoy watching!!!

Microdot Sleeve: Above is a Smashing Pumpkins' "Doomsday Clock" on Transformers movie trailer. A few months back, I was very disappointed after I've found out that some of my Smashing Pumpkins cassette tapes were no longer playing due to the floodwater that sips inside the tape mechanism. That was the result when we were struck by wide flooding due to damage dikes when we were still in Malabon a year ago. I got worried because all the Pumpkins past albums here in the Philippines were all gone, no local release at all. But somehow, this past few days, by asking a Brethren, I manage to recover some music disc and reconstruct my Smashing Pumpkins listening pleasure. And at last, The Pumpkins are back with their new album "Zeitgeist" plus lots of U.S. and Canada tours. And I couldn't wait to have their album release here in the Philippines. I guess with that, all the past albums will come out too. Anyway, here are some smashing photos of the greatest band of all time, a way to spread the "Zeitgeist."

All articles and photos were taken from www.smashingpumpkins.com

The Zeitgeist is upon us! Thanks to all that were able to attend the show at the 930 Club in Washington D.C. to celebrate the release of our new album. The event was spectacular! We had an amazing show of support... but somehow an entire crowd of "non-supporters" were in attendance as well.
The Smashing Pumpkins rolled up in style to their record release show yesterday at the 9:30 Nightclub in Washington DC. Secret service agents, a barbershop quartet and over 300 "picketing" fans lined up to show their support and rallied as the Smashing Pumpkins arrived in two 1970's vintage cars to celebrate the highly anticipated release of Zeitgeist. The red, white and blue event continued as the "Virginia Ham Barbershop Quartet" welcomed the Smashing Pumpkins to the 9:30 stage with a traditional barbershop song. The Pumpkins played more than three hours, (including three encores) of songs, both old and new leaving no one disappointed!

Here are some photos that illustrate the evening:

"Angry" fans protest the release of Zeitgeist outside the 9:30 Nightclub

"Protesters" await the arrival of their favorite political candidates.

The Virginia Ham barbershop quartet entertains the crowd and welcomes The Smashing Pumpkins with some traditional tunes.
These guys actually OPENED for Sp later in the evening!

Billy Corgan arrives in style in a 1970s vintage vehicle.

Bass player Ginger Reyes steps out in style.

Billy Corgan takes part in the protest.

This is the official video for "Tarantula" from The Smashing Pumpkins' 7th album, "Zeitgeist"

The Smashing Pumpkins ZEITGEIST Album Release
July 10, 2007 U.S and Canada

Zeitgeist is The Smashing Pumpkins' official sixth album (excluding Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, freely distributed via the Internet). Zeitgeist was released on July 6, 2007 in certain countries and on July 10, 2007 in the United States and Canada. It is the first studio album The Smashing Pumpkins have released since 2000 when they initially disbanded, and the first new material to be released since two of its original members, vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, reunited in 2005.

The Sin of Jose Luis Miranda’s Illusion
Jul 9th, 2007 by Bro. Eli

Dear Bro. Eli,

Isn’t concept of sin a misnomer perception in realistic management of social, political administration of the society? Even critical analysis of church practices reflects that from time to time. Is not concept of sin man-made illusion?

Wish you opulent joy & prosperity

Point to Ponder:

“There is no such thing as a self-made man. We are made up of thousands of others.”

— George Adams

In the family, may discipline overcome indiscipline, peace discord, charity miserliness, devotion arrogance, and the truth-spoken word the false -spoken word. Avesta Yasna 60.5

Partha Roy

Dear Partha Roy,

Illusion is defined in the Encarta dictionary as:

1. something with deceptive appearance: something that deceives the senses or mind, e.g. by appearing to exist when it does not or appearing to be one thing when it is in fact another

2. false idea: a false idea, conception, or belief about somebody or something

3. deceptive power of appearances: the ability of appearances to deceive the mind and senses, or the capacity of the mind and senses to be deceived by appearances

In the Bible, illusions are called ‘lying vanities’.

(Psalms 31:6) “I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.”

The Hebrew word used is ‘shav’, meaning:

shâv’ shav

shawv, shav

From the same as H7722 in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjectively), uselessness (as deceptive, objectively; also adverbially in vain): - false (-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries

Dictionaries of Hebrew and Greek Words taken from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., 1890.

The word ‘apate’ was used in the Greek New Testament to denote the same thought.

apatē

ap-at’-ay

From G538; delusion: - deceit (-ful, -fulness), deceivableness (-ving).

The holiness of other people can be called an illusion, but definitely not their sins.

(2 Timothy 3:5) “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

These are aptly called by Christ the Lord as hypocrites.

(Matthew 23:27) “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

Hypocrisy is applying holiness in form, but denying it in heart. This is holiness in illusion; and definitely is a sin.

