March 27, 2004 by s.z.

Best Headline of the Day I have to applaud Jonah Goldberg for taking the brave and unpopular stand that it's wrong for terrorists to pressure teens into becoming suicide bombers.  And maybe he's right about the need for After School Specials on the subject of standing up to the "peer pressure" of "self-vaporization and murder" (kids, just say no to killing yourself and others).  But am I a bad person for being amused at the headline WorldNetDaily gives to the story? Jonah Goldberg cites case of teen boy strapping on bomb after promise of virgins Of course, WorldNetDaily is your stop for Ben Shapiro and Kyle Williams, so maybe they just have virgins on the brain.  And strap-ons. 6:16:19 PM

Comments From Pete M. and Elayne R. to be Made Into Movie Okay, after reading about the man who reportedly confessed to murdering his girlfriend after seeing The Passion of the Christ, I suggested that the film be used as an interrogation tool (scroll down to "Starsky and Christ").  Pete M. told us in the comments section of his own powerful experience with the movie.  Elayne Riggs (who blogs at Pen-Elayne on the Web) proposed a contest where we would tell our own miraculous tales of how the movie healed our bunions and gave us winning lotto numbers.  But then she found (via Tbogg) that there was already a site which asked people to tell these tales (Elayne and Tbogg suggested you might want to share your totally-true stories there -- you know, to help others accept Mel Gibson's movie as their personal savior). Well, apparently those remarks from Pete, Elayne, and Tbogg were just  the inspiration that the website creators needed, and now they're going to make a documentary about the wonderous events caused by Passion viewing (buit probably not to include the deaths, or the the story provided by Maja, who blogs at Omnium, about the guy who nailed himself to a home-made cross and then called the paramedics for help).  Here's part of the WorldNetDaily story: 'THE PASSION' UNLEASED  Documentary to show lives changed by film  Viewers of Gibson's movie claim it has produced 'miracles' A new documentary is in the works to prove Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ" has produced miracles in the lives of its viewers. Makers of "Changed Lives: Miracles of the Passion" say they have interviews with people who claim the controversial film has changed them, reports MSNBC columnist Jeannette Walls. They want more people for the documentary and ask on a website (http://www.miraclesofthepassion.com) for stories of "miracles" such as "a marriage being rescued, an addict who was set free, a Jew who now accepts Jesus as Messiah, someone who experienced physical or emotional healing, and so on." Executive Producer Jody Eldred told MSNBC's "The Scoop" column, "We have gone to websites where there are in excess of 70,000 stories about how people were touched by this film, so we have plenty to choose from."  He said the documentary has no affiliation with Mel Gibson's Icon Productions, but he has been working closely with Icon. "They've seen the trailer," he said. "They think it's a cool thing. We have their blessings." You know, I haven't seen the The Passion, but reading about it did cure a paper cut I had on my index finger.  Yes, I cut my finger on an envelope, read a Frank Rich column on the film, and a week later the cut was gone!  But maybe that would count as a Frank Rich miracle. In any case, I'm apparently not geographically desireable, and so I won't get a chance to tell my story for the camera.  Here, per the "Miracles of the Passion" website, are their current needs: URGENT! Do you live in the greater New York, NY or Los Angeles, CA areas? If so, please contact Associate Producer Anne Sharp immediately with your story at (310) 600-9247 ASAP or email:stories@miraclesofthepassion.com as we are urgently seeking stories in those locations! So, if you are an aspiring actor who lives in NYC or LA, here's your big chance to break into show biz!  If you need help coming up with an appropriate miracle, here are a few suggestions: During a screening you found a Jujube that resembles Mel Gibson. The movie helped you to better understand your children, by showing you that they are possessed by demons. The movie cured your agrophobia, but left you with a morbid fear of eye-pecking crows. The movie caused you to confess to have ignored al Qaeda to focus on Iraq, and to have unfairly maligned Richard Clarke.  Oh, and if you're a women in Montclair, NJ, the movie people are desperately seeking you: SEEKING A WOMAN IN Montclair, New Jersey: A woman went to an abortion clinic in Montclair, NJ, and while waiting in the waiting room, she looked out the clinic window across the street-- and saw a theater marquee that read "Coming Soon-- The Passion of The Christ." She was convicted in her heart, got up, and left the clinic, saving the life of her unborn child!  Do you know this woman? We would like to share her wonderfully courageous story of redemption with the country... please call Anne at (310) 600-9247 ASAP if you have any information on this story! Well, I don't have any info on the woman, but I do know (because I saw it on "The Outer Limits") that the child later grows up to invent the biological weapon that destroys all life on the planet.  So, it's not as good a story as you might think at first. If YOU have a powerful testimony about something life changing that happened to you that would encourage others to see the film-- we need your story!   What Kind of Stories Are We Looking For? We are looking for all kinds of stories... everything from simple, heart-warming stories to extreme stories... stories that will encourage others to go see the film and be changed too! Here are a few examples of the kind we might be interested in:   "I was raised in church, but never really got it. After seeing this movie, I can't ever look at the cross the same way again. I will never be the same..."   "I have always been an angry person, but seeing how Jesus forgave those who tortured him, I'm now really trying to forgive those who've hurt me, and I've made peace with several people already..."   "My marriage was on the rocks, but while seeing the film, I realized how much God cared for me and He is healing that relationship-- we've decided to work it out..."   "I was an addict, but after the movie I stopped cold turkey-- God has removed the cravings completely!" "Now I finally truly understand what Jesus suffered on my behalf... I will never see Communion -- the body and blood of Christ-- the same way..." "I used to suffer from a chronic disease, but while watching the movie I was instantly healed!" Each story is different and uniquely personal, and we look forward to receiving yours! And so do we.  So, tell your story here, and maybe World O'Crap will use if for a movie.  Hey, anything is possible, and the power of your comments is indeed powerful -- as demontrated by Elayne and Pete.  5:31:22 PM