The Week That Was

Today in Maple Ridge with a rare snowfall.

David Pailin at Manchester stated when I returned in a new year: (Paraphrased) 'I thought you would have been under snow in Canada'. Ah, the importance of doing research...;)

1. Photos Again

On my other blog, one post ago I stated the following in main body: 

Satire And Theology 

'In regard to my other, main blog. Had a complaint via email, I think based on Stat Counter, although it could be redirected, from Boulder, Colorado. Often times Site Meter will state nothing for location, or one location and Stat Counter another. Sometimes they agree. Stat Counter has more locations listed, but I think Site Meter is probably more accurate, based on when I think I know the person, more often. A photographer was 'appalled' that I used some of his photos that he claims were undocumented. They were among my oldest photos from my desktop photos from several computers ago. He claimed I 'stole'. I deleted them from my photos and my posts at once. I explained I did not steal as I documented as from Google Images and his name was on them. That kind of documentation is common ethical practice today. Even so, I do not want to offend anyway or damage rights, so I will likely post shared Facebook and Google+ photos from now on and photos from share sites. Trekearth seems ambiguous as I saw no warning on their site having looked more than once and yet Wikipedia states trekearth photos are not meant to be shared for sites which seems strange. Their site exists to share photos...' 

End citation from Satire And Theology

Further, I have worked through, mainly on the other blog, but both blogs, eliminating many 'Google Images'. Especially on more relatively popular posts. 

Chucky and Bobby were visiting Saturday night and discussing this issue, Chucky, a software tester was ethically appalled by all the parsing that can take place on the web in regard to copyright and noted that basically 'everyone breaks the law' with the level of lack of enforcement of supposed or actual copyright laws and the lack of ethical clarity provided.

Bobby reasoned I should make no changes on my blogs in regard to images at all. 

I have, however, decided at a more conservative approach, attempting a high level of ethics.

I apologize for changes in material in some cases if it was appreciated by readers, but I am replacing any deleted images with equal quality material where possible.

No, I do not plan on using my own amateur photos most of the time, as noted above there are other sources.

Blackburn's noting of 'kinds of problems encountered' in regard to ethics (Blackburn 1996: 126),  is a philosophical reminder that although certainly there can be ethical and moral right and wrong (especially from a Christian, Biblical worldview) there are in this realm and world, grey/gray areas in ethics.

I reason this the case with web-based copyright.

2. Crazy?

A friend explained to me that a mutual friend thought I was crazy, or like, to have public blogs.

The concern, and a quite reasonable, justifiable one, that I could or would be damaging my career in regard to being hired by an academic institution, church or ministry.

I can state from interaction that a President or like of a major Christian academic institution told me by email that although they did not have work for me, he respected my significant blogging ministry.

A Pastoral leader at one of the churches I am now attending stated I demonstrated significant ministry skill and theological skill with my blogs.

I have had Christian ministers with Doctorates and Master's degrees and persons in para-church ministry state my blogs have significant value.

I have been asked, based on my Blogging, to assist a para-church ministry with their blog.

I have advised.

I have never received a negative recommendation from a significant person in Christian ministry to close my blogs down or to make significant changes.

I use my blogs as ministry and teaching, as a way of advancing my abilities in Theology, Philosophy and Biblical Studies. and as an online social outlet.

The level of work is generally difficult, with both blogs, although at times in different ways.

Satire and humour is used, in part to demonstrate to observers that I have everyday relatability.

The humour is family-orientated as much as possible.

However, on both blogs at times I reason it needed to deal with some more serious darker issues.

To be an anonymous Blogger, as I was when I began is not ethically wrong as such, but it lacks a certain degree of credibility because it is as if one is not willing to stand behind his/her work publicly. Readers can also ponder on how trustworthy anonymous writers are. I have read this on professional sites and it is not just my opinion.

As I have noted, I revise often and am learning. But ministry has a price and is challenging. I realize one can take public criticism if he/she is not anonymous. I also realize that many persons have non-ministry main employment and do not wish employers to read related controversial online material.

However, that means Blogs should be researched, accurate, careful and respectful in what is written.

I follow these.

I am professional, restrained and revise.

I conclude, I am still ethically and pragmatically correct to be publicly blogging.

3. Team Canada

Facebook: February 23, 2014

Canada wins its second straight Olympic Gold medal in men's ice hockey. The third win in five Olympic tournaments since the tournament featured National Hockey League, best versus best players. The Czech Republic and Sweden winning the other two Olympic competitions. Many in the Canadian professional hockey media are stating, and with good reason, as the 2014 Olympic Champions were undefeated and only gave up three goals in six games, that this is the best Team Canada ever. 

My philosophical concern of the Canadian professional hockey media is simply comparing the Olympic teams only, in the best Team Canada discussion.

There have been several other best versus best competitions, historically:

There is the Summit Series of 1972, which featured Canada versus the Soviet Union. Won by Canada. This team is sometimes mentioned, being the most famous.

There are Canada Cups in 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1991. Canada winning all but the 1981 series, won by the Soviet Union.

The Canada Cup became the World Cup, won by the United States in 1996 and Canada in 2004.

At the time, I remember some stating that the 2004 Team Canada team was the best ever. That team also going undefeated.

But this best verses best tournament seems largely unmentioned. I did not hear or read anything about it in regard to comparisons from the three major Canadian networks following Olympic hockey.

I am not opining at all, in regard to which team may be better the 2014 Olympic team or the 2004 World Cup team.

The 1991 team was undefeated but did not win every game.

The 1976 and 1987 Canada Cup teams were perhaps, according to experts, the two most talent teams, although not undefeated.

My conclusion is that often more research should be done by Canadian professional hockey broadcasters, and writers before opining on issues on best team, or greatest team.

Lack of research and related reflection also being a philosophical and theological problem in forming reasonable, educated opinions is other areas of life as well, including academic.

To digress, therefore by National Hockey League reasoning, with the tremendous success financially of the seven Canadian based clubs in comparison to the average American based team, and the success and support for the National Team, Team Canada; the League may according to most media reports place the next franchise through expansion or relocation in...

Seattle.

And according to some reports perhaps Las Vegas, building a new NHL style arena, is now ahead of Quebec City and their new NHL style arena under construction in be awarded a franchise after Seattle.

As noted previously on my blogs, I see the National Hockey League's philosophical obsession, being a primarily United States based League, as similar to a religious type devotion to a concept, regardless of significant evidence.

The owners and commissioner's office want more teams in the United States to grow the game and gain more new fans.

Whereas I reason by evidence and reason, more new supporters of clubs would be created in areas where there is already a significant hockey culture in place and hockey not being behind other sports in popularity as it is in the United States.

Therefore new clubs in Canada would in general create a larger overall fan base and more revenue and franchise value than would more new teams in America,.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.