Can someone who kills or murders a parent, a wife, or a child which came from his or her own body, say that what he did is illusion? Is it proper to say that he committed an illusion? Do you think that it is okay to murder a wife, a child, or a parent? Are these crimes reality in society or is it as they call it — an illusion?

Anybody who will say that it is okay to murder a loving wife is a fool.

(Ephesians 5:25) “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it…”

The belief of the self-proclaimed Christ, Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, leader of the cult “Growing in Grace”, that sin no longer exist is an illusion. Thousands are being deceived by inappropriately citing a verse he do not understand.

(Hebrews 9:28) “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

This verse was erroneously interpreted. Miranda made it appear that he is Jesus Christ; and because he has come, there is sin no more. But if you are going to look closely at the verse, and carefully consider the context, the “appearing” mentioned will be on Judgment Day.

(Hebrews 9:27-28) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

When Christ was seen on earth during His earthly ministry, He bore the sins of those who believed in Him.

(2 Corinthians 5:21) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The sins of the believers are the cause of the sufferings of Christ. His death which is due to sinners made their redemption.

(Isaiah 53:4-5) “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

So, He was seen on the cross, bruised and dead because of sins. When he appears on Judgment Day, sin will not be with Him anymore, but definitely, the sins of the unbelieving will be with them.

(Mark 3:29) “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin…” RSV

(Matthew 12:32) “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

Sins of the unbeliever will not be redeemed and will be with them even in the world to come!

Miranda claims that he is Christ and is come; allegedly, the second coming. But if his people have a little more healthy memories, they should have remembered that once, Miranda claimed that he is a reincarnation of the apostle Paul. Now that he claims to be Christ, is it not a sin to fool the very people extracting money from their pockets to fill yours? It certainly will be unfair for them; and it is a sin that now exist in the group of Miranda.

Miranda claims that all religious leaders, except him, are liars; but he is the one lying (of course, sinning) to the very people who enriches him. Here is a publication of the Miami Herald, which Miranda can not deny and was broadcast over NBC.

The Miami Herald/July 22, 2006

By Alexandra Alter

…. In 1988, he announced he was the reincarnation of the Apostle Paul. In 1999, he dubbed himself “the Other,” a spiritual super-being who would pave the way for Christ’s second coming. In 2004, he proclaimed himself to be Jesus Christ and the sole interpreter of the gospel. http://www.rickross.com/reference/creciendo/creciendo3.html

Sin is very much a reality in Miranda and his group.

Who says that sin is an illusion? The Bible says otherwise.

The quotation of George Matthew Adams that was cited in your question is socially sound, but is not biblically true. Man is not made by thousand others, or himself. Man is made (and made whole), and being directed into righteousness only by God.

(Isaiah 41:4) “Who has done such mighty deeds, directing the affairs of the human race as each new generation marches by? It is I, the LORD, the First and the Last. I alone am he.”

There was not an upright and righteous man who lived on earth (in the past and in the present) who does not rely on the directive power of the Almighty Creator.

(Jeremiah 10:23) “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”

Every man, to be righteous, needs God’s direction.

(Proverbs 16:9) “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”

The quotation from the Zoroastrian scriptures that you cited, which I quote hereunder, can not be considered a general truth that can be accepted by someone who has learned the fullness of truth in the Divine Scripture: The Bible.

“May Sraosha (Obedience) conquer disobedience within this house, and may peace triumph over discord here, and generous giving over avarice, reverence over contempt, speech with truthful words over lying utterance. May the Righteous Order gain the victory over the Demon of the Lie. As in this (house) the Bountiful Immortals seek for good Yasnas and good praises from the blessed Sraosha (who governs here), and as they seek for (one) good sacrifice and act of homage (more especially their own) which is a good offering (to them) for (our) salvation, and a good offering in praise, together with a long continued offering of the entire self, (7) let not then (their) brilliant glory ever desert this house, nor the bright abundance, nor an illustrious offspring legitimately born, nor that long continued companionship which is the furtherance of that good blessedness which teaches concerning glory.”

While obedience may conquer disobedience and peace over discord, etc, in a particular situation concerning a particular house or person, but it does not apply to humanity in every given instance at all times. In fact, the Bible tells us that evil co-exists with good.

(Ecclesiastes 3:16-17) “And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

This is the reality that we can see, feel, and observe. This is not illusion. Where there is goodness, there is evil; and the existence of both will be the basis for God’s judgment. The evil of the evildoers will satisfy God’s justice unto those who have done good.

(Romans 2:7-11) “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Justice is equity, and everyone must be paid according to what he has done.

(Psalms 62:12) “Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.”

(John 5:28-29) “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

May my God enlighten you to discern what illusion is and what is not.

May God Bless You.

