Confessions of the Mad Cleric

Bush Nominee for High Court - Part Deux

2005-10-03T15:30:00.000-04:00

Well you know that when Harry Reid agrees with President Bush, we are in trouble; yet the Democratic leader seems to like Ms. Harriet Miers as the latest nomination to the Supreme Court. According to a story by the San Francisco Chronicle, Reid "praised Miers, a graduate of Southern Methodist University, former president of the Texas State Bar Association and former Dallas City Council member, for her practical experience as a lawyer and her lack of an Ivy League resume." Wait a minute there, Harry! Doesn't Hillary, the heir apparant to the Democrat throne have an Ivy League resume? Is this an indication that the Reidmeister is shifting to the right? I highly doubt it.

Now I agree that the endorsement of Harry Reid should not reflect badly on Ms. Miers but it may not help President Bush in the future either. In a time when many on the right were hoping for a staunch conservative to replace Justice O'Connor, the thought of a nominee chosen to pacify the left will not be viewed as the act of a hard line, Republican President. With a majority in both the House and Senate, as well as a majority of state governors, one would think that the White House would seize the day, but this doesn't seem to be the case.

It will be interesting to see what party conservatives say in public - whether they back the President in his choice or not. Some will undoubtedly be nice and support him, while others may be totally honest with their views; either way it is going to make for some good times around the nation's water coolers for the next few months.

Then again, at least Senator Reid is happy...

Bush Nominee for High Court

2005-10-03T09:53:00.000-04:00

Well now that the President has made his choice for the second open seat on the Supreme Court, we can begin another few months of political wrangling and questioning. However the fact that Mr. Bush has chosen Harriet Miers, whom in fact has never been a judge, ought to drive everyone crazy trying to guess how she will lean on issues before the court. There are no judicial decisions to look at, or cases to read; just her past as a lawyer and White House counsel.

This will undoubtedly become a major issue for Republicans and Democrats alike, as they all try to determine if this appointment will further either party's agendas. With his leanings to the center by the President lately, some conservatives may see this as a progressive trend to appease the left. On the other hand, as a close confidant and counselor Ms. Miers may give the liberals reason to believe that G.W. is just trying to make Washington another Dallas. Either way, only the President knows what in fact is true.

Unfortunately, no one will really know the fallout from such a nomination until it is too late and the first real test most likely won't come until sometime next year. Until then, I think the conservative Republicans ought to begin realizing that they have held power in Washington for nearly eight years - and really have nothing to show for it. 2008 is coming quickly, and either the Republicans wake up and start doing some serious stratigizing, or just give up and let the liberals take over.

Who's to Blame for Societal Woes?

2005-09-29T23:02:00.000-04:00

In the Rule of Benedict (yes, St. Benedict the father of Western Monasticism) there is a reminder of how responsible each of us is for our own actions. In Chapter VII of the Rule, entitled Of Humility, he wrote:

“Therefore, in order that he may always be on his guard against evil thoughts, let the humble brother always say in his heart: "Then I shall be spotless before Him, if I shall keep myself from iniquity" (Ps 18:24).”

In other words, in order to guard myself against evil, I ought to remind myself that I will only be seen as blameless before God if I keep MYSELF away from doing wicked things. This means that no one else is responsible for my actions; no one else is responsible for making sure I do what is right; no one else is responsible for what I do or don’t do. I can’t blame the school system, or the government, or my neighborhood, or my parents, or even those radicals on talk radio. If I am to remain on God’s good side, then I myself must strive to do all that is good.

How different that is from modern society, where it is customary to expect others to do what is right. So many individuals and groups today, proclaim to be victims of “the system”. No one is made responsible for their own lives anymore; no one is held accountable for choices they make. If little Bobby is disruptive in class and can’t read, it’s thought to be because he’s ADHD and can’t concentrate in school. If little Sally gets pregnant at the age of 14, it’s apparently because those nasty fundamentalists wouldn’t allow condoms to be handed out in her classroom. But then how can we expect the kids to be good anyway; Mom works all day because the evil automobile corporations make minivans so awfully expensive, and Dad has no time for the family because his college educated boss makes him work too hard. It is amazing that they can ever get together to watch “Survivor” on that 52” HD television of theirs, let alone have quality time at McDonalds on Sunday mornings which by the way, forces them to miss church. Oh the horror of it all!

In all seriousness, we live in a swamp of decaying morals because people are allowed to blame everyone else for what happens to them. If people were actually expected to take responsibility for the choices they make and the actions they take, the nation would be a different place; a better place. Just imagine what it would be like to know that the taxes you pay on the wages you earn would be used for something other than paying refunds to people without jobs and earned incomes. Or think upon the possibilities that could abound in a society where criminals were actually punished, and law abiding citizens were rewarded; where true patriots were honored, and those who endorse our enemies were exiled; where Presidents who uphold the law are praised, while those who desecrate the Oval Office are cast into political oblivion.

But who am I kidding? As an educated, over forty male who has a job, an SUV, and a mortgage, the cause of our present societal ills is as plain as the nose on Barbara’s face: it’s my fault. After all, didn’t I vow to uphold the Constitution that guarantees victims’ rights when I was a war mongering Navy member? It’s MY fault! I (along with all my Western European ancestors) am the reason for the curse upon our land. I guess St. Benedict just didn't get it.

Excuse me while I go whip myself with leather straps (mea culpa, mea culpa…)

Enough Already!

2005-09-28T08:47:00.000-04:00

With so much political finger pointing over the problems in Louisiana, I can’t help but wonder when those illustrious leaders will quit whining, and actually get to work helping the people they represent. Having lived in Algiers, directly across the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans, I have a soft spot in my heart for the folks who live there. Not everyone in New Orleans conducted themselves in the manner displayed by the media, and now we are finding out that not all of the horror stories reported even took place.

So, Mr. Mayor, Madame Governor, and all you others who wish to blame everyone else just need to get over it. Face it – a disaster took place in your city, the situation was made worse by a lack of proper preparation, and now you need to get to work putting it all back together. That’s it! All the federal monies in Washington will not replace the lost lives, or the lost respect you have brought to yourselves and the New Orleans metropolitan area.

By the way, while I am addressing people who will probably never read this: Mr. President, please don’t make this out to be a federal government issue. States’ rights are a dear part of southern life, and most of us realize that with such rights comes responsibility. Look at the examples of Mississippi, Texas and Florida; not at Louisiana. The federal government has a bigger job to do protecting the citizens of this great nation, so please keep that as your primary goal.

I am planning on this being the last you hear from me on this issue. There are other situations taking place in this wonderful place called America, which need to be remembered and addressed; my focus will shift to those from now on.

(Photo courtesy of WDSU.com)

Looting and Piracy on the Net

2005-09-26T11:04:00.000-04:00

One of the big, yet unfortunate stories that came out of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina was that of all the looting. People were breaking into, or just walking into stores and taking anything they could get their hands on; knowing it was illegal. Why? Because they could, I guess, even though they knew what they were doing was morally wrong because they were taking advantage of the situation to acquire what was not rightfully theirs.

Well my dear friends, there is another type of looting going on, only this is not taking place in a city, but here on the net. People, who have no scruples, are using the comment block on blogs as “free” advertising space. They are taking advantage of the popularity of the blogosphere, and using it for profit, while those of us who write the blogs are doing all the work and (sometimes) paying all the fees.

I would like to keep my comment block open, so that everyone who reads my thoughts can comment openly. However because of the tacky way some folks have used this, I may be forced to close down that portion leaving no forum for open debate. Therefore if you read this blog, even semi-regularly, and also feel that these scum-sucking leeches have overstepped their bounds, please let the folks at blogspot.com know. Perhaps we can come up with a way to keep these looters off of the blogs.

In the meantime, I hope you continue to enjoy reading my thoughts and insights.

Multiple Reasons for Living in Nebraska

2005-09-23T12:28:00.000-04:00

Lord, Please Be Merciful

2005-09-21T17:41:00.000-04:00

May God's mercy and grace be with all of those in the path of Hurricane Rita; particularly those still recovering from the wrath of Katrina.

May His wisdom guide those in charge of agencies whose task it is to protect the lives of others, to respond to crisis situations, and to maintain the good order and discipline of their communities.

Should destruction be in the wake of such power, may God's peace and healing swiftly follow.

Political Sympathy Run Amuck

2005-09-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

With all of the ongoing discussion about Hurricane Katrina, I am wondering what is going to happen if Rita does anything similar. Will the politicization of natural disasters become the norm, or will some form of rational thinking return? Will we need to rebuild all of Minneapolis if any portion of it is damaged by a blizzard? Will we need to give billions of dollars to people who live in Denver if a part of the Rocky Mountains have more wild fires next summer?

Believe me; I do feel sympathy for those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods as a result of Hurricane Katrina. But my gut fear is that every disaster that comes along will now become the basis for more government intervention, and massive amounts of federal spending. With every calamity that hits, I am afraid that we will have folks screaming for more money, and more handouts. Pretty soon the ACLU will say that it is unfair for God to create natural disasters, and they will call for the Supreme Court to “reinterpret the Constitution” so He won’t be allowed to have any control over creation.

I would like to know why we haven’t heard about those areas that are already being cleaned up by ordinary people who are willing to do what needs to be done to get on with life. I have seen reports indicating that not all of New Orleans was seriously damaged, such as Loyola University; and already there have been reports that the French Quarter has businesses running. So why are all the talking heads yapping about “rebuilding New Orleans” if the whole city doesn’t need it? Why is the White House willing to hand over billions of dollars without some form of accountability or plan? Who is really in charge here?

I personally feel that much of the government’s good will, including President Bush’s, has been a knee jerk reaction to an over zealous media, and a whole bunch of political whining. It has been a scramble to keep popularity numbers up, while not taking the time to really assess the situation accurately which will end up hurting the Republicans in 2008.

I guess the best I can hope for is that as all of this plays out, that in the end Senator Zell Miller gets the Presidential nomination for the Democrats. If not, I may need to move to New Zealand.

