For US evangelicals from Joe Carter of the Evangelical Outpost;

I’m the managing editor of Culture11 (www.culture11.com), a new online magazine/social network that was started by Bill Bennett, David Kuo, Steve Forbes, et al. Today is our first day and rather than trying to get attention using traditional media, we’ve decided to announce our launch by reaching out to our friends.

Our goal for the site is to build a community around irresistibly interesting perspectives on life in America. From pop culture to politics, from faith to family, you’ll find original and entertaining stories here from some of the country’s most dynamic voices. (Note: It’s a lot cooler than that description makes it sound.)

9 things which make a good blog. A lot of the points have to do with content and style.

So, what do you think makes a good blog?

via: Jordon Cooper

Sarah Pulliam is covering the Democratic Convention for Christianity Today. I’m wondering what religious right grous suggested it’s followers troll the comments section of CT’s poltics blog.

The phone/DSL line is mostly working, until a few more things are done I’m not going to know for certain whether the electrician has more work to do on the line.   I’m picking up the modem for the new ISP over the next day or so, and then will get hold of the tech company for an appointment to look at what broke on the computer.

The usual unknowns may put this machine and I off-line for a few days, a lot depends on other’s schedules,  the work that needs to be done, and potential unknowns. I’ll try to stick around and keep this machine and I online. If the next set of ‘fix the stuff’ steps don’t go as planned and I’m bumped off, I’ll be back as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, blog on!

Last week a diverse group of bloggers asked traditional media (Globe and Mail in particular) to fact check information they received from special interest groups. The National Post was on the list, but Kirk Makin in particular for uncritically putting up remarks by The Canada Family Action Coalition without asking basic questions.

The Star, which had also published the Coalition complaint without question was the first to give a columnist room to refute. Next the Globe and Mail chimed in Thursday with an opinion piece - Smearing the Chief Justice.

Those who oppose abortion, or seek restrictions to protect the lives of fetuses, take the decision to honour Dr. Morgentaler as an affront. To disagree with his appointment is reasonable — abortion remains a polarizing issue — but complaints about the outcome should be made to the Governor-General, who awards the Order of Canada, not to the CJC.

To attack the process by which Dr. Morgentaler was appointed to the Order of Canada is also open to the Canadian Family Action Coalition. The group can do so by challenging the Constitution of the Order of Canada, which obliges the Chief Justice to act as the chair of the advisory council to the Order of Canada.

Accusing the Chief Justice of judicial misconduct, however, suggests these activists are merely looking for publicity.

Well, yes, that is exactly what they were looking for and bloggers were happy to provide them with some. Just not quite what they were looking for. Taking the ‘42 religious organizations representing a million Canadians’ many top notch bloggers across political spectrum made clear the duplicity and dishonesty of representation of the signatures on the complaints. The Star willing named some of the bloggers who did the heavy lifting. The Globe did not, but that’s okay, Bouquets of Grey lacerated dishonesty of the Coalition’s misrepresentation with facts and the 42 fell to the low 20’s. The latest in the post - When the aints go marching in.

Traditional media (other than Antonia Zerbisias) did not weigh in until Chris Bird at the Osgoode Hall Law School blog tore the Canada Family Action Coalition complaint into legal confetti sized fluff. Of course a comment response was to point out a bible verse was taken out of context, the substance of Bird’s legal argument could not be addressed, so it was rather fun to run with the comment by pointing out the bible verse even in context stood, and if that wasn’t sufficient, it’s not difficult to provide other examples. The legal argument is what the complaint stands or falls on, and it’s fallen badly. It wasn’t standing in the first place.

Media didn’t do their job, bloggers did their job for them. It’s good to see paid media catch up, good for them, and without rancor toward bloggers who do what they do without pay and because we like blogging and we like truth. But it doesn’t have to be this way, reporters read blogs, this wasn’t about sides or animosity, it was about telling the truth. And media weighted in late, people notice and their creds take a beating.

Colby Cosh at the National Post took the Coalition complaint out to the chopping block Friday in A Ludicrous Attack On McLachlin. Cosh is an acidic, succinct writer and I think he showed restraint.
The commenters were not happy, and went after him (calling him a liberal, complaining about his language as unbecoming a journalist etc.) instead of addressing the substance of his argument; similar to some of the Chris Bird complaints. Read the comments at your peril, it’s nearly fall, enjoy the weather and don’t wear off the end of the summer mellow you’ve accumulated. Life is too short.:^)

“No one was ever scolded out of their sins.” - William Crowper

Update: Brian Rushfeldt responds to Colby Cosh in The National Post. It wasn’t his fault, the Coalition was stonewalled. Not a peep about the Coalition astroturfing. Of course.
via: unrepentant old hippie

I mentioned Dennis Gruending had written a primer on ‘The Cry’ a rally for Canadian neo-pentecostals which has been held for a few years on Parliament Hill. They bus in young people looking for an exciting afternoon, and I’m genuinely surprised at how far the numbers are down from earlier rallies. Dr. Dawg showed up to an anti-abortion rally in July and reported about 400 kids were bused in.

The Cry didn’t get the turnout they hoped for this weekend either.

The Bible says the meek shall inherit the Earth, but there

was no trace of meekness in Faytene Kryskow and her passionate preaching yesterday on Parliament Hill.

“We’re going to turn Parliament Hill into the Wailing Wall,” Ms. Kryskow told about 400 followers spread out on Parliament’s front lawn. The prayer gathering is known as The Cry, a rally for fundamentalist youth who believe mainstream Canadian society is morally bankrupt.