STAGE 1: July 8, 2007
SWISS TREAT
Swiss national Fabien Cancellara smoked the ProTour field at the London prologue of the Tour de France. He and his CSC teammates will look to hold on to the yellow jersey in stage 1 today, a 203-km ride from London to Canterbury.

Rainbow Warrior
CSC's Fabien Cancellara blows the field away to win Tour de France prologue
By Joe Lindsey
LONDON, July 7, 2007:

Never mind the jitters.

The greatest event in cycling kicked off today against a troublesome backdrop: ongoing doping scandals for the sport, and London's most recent brush with terror attacks which, thankfully, caused no casualties.

Against that background, racing seemed a trifling matter, perhaps, but hundreds of thousands of spectators nonetheless lined a picturesque 7.9-kilometer route past some of London's most famous landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, to cheer on the racers.

With no major favorites heading into the Tour, it was an open question who would win the race's first yellow jersey. The good bets for the fast, technical course were the time trial specialists and, sure enough, CSC's Fabian Cancellara delivered, with a blistering 8:50 time, an average speed of 53.7 kilometers an hour.

Cancellara, who rolled down the start ramp in the rainbow jersey as reigning world time trial champion, proved the only rider capable of beating Astana's Andreas Kloden, who set his own ridiculously fast time earlier in the day. American George Hincapie (Discovery) was good enough for third place, 23 seconds behind Cancellara's time.

Cancellara's victory came despite a frazzled arrival for the Swiss racer, as his luggage got lost and he started the prologue sporting a very un-aerodynamic growth of stubble on his face but, after his win, he could afford to be lighthearted about the missing baggage. "It's not on purpose," he laughed about the beard. "I've got nothing to shave with. All my stuff is in my suitcase, and I hope someone finds it and brings it to me!"

The day was supposed to have been a breakout for the British riders - the host country sported not one, but two possible winners, Cofidis' Bradley Wiggins and David Millar of Saunier Duval-Prodir. For Millar, who won a prologue four years ago, it would have been a triumphant return after serving a two-year ban for admitting doping. Both set off to huge cheers from the home crowd, but neither could capitalize on the home road advantage - Millar finishing a disappointing 12th and Wiggins tying Hincapie for third.

Among the favorites, Kloden and his teammate, Alexandre Vinokourov, were best off on a topsy-turvy day. Elsewhere, it was typically riders who will fill support roles with the best performances for their teams: Hincapie and Vladimir Gusev of Discovery, for example, or Caisse d'Epargne's Vladimir Karpets, in sixth.

That should set up a competitive first week as the sprinters vie to get in stage wins, while CSC, who has at best an outside shot at a top-three overall finish with Carlos Sastre, tries to defend Cancellara's jersey.

Among the sprinters, all eyes will be on Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) to renew his battle with Quick Step's Tom Boonen. Both will be looking to score a quick win here, especially Boonen, since his 2006 Tour ended ignominiously with a DNF due to knee injury and no stage wins.

Boonen says he feels "a little fresher" than last year and is relaxed. "I just want to ride my bike, have a nice time and win a stage - that's my first objective," he said. They'll face Credit Agricole's Thor Hushovd, the Lampre tandem of Daniele Bennati and Alessandro Ballan, and Milram's Erik Zabel, who is the lone sprinter for his team now that Alessandro Petacchi has been suspended for suspicious result on a doping test.

Tomorrow: The first road stage, a 203-kilometer run from London to Canterbury, evokes Chaucer's classic medieval tale of a group of pilgrims journeying to Canterbury Cathedral.

Factfile on Fabian Cancellara

Date of Birth: March 18, 1981
Place of Birth: Berne
Nationality: Swiss
Height: 185cm
Weight: 80kg
Teams: Mapei (2001-2002), Fassa Bortolo (2003-2005), CSC (since 2006)

Tour de France record
Appearances: 4
Stage wins: 2 (2004, 2007)

AND THE TOUR BEGINS.....
By James Startt, European Associate to Bicycling
London, July 3, 2007

With the prologue of the 2007 Tour de France making a historic start in London, James Startt takes a look at the history of the sport, racing, and cycling's oldest club in the U.K. in the Roots of British Cycling. With the Tour de France's historic start in London, James Startt looks at the longstanding tradition of bike racing in England, and the anticipation for the sport's homecoming on July 7.

A young and brash looking Mick Jagger helped refuel the popularity of the sport of cycling in the 1960s.
For some, a select few, this year's Tour de France, with its historic start in London, is a sort of coming home. The argument can be made that the origins of cycling, after all, are as much British as they are French. The first bicycle, as well as the first clubs and races developed and evolved in the late 19th century in England as they did in France.

But then a strange ruling at the turn of the century forbid mass-start races in England, forever changing the face of British cycling. Cycling didn't die, but it was forced underground, at the same time that the sport flourished in the mainstream on the continent.