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-09-16T13:42:00.000-04:00

"Geez! Where did I put my sunglasses?"

Blogs Can Now Be "Googled"

2005-09-15T10:33:00.000-04:00

I am not as big of a “Google” junkie as some of my friends, but I do use their services a lot, and I am always amazed when they come out with something new. In this case, I feel especially excited because this affects me directly…or at least it affects this blog.

Now folks can find all the reading material they may ever need, by simply going to www.google.com/blogsearch. All you have to do is put in the name of the author, the name of the blog, or a particular subject matter and up will pop a usual Google type listing; only this one has blogs and blog articles that match whatever your heart desires. For example, if one searches for “the Mad Cleric”, one receives not only the address of this blog, but a listing of all the articles I have ever placed here.

This is really a great service because it creates an avenue for little blogs such as this to get found by more people, but more than that it allows those of us who like to read others’ thoughts a way to find them without doing random searches for information. In fact I put “Ted Kennedy” in as the search item, and came up with 11,485 references – everything from political satire, to serious discussions about the senator’s record on the hill; some of it positive and some of it negative. This new search engine is truly a researcher’s dream come true.

Of course part of being on Google’s radar, and ultimately everyone else’s in the world, is that bloggers (me included) may have to raise the level of our writing. We need to realize that what we put on our computer screens may now be seen by millions more people than we ever imagined, which may in turn require us to seriously accept the responsibility such exposure demands. Our thoughts, our words, and our ideas may now be seen, read, and critiqued on a global scale without us ever knowing it.

Sure it will mean more pressure to write well, and often; but hey, to quote Steve Martin: “I’M SOMEBODY NOW!”

Geography, Algebra, and Uneducated Journalists

2005-09-13T22:16:00.000-04:00

The Associated Press, in writing about The Old Farmer’s Almanac, has once again proven that basic knowledge is not required for modern journalism, and although my observation may seem petty, I feel it is justified.

In an article about the almanac it is stated, ”If the Almanac and its traditional "80 percent" accurate weather forecasts are on the mark, residents of the northeastern half of the country should brace for a winter that's colder and snowier than normal.”

Now I was not great, in fact I wasn’t even good in Algebra. But I do remember that if one were to split a plane with both an “X” and a “Y” axis, then one creates four smaller planes called quadrants. A compass, with points north, south, east, and west, is basically made-up the same way with the quadrants being northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest.

With all that said, I am trying to figure out how the author of this piece ever came up with “the northeastern half of the country”, when the northeast geographically only makes up one quarter of the country. Does this mean that the AP only recognizes the north as the whole of American, or maybe just the east? Or could it just be an indication of an absolute lack of simple geographical knowledge, and basic algebraic functions?

In a time when liberals are calling for more money for public education, and the teachers’ unions are screaming for better pay, it seems to me that they would ensure such mistakes would not be made. When professional journalists for the Associated Press are allowed to make such fundamental errors in their writing, it only makes them and all their supporters appear that much less intelligent and not very trustworthy.

For Mary: Happy Birthday!

2005-09-13T06:05:00.000-04:00

Image courtesy of www.dreamcircle.com

It's a Left-wing Conspiracy, I Tell You!

2005-09-12T21:48:00.000-04:00

It seems that someone stole a 400-pound elephant sculpture from Dennis and Myrna Starr of Natick, Massachusetts. At least they figure it was stolen, since they noticed it was missing and probably determined it didn’t just walk off. Police don’t seem to have a motive or a suspect…yet.

Now this story really intrigues me; although it is not because someone stole a 400-pound sculpture worth an estimated $2,500, or because no one seems to have noticed anyone moving such a huge object. No, I am intrigued that anyone in Massachusetts was ever allowed to have an elephant sculpture in the first place.

This is the land of Ted Kennedy and John Kerry; the land of the donkey party! I figured that any semblance of an elephant would be outlawed, and that even the zoo in Boston would not be allowed to have a pachyderm exhibit. After all not only is the elephant the symbol of the Republican Party, but someone may think it humorous to paint all the elephants in Massachusetts pink just to have fun with Uncle Ted – and that would not be nice.

I think that there was probably a top secret, covert operation that was used to remove Mr. and Mrs. Starr’s elephant sculpture, put in place by the Massachusetts Democratic Party. In fact, I will almost bet they took the sculpture fully believing that such items are a public nuisance, just like those nasty sculptures of the Ten Commandments that keep popping up.

If I were Mr. Starr, I would start looking for my elephant in and around the state capitol – but beware! The followers of Ted and John may find out that Mr. Starr is a long, lost relative of Ken…and we all know what he tried to do to St. William.

Lest We Forget the Truth

2005-09-12T08:21:00.000-04:00

Four years ago, thousands died in possibly the worst attack our nation has ever experienced. It was an attack that seemed to come out of nowhere, by a group that is bent on our annihilation, and who will not stop until they either destroy us or we destroy them.

Now, just two weeks after the terrible devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina, politicians are using both as platforms to attack the present federal administration as if the two were alike. Granted both are horrific reminders of our mortality; both are witnesses to absolute misery and pain. However, that is where the two stop being alike.

The actions of 9/11 were brought on by fanatics who feel that they have a divine right to destroy human life, based only on their hatred for our culture. Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster, that can not be blamed on anyone – though many are trying.

For the sake of the survivors of both tragedies, and the families of those who did not survive, we need to make sure that we do not forget what caused the deaths of 9/11 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. We can not allow the politics of our nation to desecrate the memories of thousands by using both of these events to further agendas, and create barriers that so many have struggled to remove.

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-09-08T21:06:00.000-04:00

The Outback Version of a Jackalope?

Perception Isn't Just a Kayak

2005-09-07T21:51:00.000-04:00

Moving from one coast of Florida to another can literally change one’s perspective of the world around us. It almost seems twisted, like trying to follow a moebius strip, or making sense of Shepard Smith's reporting last week. I mean it’s odd driving toward the beach, and seeing the electronic compass in my SUV point west; or to watch the sun SET on the ocean rather than rise. My perspective – my view – has changed, which set me to thinking about the different ways people perceive things these days.

For example, the mayor of New Orleans feels that no one in the federal government did enough for him and his constituents during the recent tragedy there, and has made sure everyone outside of the Irish Channel knows it. That is his perspective, which is probably not the way many in the federal government (or this author) views the situation. Then there are folks like Sean Penn and Oprah who perceive the same situation through their narcissistic and overly wealthy eyes, pointing fingers at everyone else and making sure the media quotes them over and over and over again. They see the entire world around them as only a reflection of their own magnificent, but humble, glory…again, not as this author sees it.

But there are other perceptions making news these days, such as the way people see John Roberts. The liberals see him only as some right-wing, anti-abortion, Republican puppet; placed in a position of power so he can overturn every leftist decision ever handed down (as if he really had that much power). Those to the right of center see someone who at the most, may help balance out the Supreme Court and make it once again a body whose task is to interpret, not re-write the Constitution of the United States.

Then there is spirituality, which is just another “warm fuzzy” word for religion, for those folks who don’t like to follow rules. Newsweek did a whole article last week about how Americans are seeking God in diverse, and unconventional ways; trying to experience God; trying to really KNOW God. Well the last time I looked, one must first believe in God before one can know God, but I guess that is just my perception since even the newest United Methodist ad suggests that folks should just “find their path” and share it with others in the Methodist Church. That’s like putting a Canadian tourist behind the wheel of an RV the size of Rhode Island, pointing them toward the south, and then saying, “find your own way to Disney World”…oh wait, that is what happens.

Anyway, my point is this: everyone has their own way of looking at the events surrounding our lives. The trick is to discern between those who have a full grasp of reality, and those that are living in a world of fantasy. Hint: the one’s who are pushing Hillary to run for president are the one’s whose “path” is really the Yellow Brick Road.

Dinosaurs, Popeye, and What's to Come

2005-09-06T22:16:00.000-04:00

It has been a full month since I last wrote anything for this blog…a month that has been full of newsworthy events: the shuttle launched and came back safely, the Gulf Coast was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, Chief Justice Renquist died, and possibly a future president was born. History has continued to be made; the world has continued to rotate; creation has continued to thrive; humanity has endured. Hundreds of years from now people most likely won’t even remember the events of the past thirty days, although for us these events will have tremendous impact for years to come. I’m sure that for someone back in the early days of man there was a month that to them seemed historically important, though we don’t have any record of it or simply don’t care.

However as one who has had to study history along side theology, I find it amusing that we humans place so much emphasis on our place in this cosmic dance called life. Not that I don’t appreciate life; I just think it’s funny that we feel we are the “center of it all”. After all, whether some of my evangelical brethren like it or not, the world did exist long before humans came along. Why I will bet my brother-in-law’s Porsche Speedster that there isn’t a dinosaur around that feels bad about missing the ascent of man.

Then again, our history – and more precisely our recent history – will have an impact on our future. The Supreme Court needs two (count ‘em, two) justices, which could really change the way that pompous bunch of overpaid lawyers interprets the Constitution. The rebuilding of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast is going to continue to have an effect on everything from gas prices to coffee prices to the price for a two-piece dinner at Popeye’s Fried Chicken. As for the shuttle program, NASA might as well start doing a lot of bake sales and car washes because I’m not sure they are even on Congress’ budget concerns for this or any other year.

So what does all this mean? Not a flipping thing, really. However it is my way of saying that The Mad Cleric is back, and hopefully I won’t need to take another month long break. Now if I can just remember my blasted password…

Good Night, Mr. Jennings

2005-08-08T06:59:00.000-04:00

At one time in my much younger life, I had aspirations of becoming a journalist. I did my time as editor of my high school’s literary magazine, did some art work for our yearbook, and eventually earned a small journalism scholarship that was never used. I even tried to be a journalist for the Navy, though I ended up doing other administrative work in personnel management and education.

