Penecostals and the damage they do in the developing world

I am so angry right now I could spit. Since Penecostal missionaries have brought their faith to West Africa they have done in inordinate amount of damage that anyone who calls themselves a Christian must decry.

Penecostal beliefs in Satan and possessions have blended with traditional African beliefs of witchcraft and sorcery to create a violent and volatile mix where children are tortured and accused of being witches and killed or ostrasized.

Deteriorating environmental conditions as a result of the oil industry in the Akwa Ibom state in southeastern Nigeria have caused residents of this impoverished area to cast blame on innocent children for unexplained deaths, poor fishing returns, lack of money, and simply unrealized dreams. Children are held by churches, beaten, starved, and often murdered because they are believed to be the root of all of the problems.

There are two groups working on this issue, CRARN (Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network) and Stepping Stones Nigeria. If you consider yourself a Christian, instead of giving money for more missionaries to go overseas or to build a church that no one needs, why don't you contribute some money to undo some of the damage that other Christians have wreaked upon this world. Now that I would like to see.

Also, if you want to learn about this for yourself, watch the HBO documentary called Saving Africa's Witch Children.

The Judge! I love Baltimore!

So earlier this week I decided to use the "search and record" function on my DVR to look for shows about Baltimore, my home town. I found an episode of American Gangster featuring Melvin Williams of Baltimore, also known as the man who brought heroin to the city.

Imagine my surprise when about 11 minutes in, The Judge (he shows up at 1:24 on the karaoke video), as in the Judge who has been oddly singing karaoke around the city for years, was interviewed several times throughout the episode. Squealing with delight I called the one person I knew would recognize him from the karaoke singing days of yore at the now-defunct Kelly's (crabs and karaoke, really what more could you ask for?).

So, if you're interested in the backstory behind the creation of The Wire (based on Melvin's criminal exploits) (another footnote, Melvin played the Deacon of the church in The Wire - he was great) or The Judge (yes, all caps are needed), watch these videos.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am debating posting a video of me singing "Rhinestone Cowboy" at Kelly's last year. I may be worse than The Judge.
Thoughts?
Nevermind, I'll do it and if there is political fallout, so be it.