This underground movement did foster two long-standing traditions in Britain, however, traditions that in no small way made their way to the continent as well.

With mass-start racing forbidden, clubs organized time trials, since it was impossible for authorities to accuse individual riders from racing. And since the majority of these races were held in the early morning or evening hours, in an effort to avoid any legal hassles, riders wore black attempting to further camouflage their efforts in the low light, hence the sports long-standing tradition with black shorts.
Stan Rose, aka "Joe The Fat Boy" is pictured on the left with some of his associates from the Pickwick Bicycle Club, the oldest in existence.
"Traditionally it's been very hard to organize bike races, so to see the magnitude of the Tour de France is going to be huge," says Stan Rose, one of the upstanding members of the Pickwick Bicycle Club, that pride's itself on being the world's oldest bicycle club.

Officially formed in 1870, the club also prides itself on being the oldest club or society devoted to writer Charles Dickens.

What? Dickens was a cycling fan? "No," explains Rose, "but the six founders were looking for a name and that year Charles Dickens died, so they named the club after one of his books, 'The Pickwick Papers.'"

Okay simple enough. But the cycling-literary plot thickens. To this day the club is limited to roughly 200 members, and each one is awarded a name from the book.

Rose is actually known as "Joe the Fat Boy," a nickname he admits is "very appropriate." And today, the organization is actually much more society than cycling club, a very British twist to sport indeed. Regardless, they have no racing team and members are not obliged to be cyclists.

Instead they have two social outings per year where they wear straw hats, sing songs and in general have a jolly good time. They remember fondly when former Tour de France director and Dixieland Jazz fan Jean-Marie Leblanc visited one outing and led them all in a very merry rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In," on the clarinet.

They also use these events to raise money for various and sundry cycling-related causes.

With membership limited to the names of characters in the Pickwick Papers, there is a long waiting list to join. "I thought I was going to be dead by the time I got in," Dave "Welps" Taylor says of his 10-year wait to join. Taylor, a life-long racer, also stands out one of the club's active cyclists.

But while British cycling maintained a certain underground aspect, in the 1960's it also fostered a certain rock-star profile, as at least two of the country's most prominent musicians, Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton have both been active cyclists.

Condor Bikes have sponsored local teams and racers for more than 60 years.
"Eric just ordered two new bikes last week," said Grant Young, "he's always followed the sport." Young took over Condor Bikes from his father Monty. For 60 year's now they have built bikes, sponsored teams and run one of the most prestigious shops in London, not to mention being the unofficial cycling sponsor to stars and royalty.

But the real boom in British racing had to wait until the 1990's, when the British cycling federation was awarded large grants from the British lottery system allowing them to build one of the top track programs in the world today.

"Back in my day we were all just a bunch of scruffs," Taylor recounts. "But after Chris Boardman won the Olympic Gold (in the pursuit race) in the 1992 Olympics, the British Lottery really got behind cycling, investing up to three million pounds per year."

With England's longstanding tradition in time trialing it is understandable that the federation opted to invest primarily in track racing, but a grass roots road program is also already underway.

Modern England is nothing if it is not a county mired in traffic jams. Too many cars in too small of a country, has a way of fostering this contemporary quandary.

Bicycle road racing, never a priority here, hence was forced to look for other options. Their answer-closed circuit racing-bike racing on an actual road, with hills and turns, reserved exclusively for cyclists.

The oldest of such circuits was the Eastway Park circuit on eastern side of London, although today it has been closed to make way for London's Olympic village. But in the western suburbs, the Hillingdon circuit actively runs races at least six nights a week.

Closed circuit races provide a safe and competitive format for children to learn the ropes of bike racing. Young racers line up for the start of the legendary Hillingdon race in Reading.
Starting with six-year olds and including veterans, the different race series allow children to learn the ropes of competitive cycling in a safe environment, or for aging riders to stay in shape. And now several other cycling circuits are sprouting up around the country.

"They're the nursery, almost literally," says Stuart Benstead, chairman of the Archer Road Club and organizer of the Tuesday night race serious. "It's the answer to how we can have racing in this country with all the traffic problems. They're safe, they're practical and they're economical. This is where kids learn drafting, pace lining, sprinting. This is wear the federation does its scouting."

The most prominent product of this system is Cofidis rider Bradley Wiggins, a Londoner that grew up racing at Hillingdon as well as the nearby track in Reading. This Saturday he is one of the heavy favorites in the Tour's opening prologue.

"It's an exciting time to be involved in British cycling," say Benstead and who's convinced that the Tour, as well as the London Olympics in 2012, will encourage British success in the sport even more. "We'd actually have to do something to get it wrong for the progress not to continue. But most importantly the British have finally started to believe that they can actually win something."