I only say all of this to preface some comments about the late Peter Jennings; a man who I honestly admired for his poise and authority in front of a television camera. Granted, he leaned too far to the political left in his news analysis for my tastes, which is probably why he became so high up in the ABC News food chain, but his voice, his demeanor, and his very presence made watching the ABC Evening News bearable. He was a welcome alternative to watching Dan Rather anyway.

If one were to ask if Peter Jennings was a good journalist, I would have to think hard before answering. After all, a journalist is supposed to report the news – not editorialize it (though very few on either side of the conservative/liberal gap really do). However a news anchor is simply supposed to deliver the news in such a way as to make the audience accept it as the truth, good or bad, and that Peter Jennings did very well.

So in spite of my differences with his political views, I salute the late Peter Jennings – a man who rightfully deserves respect for being an expert in his craft.

Headless Chicken Dance

2005-08-05T10:44:00.000-04:00

This has been the proverbial week from Hell. I have spent the first part of the week in one office, and the latter half at another some 300 miles away, while trying to keep the emails and phone calls from both under some control. The old saying, "running around like a chicken with it's head cut off" has become a reality.

Now if you have never had the experience of watching a headless chicken "dance", it is a lot of fun. I first saw one while helping out on my sister's farm when I was about 15. It is amazing how long the body of a chicken can stay in an upright motion, running all around the place, even though it's head is still laying on the chopping block.

Yea, I know...PETA is going to get me for this.

But with that image in mind, I'm hoping all of you who have become faithful readers of this blog will cut me some slack and forgive me for not writing each day this past week. I am a staunch believer that a blog is only good if it is continually updated, and admittedly that has not been the case here. However I do hope to get my schedule under control, and go back to daily updates. Besides, this blog has become a type of therapy for me and I can't afford to pay some quack hundreds of dollars an hour just to tell me I had a rough time getting house broken.

So hang it there, keep checking the site, and if you can...go watch a real chicken run around with it's head cut off. It really is entertaining!

What Were They Thinking?

2005-08-02T07:13:00.000-04:00

I am out of town for my job, but will be back to write tomorrow. In the meantime, here is a picture of every guys "dream" for a place to read. This had to have made with left over tile...

License Plate Politics

2005-07-28T10:14:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth Solomon of Utah has won a “major” court case, in that a judge has declared she can have a license plate that says GAYSROK. The state of Utah plans to appeal, contesting that the plate would open up a whole new forum by which people would try to use their license plates to push various agendas. However for the time being, Ms. Solomon, the mother of a lesbian, got her way and can now tell the world (or at least those around her in traffic) how she feels about gays and lesbians. In the words of the church lady, “isn’t that special”.

With that thought in mind, I decided that I would start of list of personal license plates that I would like to see in the future. Since the judge declared that GAYSROK was not offensive to anyone, I’m claiming judicial precedence just in case anyone from the ACLU is monitoring this site.

So here are a few ideas for new license plates:

ACLUSUX (I am sure this won’t offend anyone either, Judge)

NOABORT (It’s just freedom of speech, right?)

IMSTR8T (Just incase anyone asks)

IMNOGAY (See above)

REPBLCN (Again, just incase anyone asks)

OFF2OZ (For those Democrats who really think Hillary would be a good president)

HUGTHIS (…all you tree-huggin’, enviro-terrorist commies)

GUDSHOT (…and I don’t appreciate being tailgated)

CARNIVOR (Hey, PETA, eat this!)

And finally on behalf of all of my fellow vets of the first Gulf War, and all the brave men and women who are currently serving in our military, I came up with the following:

NUKMALL (…and let Allah sort’em out)

Well that is about all I could come up with for now. If you have any you would like to add, you can either do so through the comments, or you can email them to me by clicking on the email link in my profile. Have fun!

Marriage Isn't Just a Job

2005-07-27T11:56:00.000-04:00

Kathy Thompson, the wife who appeared on Good Morning, America when she “went on strike” in 2002, is now seeking a divorce from her husband of five years, and is asking for $500,000 in back pay for housework done during the marriage. She claims to be doing so for “women’s rights”.

Agreeably, wives (for the most part) do most of the cleaning, laundry, and cooking in a marriage, as well as bear and raise the kids. So I do not doubt that Mrs. Thompson was probably due a greater amount of gratitude and respect than she ever received. However, to try to claim wages from her spouse for everything except “romance” (I’m guessing she can’t charge for that under Indiana law) seems a bit bizarre. After all, if she can charge for housework, then shouldn’t Mr. Thompson be able to charge for room and board?

Just guessing I figure that at $20 per day for food, and $900 per month for housing, Ms. Thompson owes Mr. Thompson about $90,500 (not including clothing, insurance, and medical benefits). Then there is the loss of wages for being on strike in 2002, coupled with any work days lost due to illness, not to mention the filing for divorce which is the same as breaking a contract. So for the sake of “men’s rights”, it appears that $500,000 may be a bit skewed. Either way, one can see where this will add up to nothing more than a divorce lawyer’s dream – and probably a bad, made for TV movie.

All silliness aside, marriage is not employment, nor is it something that can be assessed monetarily. Marriage is a relationship which has value way beyond anything that can be priced, even for publicity purposes. Additionally, divorce is a sad reality of society but not something that should be used as a weapon to push an agenda, or to gain some kind of fame.

I hope that Mr. and Mrs. Thompson can work out their problems, and if not I pray they move on to better lives. In the meantime I must admit that last night it was my turn to do the dishes, and I forgot.

Sorry.

Lizard Politics

2005-07-26T11:35:00.000-04:00

According to a story at Bloomburg.com, a small group of Democrats have gathered to discuss the future of their party. Calling for unity and centrist values, even Miss Hillary herself joined in the fun, reflecting on their "golden Clintonian years".

Looking at some of the points these Nuevo-demos presented, it is obvious that they realize they have lost the support of the American people. They actually propose tax cuts, reduced federal spending, and increases in the military…hey, aren’t these all Republican values? They even want better media entertainment guidelines to protect children.

What it looks like to me, is that this little group of the Democratic elite are trying to play to the millions of U.S. citizens who have turned away from the leftist radicals that have taken over in the donkey party, but I don’t think it’ll wash. After all, any good person knows that a duck dressed like a chicken may lay eggs, but it is still a duck…and a centrist Democrat may propose all kinds of reforms, but that doesn’t change who they are.

Hillary especially, is still the same woman who accused the Republicans of being part of a right-wing conspiracy, who overran the White House travel office, and who helped her impeached husband stay in office so she could later run for the senate. She may have fooled a bunch of New York snobs, but the rest of the country won’t bend over that easy. And it isn’t just Hillary that is trying to fool the country; it is every Democrat that feels it is okay to play the part of a moderate just to gain back the White House and Congress.

So as we get into what appears to be a very interesting political summer, just remember this: chameleons can change their appearance to blend in with any surroundings, just as these pseudo-centrists are doing. However both the chameleon and these sneaky Democrats, no matter what they may appear as, are nothing more than cold-blooded reptilians trying to hide the truth about who they really are.

Adventures in Apartment Hunting.

2005-07-25T11:07:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, due to an upcoming move to another part of Florida, my wife and I went looking for an apartment; which was an adventure to say the least. Beyond the stifling heat, suffocating humidity, and exhausting schedule, we were hit with a development that quite frankly still makes me mad. But allow me to explain…

Upon entering the first rental office, we were greeted by a nice lady who invited us to sit down to chat, and pulling out the standard information card, she asked us our names, contact information, and requested to see our “government issued identification”. We handed her our driver’s licenses, which she looked at and began to copy. She wrote, making small talk as she went; then she gave us back our licenses, and looked up.

“I need to ask you a few questions so that we can pre-qualify you,” the lady began, “then we can look at some models.”

Pre-qualify? Granted the apartments looked nice, and the grounds were well cared for, but I didn’t think I would have to pre-qualify before even looking at one. Worrisome thoughts went zipping through my brain like a bass boat on the opening day of the big tournament. Geez, I hope that late fee from Blockbuster had cleared…and that time 25 years ago when I forgot to pay my phone bill. Why didn’t I pull my free credit report before I left?

As beads of sweat began to form, we each gave the lady the information of estimated salaries, and waited for the verdict that could affect our very existence, or at least where we would live for the next year or so. She got this odd, almost sinister smile on her face and after what seemed to be an eternal pause of silence, the leasing goddess said:

“Oh, you make too much!”

What!? I can’t swim in your pool, play volleyball on your beach sand court, or live in one of your luxurious apartments because I’m too…rich? Did you hear what I make? Do you realize I work for an institution of higher education? I didn’t land a spot on The Apprentice, or win the lottery…could you clarify your last statement, please?

“This is government subsidized housing, and your salaries don’t qualify. But thanks for coming by!” The lady got up, and walked away.

That was it. We could not live in one of the nicest apartment complexes this side of Manhattan, because we made too much money, meaning that our over-taxed income was too great to live in the very apartment we were helping to pay for. I felt slighted – no, I felt angry! We both worked hard to get through college, I served my country in the first Gulf War, I just earned a promotion – but we couldn’t get an apartment because we actually make too much money.

Walking back to the car, I pondered about our fate and tried to figure out what we would do. Living in a new city is scary enough without having to worry about such basics as housing. So I looked at my concerned wife, took her hand, and calmingly said,

“Don’t worry. I’ll quit my job and you can go find a job at some fast-food restaurant. We’ll be okay.”

And with that plan in mind, we went to go pick out a new car.

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-07-22T07:58:00.000-04:00

Having lived out that way, this isn't that far fetched...

The Twelveth Earl of Essex?

2005-07-21T13:45:00.000-04:00

According to the media behemoth, AP, a native Californian may be the next Earl of Essex…in England. It seems the tenth earl died, and the eleventh is old and without kids, so this distant American cousin to the clan may get a “shot at the title”. Of course acceptance of such title would require Mr. Bill Capell to give up his U.S. citizenship, leave the colonies and accept English citizenship; which may not be bad if the perks were worth it. However, the title of Earl of Essex only carries with it a seat in the House of Lords – no salary, no manor, just a seat in English government.

