This and That

Missionary Threat

The title of the story seized my attention immediately: Existence of 200 ‘uncontacted’ tribal people in Brazilian rainforest confirmed.

I clicked the link and started reading:

The Brazilian government has confirmed the existence of about 200 unidentified tribal people in the Amazon rainforest.

Satellite pictures in January revealed this community was living near the border with Peru. A flight expedition over the area in April confirmed that they are about 200 in numbers.

Along with Survival International Funai, an organization working for tribal people’s rights worldwide, Brazilian authorities found that these people are living in three clearings in the Javari Valley in the western Amazon.

According to Fabricio Amorim, who led Funai’s overflight expedition, illegal fishing, hunting, logging, mining, cattle ranching, missionary actions, drug trafficking and oil exploration on the Peru-Brazil border area are the main threats to the well-being of this community and their dwellings.

Brazil follows a policy not to contact these people, instead monitor their land so that they can live without any risk.

The community and its four straw-roofed huts were spotted in the Javari Valley, which is believed to be hiding around 2000 uncontacted tribes in the world.

Eh?! What?!

Missionaries, right there among ranchers and drug traffickers, threaten the well-being of these people. 😯

Threaten, mind you! 🙄

As a former MK (missionary kid) and a former missionary and a current mission board member, I hope missionaries get the Gospel to these folks soon.

Well, to see some aerial photos of the community, click the above link.

Then, for a personal challenge, see if you can locate those tribal people using publicly-available satellite imagery on the Web. 🙂

Fun at Dollar Tree

Do you know how to have fun at Dollar Tree?

Check out this cropped image I just “lifted” there:

Fun in Dollar Tree

Hold it, hold it.

We’re allowed to do that at Dollar Tree?!

Ruby and I were there less than an hour ago…and I had no idea!

Oh well.

Disclaimer: The link above is where the full image is for the cropped image above. Well, it was there at the time of my visit, anyway.

Singing Senior Speech

Josiah Boss, the Man of the EPCS 2011 Graduating Class:

His dad graduated from the same school in 1981. Said father has the unfortunate distinction of being “my” very first graduate.

Thirty years ago!

Where’s my cane?

PS: The applause may have been an historic first for such events at our school.

Feds Must Speak Plain English

Feds must stop writing gibberish under new law

One of my first thoughts upon reading that headline: “Yeah, right.”

Reflecting current family realities, another thought wasn’t long in coming: “Where do I apply?”

My thoughts aside, here’s some of what Calvin Woodward had to write for the AP:

The federal government is rolling out a new official language of sorts: plain English.

That’s right: Pursuant to regulations promulgated thereunder and commencing in accordance with a statute signed herein by President Barack Obama, the government shall be precluded from writing the pompous gibberish heretofore evidenced, to the extent practicable.

That sentence contains 11 new language no-nos.

Obama signed the Plain Writing Act last fall after decades of effort by a cadre of passionate grammarians in the civil service to jettison the jargon.

It takes full effect in October, when federal agencies must start writing plainly in all new or substantially revised documents produced for the public.

The government will still be allowed to write nonsensically to itself.

Now that is a funny line. And telling, too. But never mind. Read it all

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Above all, love God!