Why not? Expenses? Has the target group that started with 4MyCanada grown up and moved on? Organizer Kystow’s ties to Extreme Prophetic and Canadian Todd Bentley’s neo-pentecostalism and extra-biblical heresy and militant extremism exposed in the US?
The poor advice on 4MyCanada to teens on how to voice opinion to government?

4MyCanada promised young people heading to Ottawa this past weekend:

The day will include of mix of Christian bands (leading in worship), well known national leaders from various denominations/MPs & Senators bringing short exhortations and many young emerging Christian leaders leading the crowd in prayer for a variety of key issues facing Canada right now.
…The day will include of mix of Christian bands (leading in worship), well known national leaders from various denominations/MPs & Senators bringing short exhortations and many young emerging Christian leaders leading the crowd in prayer for a variety of key issues facing Canada right now.

It appears Kystow’s followers weren’t mocked, and there is no mention (I could find) of the promised religious rock bands, well known national leaders or MP’s and Senators showing up.
There are three more ‘The Cry’s scheduled this year.

Any ideas on why 4MyCanada and The Cry seems to be losing steam?

CBC:

B.C. hospitals and carehomes are checking their inventories of sliced meats after at least two cases of listeriosis were identified in patients in B.C.

One patient in Fort St. John and another in Prince George were being treated for the same strain of the bacterial infection identified in the nationwide recall of Maple Leaf Foods meat products.

Listeriosis can be caused by eating contaminated food. A woman from Hamilton, Ont., has died in the outbreak, and officials are investigating whether another four other deaths are linked to it.

The Public Health Agency of Canada said there are 17 confirmed cases of listeriosis nationwide, including 13 in Ontario, two in B.C., one in Saskatchewan and one in Quebec

The following is a full list of the Maple Leaf recalled meats, including individual product codes and best-before dates:

26365, Sliced Cooked Turkey Breast, 470 grams, Sept. 30;
02106, Schneiders Bavarian Smokies, 1 kilogram, Oct. 28;
02126, Schneiders Cheddar Smokies, 1 kilogram, Oct. 28;
21333, Sure Slice Roast Beef, 1 kilogram, Sept. 30;
21388, Sure Slice Combo Pack, 1 kilogram, Sept. 30;
60243, Deli Gourmet Roast Beef slices, 1 kilogram, Sept. 30;
02356, Seasoned Cooked Roast Beef, 500 grams, Oct. 7;
42706, Roast Beef, Seasoned and Cooked, 500 grams, Oct. 7;
21334, Sure Slice Turkey Breast Roast, 1 kilogram, Oct. 14;
21444, Sure Slice Corned Beef, 1 kilogram, Oct. 14;
44938, Montreal Style Corned Beef, 500 grams, Oct. 14;
21440, Sure Slice Black Forest Style Ham, 1 kilogram, Oct. 21;
21447, Sure Slice Salami, 1 kilogram, Oct. 21;
21331, Sure Slice Smoked Ham, 1 kilogram, Oct. 21;
48019, Schneiders Deli Shaved Corned Beef, 200 grams, Oct. 21;
48020, Schneiders Deli Shaved Smoked Meat, 200 grams, Oct. 21;
48016, Schneiders Deli Shaved Smoked Ham , 200 grams, Oct. 21;
48018, Schneiders Deli Shaved Smoked Turkey Breast, 150 grams, Oct. 21;
48017, Schneiders Deli Shaved Fully Cooked Smoked Honey Ham, 200 grams, Oct. 21;
21360, Burns Bites Pepperoni, 500 grams, Jan. 21, 2009;
99158, Turkey Breast Roast, 1 kilogram, Sept. 30;
71330, Roast Beef Cooked, Seasoned, 2.5 kilograms, Sept. 30;
71331 Corned Beef, Smoked Meat, 2.5 kilograms, Sept. 30.

Symptoms

Symptoms of listeriosis are often flu-like and can include nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, constipation and persistent fever. In rare cases, it can be fatal.

Symptoms usually appear within two to 30 days, but it can take up to 90 days to get sick after you’ve eaten contaminated food.

Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk.

Listeriosis is treatable using antibiotics. If you suspect that you are experiencing legitimate symptoms of listeriosis, the Public Health Agency of Canada urges you to contact your health care provider immediately.

Update: Maple Leaf foods has pulled over 200 products from the 97B plant. The list of all meats under several brand names can be found at the Canadian Food Inspection site.

If you haven’t seen this hilarious event from the Iowa State Fair, set down what you’re drinking.

via: Of course, I could be wrong

Bow.James Bow:

Speaking as a Christian, I just want to say that I am embarrassed that social conservatives like Charles McVety claim to represent who I am and what I believe. Nothing could be further from the truth. For one thing, I have integrity, and I don’t try to deceive people.

A Creative Revolution on having it both ways. The Canada Family Action President caught talking out of both sides of his mouth.

I earned this! It’s one of three I can earn just by answering a coupla questions. Go get your own.

Dennis Gruending takes a look at The Cry, the Canadian copycat of the US group The Call.

Some of the 50 sponsors and promoters of this event on Parliament Hill are not a surprise, it is disappointing to see others. I thought they were more balanced and discerning.

ViveLeCanada takes a look at 4MyCanada and tie in groups and their political agenda.

Faytene Krystow worked with Patricia (Cocking) King at Extreme Prophetic,. King is Todd Bentley’s (Fresh Fire Ministries) mentor.

The Republican Party of Ontario is one of the groups connected with Krystow. Canadian Cynic has details. (some rough language, but good connecting of the dots)