If you have ever stayed up late and watched the British Parliament on C-Span, you know that one of their sessions makes Teddy Kennedy seem quiet. There is so much yelling and stomping that it is more akin to a PTA meeting gone amuck than it is to a high government enclave. The whole idea of “British reserve” must not apply to anyone who steps foot inside the chambers below Big Ben.

Then there is that idea of becoming an English citizen. As much as I can say that the two times I visited England were great, I am not sure giving up being an American just to gain an English title would be worth it. Call me hokey, but being an American is much more valuable to me than any European title – even if there was a manor involved.

But, Bill and his wife Sandra decided they will at least visit the “homeland” to see if they like it. Admittedly, it isn’t everyday that one gets to accept or turn down being an earl, and the vacation might be nice.

I do have two bits of advice for the Capells however, just in case they decide to join the English elite: don’t drive there unless you have to, and make sure you visit an American dentist before you leave. Other than that, congratulations!

Shopping for Sailboats

2005-07-20T21:07:00.000-04:00

For the past few weeks, I have been looking at classified ads for used sailboats which has caused my wife to often give me that “not again…” look as I read them outloud, in bed, as she is trying to sleep.

Now I am not sure how others view used sailboat shopping, but for me it is not like shopping for a used car. After all used cars have the sole purpose of getting me from one point to another, hopefully for two or three years, so there isn’t a sense of attachment placed in shopping for a used car. However shopping for a sailboat is different, because I want my boat to be reliable and sound, as well as be an escape and a second home. Shopping for the right boat is much like looking for a wife – it carries with it that hope that I’ll find the right one the first time, and that I’ll have that sailboat until “death do us part”.

The part that I find most fascinating about used sailboat ads however is the variety of how they are written. No two ads are alike in look or feel, and very few of them have enough information to really help.

For example, I found one ad that spoke of the flat screen television, the solar powered stereo system, and the fact that both could be turned on and off via remote from the cockpit. However, the ad said nothing about the condition of the boat, whether or not it had sails, or if it was even usable as anything other than an entertainment center.

Another ad did give a great listing of what the boat had parts wise, and even had some beautiful pictures of the boat. However the boat is located in one of areas hardest hit by last year’s hurricanes, and all of the pictures were taken prior to 2004 (the ad stated this fact at the very bottom of a long website). So does that mean that now the boat is all but lying in the bottom of some bay still tied to a broken dock?

Then there is the one that simply states, “27’, nice boat that needs minor TLC”. Minor TLC for me means only having to polish some teak and bright work, but somehow I don’t think that is what the seller has in mind.

Obviously an ad is not going to be as helpful as actually seeing the boat; going aboard, starting the engine, looking at the sails, checking the rigging, etc. But they are a start, and for now about all I can really do is look at the ads.

This takes me back to comparing shopping for a sailboat to looking for a wife, in that you really don’t know what you are getting into, until you’ve gotten into it. Gee, I wonder if Harmony.com has a service for matching people up with sailboats. Anyway, I will probably just keep looking at ads, wondering if I will ever find the “perfect boat”…and pray that I get as lucky with a sailboat as I did with my wife.

"Get Off the Phone!"

2005-07-19T09:16:00.000-04:00

“Get off the phone!”

How many of us heard that yelled through the house while we were growing up? Well now some youngsters will be hearing it while driving because a new law in Minnesota, effective January 1, 2006, makes it illegal for teenagers to use cell phones while driving. If stopped and ticketed, the offenders (or most likely their parents) will have to pay $25.

As much as I agree that this is a good law, I don’t think it goes far enough. Frankly, I am not sure that teenagers are the worst offenders of cell phone usage while driving, unless teenagers are now driving over-sized SUVs with little soccer ball decals on the back. So I would suggest that Minnesota, and all other states in this great nation, consider making such a law applicable to anyone who has a cell phone stuck to their head while driving, particularly during rush hour. Perhaps then the middle lane won’t get so backed up due to that one SUV that inevitably goes 20 mph under the speed limit because the driver is on a cell phone talking about Oprah’s latest literary pick, rather than actually concentrating on driving.

Now I don’t think that all people who talk on cell phones while driving abuse the practice, because most either use hands-free accessories, or they are on and off in just a couple of minutes. However there are those who seem to get on their cell phones, and forget that their primary focus should be on driving and not on talking. Any phone conversation over three minutes is obviously going to impair one’s concentration, and that is not just unsafe, it’s unnecessary.

Maybe all cell phones should come with an alarm that goes off at the three minute point, or have a little consistent beeping that just keeps getting louder the longer someone is on their cell phone. That way folks who are driving wouldn’t get so absorbed in the conversation, that they forget that they are moving two tons of steel and fiberglass down a major highway at 70 mph, with about a kazillion other folks all around them doing the same thing.

Oh, and after each state passes a cell phone usage law they can begin to pass laws about other stupid things folks do while they are driving such as: shaving, putting on make-up, reading, working on laptops…

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-07-15T09:46:00.000-04:00

Just another day in paradise...

Beam Me Up, Scotty!

2005-07-14T11:25:00.000-04:00

While driving to work this morning, I saw a young woman who had one of those new earpiece telephones stuck to her head; you know the kind that makes someone look like Lt. Uhura from the old Star Trek television series. Anyway, seeing this person walking with a phone literally stuck in her ear got me to thinking…

Maybe it is just my age, but I am amazed to see the number of people who talk on cell phones at 6:30 am because quite frankly I don’t want to talk to anyone that early in the morning. One of the benefits of a long commute is that it gives me a chance to drink my first cup of coffee, listen to some Jimmy Buffett, and not have to think a whole lot without the noise of a telephone ringing. Yet there are others who go zipping down the interstate at 70 mph, who feel it is necessary to be on the phone talking to someone who is obviously just as demented as they are!

I actually got behind a car whose driver was on the phone during the entire 45 minutes I was behind them. Not since my kids were in junior high have I seen anyone on the phone for that long, except when I am on hold trying to get information out of the OIT folks for our university. Of course as the drive progressed, and the phone call increased, the speed of the car in front of me decreased. People (spelled w o m e n) who drive and talk on cell phones have an uncanny knack for going slower and slower and slower while they talk. It is a wonder there aren’t dozens of cars stalled on the interstate each day, each one being driven by a female who has been on her cell phone for an hour or more.

Maybe all these cell phone junkies I see are just on hold; listening to some bad instrumental rendition of Stairway to Heaven because their car radio is broke. Or perhaps they are just running up the minutes on their company cell phones to get back at “the man”. Whatever the case, it remains a mystery to me that I will probably never understand.

But in the meantime, I will continue my commute each morning avoiding the trappings of modern technology as long as I can. Or to quote the great Mr. Buffett,

“I'd like to go where the pace of life's slow, can't you beam me somewhere Mr. Scott?
Any old place here on earth or in space; you pick the century, I'll pick the spot.”

Godspeed, Discovery!

2005-07-13T09:07:00.000-04:00

God bless, the Discovery crew! Let's all join in celebration on the occasion of America's return to space, and let us all join in prayer for the safe launch, mission, and return of these brave women and men who represent us all. Congratulations, NASA!

Abuse on the Highway!

2005-07-12T08:33:00.000-04:00

According to a story on the AP wire, a University of Kansas professor is contesting a speeding ticket, due to the lack of training received by the law enforcement officer who issued the ticket. It seems that the professor was caught with a radar gun which the officer was not trained on, and the whole thing comes down to whether or not the officer was using the radar gun correctly.

By the way, the ticket was $45 but the university brainiac has already spent about $1000 in legal fees because of the principle involved.

Now I agree that there are some issues that arguably need to be addressed in this country such as high gas prices, athletes on steroids, and whether or not Hillary Clinton is qualified to be president. But I am not so sure that a Kansas police officer’s radar gun training is really worth spending an extra $955, even though the professor has probably already got some book deal or talk show engagement to make up for it. It would be different if the officer had never been properly trained in the proper use of an actual weapon before using it, or the proper handling of evidence in a criminal investigation; but I don’t think that pointing a speed clocking device at a moving vehicle is quite as complicated or requires a great deal of skill and training.

However in this day and time of making everyone out to be a victim, such an issue really doesn't surprise me. I can just about imagine the cries of the oppressed professor now: “What about the principle; what about my human rights; what about the personal freedom to go over the posted speed limit without any concern for legalities or the safety of others? Aren’t these worth $955?” To which my compassionate response is…NO!

Perhaps if university professors were more concerned with teaching and helping mold young minds to do what is right, we wouldn’t have as many problems in this country. Perhaps if educators realized that they have a responsibility to society, and not just to their own petty egos, parents wouldn’t be wasting so much money sending their kids to large universities.

Perhaps if the professor was more worried about obeying the law rather than breaking it, he wouldn’t have gotten stopped in the first place.

Hurricane Babies?

2005-07-11T11:17:00.000-04:00

According to an AP story, “Hospitals across central Florida are reporting what they call a hurricane baby boom following last year's string of storms.” Great! That’s just what we need in Florida…a population boom. Of course the good news is most of these new Floridians are under the age of 70, and they don’t have drivers’ licenses. To be quite honest though, this really amazes me because I went through the aftermath of three out of four hurricanes last year, and in the wake of those storms making babies was not high on my list.

I am not sure folks in the rest of the country can really appreciate what it is like to experience 12 to 24 hours of driving rain and heavy winds, only to be followed by 5 to 14 days without electricity. Oh, I know that people in eastern Wyoming can identify with 65 mph wind…but they don’t get the rain; people in Seattle can definitely relate to heavy rains…but not with roof moving wind. Only those who have experienced a hurricane can really understand what I am talking about.

As far as the aftermath, imagine sitting in a wet sauna for about a week and you can get an idea of what it’s like without power in Florida. Oh, and did I mention that without electricity water pumps don’t work? There really isn’t anyway to take a shower, since any clean water is used first for drinking and cooking, and then for refilling toilets – which don’t refill without power either.

