So after a bit of “Wouldn’t it be cool” discussion, I decided to write a quick Yahoo! Widget simply named News Alloy Checker to handle this situation. Thanks a bunch to Mark for the widget’s nifty look:

After enough time there, I opened my mind to country music. I don’t think I’ve listened to any country music since we left Alabama on purpose. But this show I saw reminded me that I did have a few favorites that still stick with me. It also introduced me to a song I’d never heard, but what immediately became one of my country favorites. The song is called “Long Black Train” by Josh Turner.

Aside from how well he sings it, the lyrics really stuck to me. I mean, in a believer’s walk we all struggle with sin from time to time. Check it out:

There’s a long black train
Coming down the line
Feeding off the souls that are lost and cryin’
Rails of sin only evil remains
Watch out brother for that long Black Train

Look to the heavens
You can look to the skies
You can find redemption
staring back into your eyes
There is protection and there is peace the same
burnin’ your ticket for that Long Black Train

‘Cause there’s victory in the lord i say
Victory in the lord
Cling to the father and his holy name
and don’t go riding on that long Black Train

There’s an engineer on that long black train
making you wonder if the ride is worth the pain
He’s just a waitin on your heart to say
“Let me ride on that long black train.”

But you know there’s victory in The Lord I say
victory in The Lord
Cling to the father and His holy name
and dont go riding on that long Black Train

Well I can hear the whistle from a mile away
it sounds so good
but I must stay away
that train is a beauty makin’ everybody stare
but its only destination is the middle of nowhere

But you know theres victory in The Lord I say
victory in The Lord
Cling to the father and His holy name
and dont go riding on that long Black Train
I said cling to the father and His holy name
and don’t go ridin on that long black train

Ya, watch out brother for that long black train
that devil’s a drivin’ that long black train.

My dad was a surprisingly adept hunter. He knew how to mask human smells from the deer naturally, where to sit, etc etc. But at least we were using some level of hunting skill to get our meal that day.

I saw this article about how technology is pushing the envelope in the hunting world and I continue to be amazed at the things we’re doing with technology. I mean, as a technological concept, “hunting” from the comfort of your living room is pretty interesting. But seriously, what’s the next step? Dare I ask. Or when you think of it … is this just another one of those concepts derived from our military? I mean, this is basically what we’re doing with finding and eliminating enemies from afar, right?

Crazy world we live in, that’s for sure.

These screenshots from Black & White II just crack me up.

B&W2 has a really crappy website layout… but the game looks pretty amusing.

Word has it that the upcoming S.W.A.T. 4 will enable co-operative play for certain scenarios. If the post-game reviews look good, this might be a fun one.