Therefore the idea of getting intimate with anyone else after a hurricane just seems a bit…icky! Granted, there isn’t much else to do except walk around and look at the neighbor’s houses or make nasty comments about the one guy who does have a generator, but at least neither of those require close contact with another sweaty, sticky, smelly human (which is how my wife described me following each major storm).

So the news of a baby boom blamed on 2004 hurricanes seems odd to me, yet if this year continues to be as active, then the same thing will happen again. It looks like the education gurus in Tallahassee had better be planning on building a lot more schools – which is still better than planning more retirement communities.

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-07-08T12:14:00.000-04:00

Let us all pray this isn't the last time we can see the keys like this...

Summer in Paradise

2005-07-06T12:18:00.000-04:00

I have been thinking a lot lately about two related, yet quite different subjects: hurricanes and sailboats. I’ve had these two items on my mind partially because there is a hurricane forming in the Gulf of Mexico, and partially because I really want to buy a sailboat. Besides both are fairly common in Florida during the summer, and both share my respect and admiration.

Now I respect and admire hurricanes for their sheer force; giant wind and rain machines that churn through the sea like an enormous pirate ship pillaging and destroying everything in its path – giving no quarter and taking no prisoners. The power that is displayed is nothing short of mesmerizing, though in their wake they leave nothing but utter despair. In fact just the prospect of a hurricane can cause folks to go absolutely bonkers, buying every battery, 5 gallon jug of water, and bottle of any alcoholic beverage they can get their hands on. Floridians, you understand, haven’t quite decided if a hurricane is reason to panic or party…so they usually do both.

Sailboats on the other hand earn my respect and admiration for their beauty and grace upon the water. There is nothing finer than riding a well trimmed boat as it glides upon the water, slightly tilted, sails taught; the experience is simply exhilarating. As the sound of the waves breaking around the brow sets the rhythm, the wind whistling in the rigging provides the melody, and a symphony of freedom rises up accompanied by the seagulls singing overhead. Okay that may be overstating it a bit, but you get the idea. Sailboats are an escapists dream; a way to get away from the daily stress and embark on a journey of relaxing bliss. Ask anyone who has done it, and you will see a curious little smile appear as they reflect upon their own sailing experience.

However, as my luck goes, this will be another summer of too many hurricanes and too little sailing. So I guess I had just better prepare for the worst, and hope for the best which means instead of buying a new pair of Sperry’s and coastal charts, I will be buying every battery, 5 gallon jug of water, and any alcoholic beverage I can get my hands on.

But either way…I still get to live in paradise.

Fireworks and Hurricanes and Justices! Oh, My!

2005-07-05T16:08:00.000-04:00

With the resignation of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, it is rather clear that we may be having more fireworks this summer, although all the Fourth of July celebrations have past. Folks in Washington are already pressuring President Bush about whom he can and can’t nominate as a replacement, even though the president himself has not given any hints as to who that may be. I’m sure if the ultra liberals have their way, they will try to delay any replacement until Hillary is elected president, or until she is nominated to be O’Connor’s replacement – either one would probably be acceptable to them.

But no matter whose name gets forwarded from the White House, it would be naïve of me to hope that whomever the president nominates will be quickly accepted by Congress. After all, we have seen all too often that those who sit on the bench of the United States Supreme Court do more than just interpret the Constitution and those in the House and Senate have seen it too. So we all may as well resolve ourselves to watching hearing after hearing over the next couple of months, while the machine known as American politics moves slowly forward.

The only good that I can see in looking ahead to such a political battle, is that it will take my mind off of the fact that hurricane season is already upon us; and if I am really fortunate, it will mean I won’t have to see anymore stories about Brad, Angelina, Tom, and Katie!

July 4, 2005 American Independence Day

2005-07-04T09:03:00.000-04:00

”And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

These closing words from the Declaration of Independence ought to be engraved on every American’s heart, because they sum up something that too many in this country have forgotten. America was not formed by a UN resolution, or a by some agreement of a world summit. America was formed by Americans, who felt that God was guiding them in the formation of a better government, better than the one they lived under; a new government, independent of European colonialism and rule.

Two hundred and twenty nine years ago today, the representatives of the American colonies signed the Declaration, placing themselves in direct opposition to England: the mightiest military in the world. They made themselves outlaws in the eyes of the crown, and did so willingly because they believed in the cause they had become a part of…the cause of freedom from European tyranny.

Yet today there are those in this country who feel we ought to go back to being a puppet of Europe; that we should allow European sensibilities be the gauge by which our government acts, allow European observers oversee our military actions, and even allow European courts to speak out on American policies. All the while, these same people who want so badly to be European that they will sell out this country to do it remain American citizens so they can enjoy American freedoms, and American prosperity.

I for one feel that anyone who places the desires of another nation over those of America is not a patriot; anyone who stands on foreign soil, and verbally attacks America, has declared themselves a citizen of the country where they stand; anyone who cannot pledge their life, fortune, and sacred honor to America should forfeit their American citizenship.

To those who wish to be European, I say, “Leave us and move to Europe!”

But with all who are proud to be American, who see this day as a day to celebrate our independence, I say, “God bless, America! My home, sweet home!”

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-07-01T20:55:00.000-04:00

You might be a redneck if...

All You Can Eat Catfish!

2005-06-30T16:27:00.000-04:00

It has been announced that a 646 pound catfish was caught in Thailand, which may well be the biggest fresh water fish ever snagged. Of course, the good folks at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) wanted the fish released because it is “an endangered species”, but the leviathan died and the Thai villagers did the most normal thing…they ate it. Good for the villagers! It was probably one of the best meals some of those people had all year.

Now living in Florida, I can guarantee you that if anyone ever caught a 646 pound catfish around here, there would be filet knives cutting into that monster quicker than you can say Lynard Skynard. People would start carting in tons of cole slaw with a few hundred hush puppies; beer kegs would be getting tapped; key lime pies would begin to appear. Heck, there would be more people show up here than New Yorkers at the opening of CATS. And if anyone wearing a WWF I.D. badge came around, they had better be from the World Wrestling Federation, or they’d better be able to run – FAST! No one in their right mind would ever try to come between a good Floridian and that much catfish, not if they wanted to live anyway. Why even Georgians aren’t that stupid.

It is just a fact of life that those of us who live in this part of Florida love to eat just about any kind of fish and seafood. I myself like shrimp and oysters, my wife likes scallops, and there are a whole bunch of guys over in Tallahassee that are starting to gear up for Gator season right about now.

So the fact that some Thai villagers feasted on 646 pounds of catfish seems a lot more sensible than throwing that catch back, even if it was endangered. But then a bunch of tree-hugging, tofu eating, left-wing wackos don’t quite get the whole “being on the top of the food chain” idea.

By the way, does anyone have a good manatee recipe?

Hey, France - You Lost!

2005-06-29T09:48:00.000-04:00

“Thank God, I have done my duty.” Admiral Nelson: 21 October 1805, while dying.

The famous 1805 Battle of Trafalgar was reenacted in Portsmouth, England yesterday with one slight twist…this time, the English didn’t win. It seems in order to keep the EU happy, the organizers decided to allow those representing Napoleon’s French and Spanish forces to sail away with a draw rather than defeat. Not only that, but the tall ships taking part in the “battle” flew red and blue flags, rather than the actual nations’ colors. I’m surprised they allowed the firing of cannons, since that is so violent!

Oh, I know that revisionist history is the craze these days but what were the British thinking? I can only imagine what all of the British sailors felt, as they watched a retelling of their greatest naval hero’s victory turned into politically correct mockery. Even one of Admiral Lord Nelson’s own descendents, Anna Tribe, called the whole matter “ludicrous” – and rightfully so (http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1402876.htm).

Have countries become so worried about offending one another that we have to rewrite history? Granted reviewing history to remove erroneous, prejudicial views is one thing; but to rewrite it just to make countries feel good is wrong. Throughout history, wars have been fought; battles have been won and lost; people have died. No retelling of the stories can change that, nor should we even try.

It seems to me that we owe the generations that follow us, the respect of truth. In other words, we need to be able to tell them what really happened in the past, and let them decide if it was right or wrong. Sugar coating history doesn’t do anyone justice and it is disrespectful of those who actually lived it…

…particularly people like Admiral Lord Nelson, and the brave men who served with him at Trafalgar.

France's "Nuclear Option"

2005-06-28T09:49:00.000-04:00

The first International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is to be built in France, which seems really ironic to me considering France’s usual stance against anything that does away with dependence on Middle Eastern oil. But this new experimental reactor is supposedly going to be the answer to the world’s energy woes for eons to come. Still, the French are usually the ones leading the way for tree-hugging liberals in Europe against anything nuclear, so why should they want a nuclear reactor?

The ITER uses nuclear fusion, rather than fission (like I know the difference); this new way of harnessing energy is supposedly more environmentally safe than the “old fashioned” way, and it supposedly gives off very little radioactive waste, but there is no proof it can be harnessed to help develop more needed energy. In fact according to Ian Fells of the Royal Academy of Engineering in Britain, there is a 50/50 chance of the reactor actually working. But he did say, "If we can really make this work, there will be enough electricity to last the world for the next 1,000 to 2,000 years.” Wow! X-Box fanatics are thrilled about that, not to mention all of the television zombies of the world.

Of course the French president, Jacques Chirac, is all excited about the development because it makes France look important for the first time since Louis XIV. However I wonder if Jacques really thought about the possible outcomes, and whether or not this was a bad joke made by the rest of the EU at France’s expense? I ask this because of something else that Mr. Fells mentioned:

"The technology of this is the science of the hydrogen bomb," Fells said. "You take a couple of hydrogen atoms and you squeeze them together, you fuse them together, and they turn into an atom of helium and produce a great burp of energy."

A burp of energy…so how does one say “excuse me” in German?

Go Down, Moses!

2005-06-27T09:30:00.000-04:00

Before the end of the day today, the nation will find out just what the Supreme Court is made of regarding the Ten Commandments, since that group of elite judges is to decide whether or not it is unconstitutional to have the ancient laws displayed in public places.

One aspect of this whole matter that fascinates me is that whenever the phrase “the Ten Commandments” is mentioned, there is no doubt what is being referred to. This proves that these are not just religious laws, but laws that are a part of our very culture. These are not just a set of doctrinal rules set up by some church; they are the foundation of the very judicial system of which the Supreme Court is a part.

Granted the first commandment may be seen as purely Judeo-Christian, but after that the laws are very universal in nature. Most of humanity would agree that murder, theft, and dishonor of one’s parents are all wrong, and should be commonly viewed as such. I don’t know of any other government on earth that would dispute them, except maybe France and they would do it only because they enjoy being different.

So what is all the fuss about? It is all about symbolism – what the Ten Commandments represent, rather than what they actually state. It is all about whether or not the display of such symbolism promotes one particular religion over all others by the government. Or more accurately whether or not such symbolism offends anybody who sees it; particularly anyone who has ever given money to the ACLU. Besides we can’t have people getting offended in America, it’s just not nice. Which is why we still allow the UN to meet in New York – but that is another issue.

So will the Ten Commandments be allowed to remain in public places? Only the justices know the answer to that, but by day’s end we should all know what that answer is. In the meantime, think about this: if the Supreme Court sides with those who see these ancient laws as threatening and the Ten Commandments are taken down in such places as federal court buildings, what will the leftists suggest to replace them?

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-06-24T12:01:00.000-04:00

A new veterinary study has found that mixing in ground up worms from the bottom of tequila bottles can actually cure "mad cow" disease. The study, reported in the somewhat reputable Tijuana Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Fish Recipes states that small doses of the wormy substance, mixed with cattle feed can actually kill the virus that causes "mad cow". The report adds however, that an unfortunate side effect is that cattle get the sudden urge to try break dancing, as evidenced by the bull shown above.

One Mexican dairy farmer has said that his only concern is what may happen while trying to milk one of his cows, however he added that getting rid of "mad cow" is certainly worth the risk. Another Mexican rancher has stated that he looks forward to the treatment, because of the added benefit of being entertained in the evenings.

As a side note, the UPN television network announced today that it will add a new variety show featuring dancing cows to their fall line-up.

Conference Groupies

2005-06-23T09:56:00.000-04:00

Undoubtedly, if you read this blog on a regular basis you will have noticed that I try to write something everyday. However there are times when circumstances dictate my life more than I do, and this past week such was the case.

You see, I have been engaged in attending a conference at a large “resort” hotel – that did NOT have internet access in the rooms! That’s right, The Sandpiper Resort (a Radisson hotel in St. Pete Beach, FL) has only one internet connected computer in the entire hotel for guests to use, which is fine if all of the guest are only there to walk on the beach. However in my case, the guests (including myself) were all there from Florida colleges and universities to attend a working conference. Albeit a working conference sans email capabilities...or blogging.

With all of that said, I would like to talk about what I call conference groupies. You know, those overweight, middle aged “ladies” who flock to these professional gatherings like hens to an egg laying.

Conference groupies are usually lower paid administrative types, who see such events as some type of employee benefit given to them by divine right, to make up for their bad wages. They all wear the official conference groupie attire, which consists of Capri pants, smocks with glittery flowers on the front, and plastic jewelry that doubles as a flotation device should they fall in the hotel pool. Most of them smoke, which also requires them to douse themselves with heavy perfume to cover the odor.

Their conduct is very professional however, in that they nod at every serious statement, laugh at every bad joke, and applaud enthusiastically for each speaker. They can often be found during breaks either cornering the keynote speaker in the main meeting room, or huddled together in the hallway, discussing how they would fix “the system” if they were in charge. After all, most of them have been in the same job, at the same desk, for the same institution or corporation, for longer than many of the speakers have been on earth.

One third of them are named either Gladys or Mildred.

In the evenings these groupies congregate at all the planned “after hours” social events; sipping white wine, eating finger sandwiches, and plotting to take over the world. Midway through the evening, they all pull out their cell phones at the same time (looking very similar to a synchronized swimming team) remove their five inch clip-on earrings, put their cell phones up to their ears, and quietly giggle. I honestly wonder if there is ever anyone on the other end of the conversation. Then in unison, they place the cell phones back in their bags and smile at one another as if to acknowledge their joint importance to the future of humanity and all civilization as we know it. Donald Trump should have such power!

Oh I know this all may seem mean and chauvinistic, but I really am quite thankful that conference groupies exist, because without them I may not have survived this past week. For even though I couldn’t read email, or write my blog each day, the entertainment provided by these administrative godesses made the trip totally worth while.

A Movie Deal? Well, Duh!

2005-06-16T09:54:00.000-04:00

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was reportedly told by ReganMedia, that it has acquired all media rights to Jennifer Wilbanks' life story, though no money amount was disclosed. So it appears that Jennifer Wilbanks, the infamous “runaway bride” may have cut a movie deal…and according to the Associated Press the prosecuting attorney isn’t happy about it. Like no one could see this coming?

If anyone makes headlines, and can be marketed, they will be. The celebrity makers are out to saturate our minds with the stories and images of people they are paid to promote, whether the celebrity in question is good or bad. To a promoter, it is all seen through the lens of profit and greed. But the rotten truth of it all is that we – the public – are the ones who are guilty of allowing this to happen. We want to be sensationalized; we want to hear the “juicy stuff”; we want to have something to whisper about with our colleagues and friends. Whether it is Jennifer Wilbanks jilting her fiancé, Michael Jackson’s molestation case, or Jessica Simpson’s latest diet…we just can’t seem to get enough.

Do you know who your representatives in government are? Do you know who the Vice-President and Secretary of State are? Do you know how to make needed changes in your community, state, and nation? These are questions that we should be asking; not who is Brad Pitt really sleeping with? But alas, we are humans who want to be entertained more than educated.

So the prosecuting attorney in the Wilbanks case is upset over a movie deal…if the truth was known, he is probably already envisioning which actor will play the part of him.

Diet Coke or Regular Coke...

2005-06-14T12:01:00.000-04:00

According to a new medical study, folks who drink diet soda will not get skinny. Well I could have figured that one out just by looking in a full length mirror. However according to the news story (http://www.news4jax.com/health/4602741/detail.html):

“Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio analyzed patient information spanning 26 years. They found that those who drink diet sodas were more likely to become overweight. The risk of being overweight or obese increased 65 percent more with each diet drink per day.”

Now as someone who drinks Diet Coke a lot, I can tell you that it is not really the soda that is the problem, but the mind games we play with ourselves. For example, when I go to Taco Bell I figure that I can have an extra chalupa, because I’m drinking diet soda. Or when I go to Wendy’s, I can have a double with cheese rather than a single, because I’m drinking diet soda. Have you ever been to an “all you can eat” buffet and watched some lady who has four or five helpings of mashed potatoes? I can guarantee you she is drinking diet soda. It’s not the diet soda that is causing the risk of being obese; it’s all the food we eat when we drink diet soda.

But the good news about all of this is that I now have an excuse to go back to drinking regular Coke. After all, if I’m going to get fat anyway there’s no reason to not enjoy it!

Computer Geeks and Reading the Bible

2005-06-13T20:09:00.000-04:00

The entry for today’s blog is being written late, because I spent most of the day dealing with a very frustrating computer problem. It seems that one of the myriad of passwords required for me to do anything at my place of employment, no longer works. The irony is that it was fine until the good folks in the Office of Information Technology (OIT) decided to combine programs so that employees would only need one password for everything, and the one password I am to use is the one that is malfunctioning.

However what really befuddled my otherwise astute mind is the telephone message that I encountered when I called OIT for assistance. It basically told me that all of the tekkies were busy helping other folks, but that I could either leave a message or EMAIL them. Of course that was the problem…my email was not functional because my password no longer worked.

I really think that computer people do things like this on purpose, just to have something to laugh about while they play chess and drink whatever it is computer people drink. For instance, have you ever tried to use the “help” function for Microsoft Explorer? It tells you to go to their website. Well if I can’t get my browser to work, how can I access a website for help?

Of course I really shouldn’t complain, because we religious types often do the same thing. For example, if someone can’t get a grip on belief in God we tell them to read the Bible. Now if someone is struggling with believing there even is a God, does it make any sense to tell them to read a book that was written by God whom they are struggling to believe in?

Anyway, getting back to my computer problem, one of the techs at OIT finally returned my call, walked me through all of the steps to fix my problem (which I had already tried), witnessed the problem I was having, and said with an almost straight face, “I don’t know what’s wrong…but I’ll check it out and get back with you”.

I just hope that one day he asks me about God.

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-06-10T08:21:00.000-04:00

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) listening intently with other members of the GOP leadership during a party strategy session.

Dancing in Church in Your Birthday Suit

2005-06-09T08:28:00.000-04:00

In the country of Nepal, some women have been dancing naked to appease the gods and bring rain (http://www.news4jax.com/news/4582697/detail.html), which is not necessarily newsworthy...unless it works.

Afterall, the way some of the mainline denominations in America are trying just about anything to appease society, such actions could become common place. Of course here in America it would be referred to as "liturgical dance", and would only be used during seeker services - somewhere between the praise band and the Bible skit. Wow that could really bring a whole new diminsion to "The Happy Song" - especially where everyone starts jumping up and down!

Some denominations may even include such dancing in with some new age prayers to honor the feminine side of divinity, or to display the beauty of the goddess in us all (as we are all both female and male, being created in God's image). There could even be a special liturgy placed in the ECUSA's 2008 Prayer Book - right after the ritual to bless same sex unions, and just before the Celebration of Transgender Persons.

I wonder if city zoning laws concerning nude dancing can be overruled due to "religious practice". Well it doesn't matter because the Baptists will shoot it down anyway - not because of the nudity of course...but because of the dancing.

I Am a STEELE!

2005-06-08T08:33:00.000-04:00

STEELE PRIDE

I have decided that it is time for me to come out of the closet, and admit that I am a STEELE. There, I said it. It has been hard for me to keep hiding, but I just could not live with myself any longer; I had to come out and admit who I am. Many of you don’t understand the pressure of being a STEELE, but it was not my choice: I was born this way.

Oh sure, I could have a legal name change and try to live my life as someone else, but I would be living a lie! It is a genetic fact that I can not be anyone else; not a Brown, or a Smith, or even a Trump. No, I am a STEELE, and as soon as I am done writing this I plan to join the local chapter of STEELE PRIDE.

For those of you who are Andersons or even Mortons, you don’t understand. I have lived my whole life with discrimination from those who knew who I really was. I would often be almost last in any alphabetical line, such as high school graduation. Other kids would make fun of me and call me such names as “ball bearing”, or teachers would mispronounce my name as “Steel-ee”, not realizing the last e was silent. Even now people ask me if I spell my name S T E A L as if I were some type of thief.

But I can take great solace in knowing that there have been great people in history who were also STEELEs, such as the English essayist Sir Richard STEELE. Oh, I know I can’t prove we are blood related, but we share a special bond just by the virtue of both being a STEELE. And there are others all around the world: different languages, different colors of skin, but all brothers and sisters of the heart.

Now I must call out to all those who have been branded and discriminated against for being a STEELE. Stand up for who you are! Don’t hide in the shadows any longer! Go out and get a flag with the STEELE coat of arms, and fly it proudly…in fact force your community to fly it, as a symbol of their past guilt and torment! Have a STEELE PRIDE parade, and put STEELE bumper stickers on your cars, and boats! Make sure your local schools teach about all the STEELEs who have done anything in history! In fact, I propose we have STEELE Day at Disney World, where we can flaunt our STEELE PRIDE in the faces of all those who have looked down on us in the past.

Yes, by the grace of God I am a STEELE…and I will not sit quietly any longer.

This is Too Bizarre!

2005-06-07T13:37:00.000-04:00

If you really believe we don't need tougher border laws, read this: http://www.news4jax.com/news/4579376/detail.html

Americans Are the Most Religious?

2005-06-07T13:20:00.000-04:00

According to a recent AP-Ipsos poll, only 2 percent of the Americans polled said they don’t believe in God. The poll actually indicates that Americans are considered more religious than those in 10 other countries, with Europeans being the least devout (what a shock). Only those in Mexico even came close to America’s numbers, but that could have something to do with the water there.

Additionally, the poll stated that nearly 40 percent feel religious leaders should sway legislators! This indicates to me, that 60 percent of Americans are Democrats, lawyers, or members of the ACLU…a scary thought at best.

Seriously though, if I were to guess how “religious” Americans were, I doubt that I would have placed us at the top of the heap. Granted, I do hear quite a few people calling on the almighty each morning during rush hour traffic, and just about every strip mall in town does seem to have a new non-denominational church in it. Still, 98 percent seems quite high.

The real clue here is in the word itself: religious. Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Wiccans…these are all religious people. So for only 2 percent to say they don’t believe in God may just mean that 98 percent believe in a god…not necessarily the Judeo-Christian God, which is why Christians are always being reminded to be “religiously tolerant”.

Then again, if our country is so religious why are we consistently hearing about lawsuits against the public display of religious symbols, prayer in schools, the Pledge of Allegiance, etc? Could it be that what we are really being told is to be tolerant of persons of all faiths, except for those who hold to Judeo-Christian beliefs?

Next time someone in the MSM wants to blast those nasty, bigoted, fundamentalists (aka Christian Republicans) for something said or done, they ought to remember that religious tolerance is supposed to be extended to all religious groups that make up that 98 percent…even the ones the liberals don’t like.

A New Retirement Fund

2005-06-06T10:03:00.000-04:00

A new study out of Evanston Township (Illinois) indicates that teenagers are starting school too early. The study, conducted by one of the Biology teachers, seems to “prove” that teenagers do not function as well at 8:00am, as they do at say 10:00 am. So the township is studying whether or not they should start the school day later next year.

Always being the optimist, I have no doubt that the good folks in Illinois will do the right thing, and allow their mistreated students to start school later. Additionally, since this story appeared not only in Chicago papers, but Los Angeles papers as well, I’m sure we will find a trend whereby schools all across the country will start the school day later so that teenagers can get more sleep at night.

However, this brings up some major questions for me: if it can be proven that later starts will improve grades, then was I cheated as a youth? Could it be that those bad grades I received in physiology as a senior were due to class being too early in the day? Perhaps I should call a lawyer, and get some serious counsel as to whether or not I have a case here; perhaps a class action law suit on behalf of all adults who had to get up and be in class at 8:00 in the past!

I may have just found a retirement fund that is more financially sound than the lottery!

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-06-03T08:20:00.000-04:00

I have to admit that I like sailboats much better than anything, but this is NOT how one should try to install a mast. Have a great weekend!

Here We Go Again...

2005-06-02T16:24:00.000-04:00

Rev. George Regas

The Rev. Dr. George F. Regas, Rector Emeritus of All Saints Church, Pasadena, California, stated in a sermon recently, “I simply refuse to hold the doctrine that there is no access to God except through Jesus. I personally reject the claim that Christianity has the truth and all other religions are in error.” He stated his views as guest preacher at the National Cathedral in Washington and according to reports some 250 folks walked out during his sermon. You can read the whole report at VirtueOnline (see links).

Granted, we are living in a pluralistic society where (according to the enlightened few) everyone is supposed to be politically correct, diversity has become the buzz word of the year, and under no circumstance is anyone to ever be offended. But this was a minister, speaking from the pulpit of the National Cathedral – not some person responding to a “man on the street” interview! I think that believing in the Son of God as the salvation of mankind is sort of expected in such a setting. However the rationale behind Dr. Regas’ words was “because he thought that it was only in this deep respect for the traditions of others that we can survive the conflicts of the twenty-first century.”

Well what about deep respect for the Christians whom he has vowed to be a pastor to, or to the church tradition upon which he has made his living all these years; don’t they count for something? Furthermore, the major conflicts of this century have been started by those out to destroy Christianity, not by Christians themselves. I don’t recall any reports of Christian terrorists using car bombs and airliners to kill thousands of innocent people, or of Christian leaders calling for a “holy war” in the twenty-first century.

Dr. Regas also criticized Pope Benedict the XVI for believing salvation was only possible thorough Jesus, although the Pope is not the one scrambling to keep churches open while members of his flock race to join other denominations. Frankly, it is this type of “unity” theo-babble that has made many mainline Protestant churches decline over the years, while the Roman Catholic Church is rapidly growing.

All in all, I wonder what would happen if the Rev. Jerry Falwell stood in the center of a mosque, and stated he believed a fundamental teaching of Islam was false?

Jesus Music and Getting Old

2005-05-31T23:03:00.000-04:00

If you remember this album cover, then you've listened to such artists as Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Barry McGuire, Randy Matthews, Keith Green, Honeytree, and others. The only sad part of that, is that it was about 30 years ago, and church has changed alot since then.

"Jubilation Too" was my first 8-track of Jesus Music. After being raised on Charles Wesley's hymns (which I still love) it was quite a change to hear some of the songs on that tape, but a welcomed change, and one I will always cherish.

But to me there is a sad part of looking back at those wonderful days of Christian coffee houses, "one way" stickers, and Jesus People. It's sad because the simple beauty of those days has been replaced by the age of the mega-church. Now instead of seeing someone like Don Francisco in the intimacy of a small church sanctuary, for usually nothing more than a donation, people go to Christian concerts at indoor arenas for as much as $40 or $50 per ticket.

Furthermore, some churches don't even look like churches; with their 80,000 seat auditoriums, giant video screens, and plexi-glass pulpits. Many church services now days, resemble some sort of motivational seminar rather than an experience with God.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but Christianity seemed simpler back in the 70's...and I miss that. So I think I will just pull out my beat up Good News Bible, put on some Keith Green, and try to remember what it was like when Jesus, and not technology, was Lord.

Thanks for the Liberties...

2005-05-29T18:44:00.000-04:00

This is a picture of my dad (on the right) and a friend of his just before he got discharged. For all that he and all other veterans of WWII did, as well as all other vets, we should all thank God. They served so we can have liberty, freedom, and peace.

How Absolute Truth is Lost...

2005-05-29T18:31:00.000-04:00

Being a resident of NE Florida, I have read some of the reports and opinions about what came out of the recent annual conference of the Diocese of Florida, of the Episcopal Church (USA). Whether or not one has a dog in this fight, it is worth reading about because what happened could take place in any number of churches or communities in this country. It wasn’t just a matter of theological debate that took place, but a matter of giving in to liberal policy all for the sake of “unity”.

I have placed the link to an article by Rev. Robert Sanders, Ph. D. about that meeting here, and I would urge everyone to read it. However don’t just think about it as an article about the ECUSA in Florida, but about what could happen at a meeting of your city council, school board, or any other meeting. You can read Dr. Sanders’ article on VirtueOnline at http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2507.

As we commemorate those who have given their lives for freedom the Memorial Day, let us remember that standing strong for truth and all that is good, is always more important than being politically correct and weak.

God bless you, and God bless America!

Who Is the ACLU Really For?

2005-05-26T10:03:00.000-04:00

There is more talk today about Quran abuse in an AP piece written by Robert Burns. This time however, the article actually admits that all of the allegations about desecration of Islam's Holy Book are unsubstantiated, were made by prisoners, and that military files have documented that in some cases the prisoners were the ones doing the desecrating. I wonder how NEWSWEEK is going to spin this one.

One little tidbit that jumped out at me though, was that the prisoners' allegations are all part of FBI files that were obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Now I have always thought that one actually ought to be an American in order to enjoy our "civil liberties", however I guess that is not the case. Apparently one can now be a terrorist, bent on the destruction of our nation, and still get the support of the ACLU. Meanwhile, the fine folks at Amnesty International have labeled the prison at Guantanamo Bay, "the gulag of our time" and are calling for its closure. Go figure.

Where were these folks on 9/11? How is it they can remember what a gulag is, yet they can't seem to remember those terrifying images of the smoke-filled, Manhattan skyline?

There are obviously some liberals in this country who still do not understand that when those planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, that war was declared on America. We did not start this war; it was started by Islamic fanatics who want nothing less than the complete destruction of our nation, and our way of life. They have killed, are killing, and will continue to kill AMERICANS! What part of this is so hard to understand?

I think the time has come for all of the fine lawyers who work for the ACLU, as well as the people who fund them, to change their name. Remove the word "American" and replace it with something that more accurately reflects their un-American clientele.

Religious or Simply Cultural?

2005-05-25T12:47:00.000-04:00

A Napa, California high school senior, Kyle Trudelle, agreed to change the mural he was painting outside the high school art room, due to a petition that was being circulated to stop him. The mural, it seems, “looked too much like heaven” according to students who started the petition, because it had a path leading to a castle in some clouds. Therefore, Kyle agreed to change it to a path leading to a sunspot, so no one would be offended. By the way, there is already a mural including an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which the students feel is more about Hispanic heritage than religion…so it is okay.

My concern with this story is not just about religious liberty, though that is part of it, but also about the lack of understanding the students have about basic Humanities! A picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe is simply cultural, but a castle in the sky is religious? What are they teaching the young people in California?

However on the other hand, this may actually turn out to be a good thing. If we just change the way we think about religious symbols, we can reverse quite a bit of liberal legislation. For example, this would indicate that we should have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse; because they aren’t religious they are part of Jewish heritage! Additionally, we should have nativity scenes on public lawns in December because they are…German heritage! In fact, we SHOULD study the Bible in school (providing it is the version found in the Book of Kells) because that is Irish heritage!

So for all of you left-wingers who claim to uphold diversity, stop using legislation to block the public display of certain symbols. After all, they are not religious; they are a part of someone’s heritage!

Cave-in on Capitol Hill

2005-05-24T09:41:00.000-04:00

After weeks of debate and “tough talk”, seven GOP senators decided to cave-in to Democrat demands and sign a compromise over the filibuster of judicial nominees. Then to throw salt into the wound, the statement they signed chastised the President for not clearing his nominees with the Senate before making them.

One only needs to read the reactions from the left to know that this was NOT a good idea. When Republican senators make liberals happy, particularly those who are on the far left, then a red flag should go up, bells and whistles should go off, and every other Republican in the country should take notice.

What did these Republicans “win” with their actions? A guaranteed vote on three of the five nominees the President sent to the hill…THREE! One of which has been before this august body for nearly four years! Oh, and the Republicans can filibuster Democrat nominees in the future should they ever get back in the White House. In other words, the GOP gained little to nothing with this deal, except for the guarantee that nominees from President Bush for the Supreme Court will never get voted on.

This deal, made by a handful of Republican renegades, reeks of political weakness in a time when the GOP should be flexing their political muscle. The American people, who voted for the seven "moderates", should feel betrayed by the very senators they elected to represent them, and I hope they are already making telephone calls, writing complaints, and planning who they are going to vote for in the next election.

The seven Republicans involved are: John Warner-VA; John McCain-AZ; Lindsey Graham-SC; Lincoln Chafee-RI; Susan Collins-ME; Olympia Snowe-ME; Mike DeWine-OH.

For more information on this, check out Hugh Hewitt’s website (see links) or Powerline at www.powerlineblog.com.

Sunshine, Medications, and Living Well

2005-05-23T10:09:00.000-04:00

Many years ago, comedian George Carlin had a joke about saliva causing cancer, “but only when swallowed in small portions over a long period of time.” Granted cancer is not a funny subject, but today there is a report that emphasizes the somewhat humorous confusion over what causes it, and what may prevent it.

For many years, we have been told to use sunscreen with an SPF rating of somewhere near 1000, to wear UV blocking sunglasses, clothes, and hats, and make sure we never look directly at the sun (okay that last one is valid). Now, it seems that some doctors are saying that using too much sunscreen is not good because it blocks out needed vitamin D, and that some sun (15 minutes or so a week) may actually help prevent cancer. So which is it, guys? After all, I live in Florida where we depend on the sun to survive by bringing in tons of tourists so we don’t have to pay state income tax, and we don’t want to confuse all those Canadians to the point they start vacationing somewhere else!

But it’s not just this sun issue that is becoming annoying. It seems to me that everyday we are getting new information about what is, and what isn’t good for us. Each week another pill is being pulled from pharmacy shelves because someone decided it does more harm than good, and then there are all the “possible side effects” that come listed with medication; side effects which to me are worse than the symptoms I am trying to eliminate in the first place.

So what is a person to do?

My unofficial advice is this: eat until you are full, sleep until you are no longer tired, work until it is finished, and give until it hurts. But more than anything enjoy what little time you have on this wondrous place we call Earth; or in other words, to quote a famous country song, “live like you were dyin’.” Now I’m off to go get my 15 minutes of sunshine…

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-05-20T08:37:00.000-04:00

It's Friday...yea. That just means that Monday is only two days away. I would love to give credit to the proper source for this picture, but I just got it in an email some time back. So to whomever made this, THANK YOU!

Have a great weekend, and we will see you on the otherside!

Another Wrench in the Anglican Machine?

2005-05-19T10:26:00.000-04:00

A recent document issued by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) has declared that ecclesial division between the two churches should not be based on any theological view of the Virgin Mary. In other words, all that the Roman Catholic Church teaches about Mary, including her Immaculate Conception and Assumption, is now acceptable by Anglicans…at least those who sat on the commission. What the evangelicals within the Anglican Communion have to say about all of this, has yet to be heard though I doubt it will make much difference to the commission members.

I almost snickered at the wording of the of document though, particularly the statement: "We do not consider the practice of asking Mary and the saints to pray for us as communion dividing,” simply because there is so very little the Anglican Communion does consider communion dividing. After all, with the consecration of a practicing homosexual as bishop in America, and same-sex “marriages” in Canada, what possible damage could Roman Catholic dogma have on the Anglican Communion?

As much as I really do not see this being a major issue for most Anglicans, there will be those who simply cannot “give in” to Roman Catholic teaching on such subjects. So it is likely that some evangelicals will leave the communion, just as many conservatives have over the other recent events in the church, but the Anglican Communion itself will continue to plod along.

However, when all is said and done, one has to wonder when Canterbury will begin to realize that there may be more folks going out the back door, then there are coming in the front?

How We Judge Judges.

2005-05-18T10:16:00.000-04:00

The headline of a story on the website of east Texas television station KLTV reads, Divorced Sunday School Teacher is at Center of Senate Fight, referring to Texas Supreme Court Justice Pricilla Owen and the ongoing senate battle over blocking the vote for her and other Bush judicial nominees.

In this story it is pointed out that President Bush has stated that Judge Owen is fair, impartial, and full of integrity. Then again, it is pointed out that Judge Owen has angered abortion rights activists, and that she is seen by some (such as Democrat Senator Patrick Leahy) as being against all that most liberals hold dear. It is even mentioned that Majority Leader Bill Frist has decided to make her nomination the “test case” in the senate’s battle over the use of filibusters. However nowhere in the story does it explain what impact her divorce or her church activities have on the situation, so why mention them?

Nominees to any judicial bench are chosen, based on their knowledge and experience; not on their personal life and religious affiliation. Whether or not Judge Owen is accepted by the senate should depend on her role as a judge, not on her role as a spouse or church member. For the media to infer otherwise is further evidence that unbiased reporting is no longer the norm among many journalists, and that ratings are more important than good form.

The Bible, the Quran, and Other Sacred Texts.

2005-05-17T08:15:00.000-04:00

The activities surrounding the recent NEWSWEEK story alleging desecration of the Holy Quran, has caused me to raise some questions about sacred texts in general. For example, how would the media react if riots broke out in this country over the desecration of the Holy Bible, or what would the reports be if people were killed in Israel over desecration of the Torah?

I agree that the desecration of any sacred text is wrong, however the violent reaction that resulted in the loss of human life, over an alleged report of the Quran being desecrated was not even questioned. Why are violent actions, based on an understanding of the Quran by radical Islamists, accepted as normal?

If such a violent reaction were to take place at say, Liberty University, over a rumor that someone flushed a Bible down a toilet, those on the left would be declaring the "Religious Right" guilty of hate crimes. If a Christian even dares to use the Bible as a basis for his or her political views, they are branded as being a "right wing fundamentalist" which is the liberal term for anyone they feel is too uneducated, too unenlightened, and too redneck to really understand right and wrong. Some have even gone so far as to the say the Bible should be considered "hate speech".

Why is it, that in a country founded on Biblical principles, the sacred texts of Islam should gain more respect than the sacred texts of Chritianity? Because we are living in a post-Christian society that has come to deny the sacredness of the Bible, that no longer believes it to be the Word of God, but rather just a book of myth. Academics who are adamant about teaching secular humanism to our children have declared that morals and values are relative; that there are not absolute truths, so Christianity is seen as outdated and in most cases...just plain wrong.

So while radical Islamists continue to kill in name of their religion, Christians are expected to just roll over and die for theirs. Well I for one do not plan on going quietly.

Another Journalistic Blunder!

2005-05-16T17:24:00.000-04:00

NEWSWEEK seems to have joined the growing list of mainstream media outlets caught in a lie. An article alleging that military members at the Guantanamo Bay prison facility had flushed a copy of the Quran down a toilet, just to annoy the prisoners, are being called false by the Pentagon. Now, NEWSWEEK is saying they may have gotten the story wrong...but only because of a "bad government source".

It is noteworthy that the story stirred up violence in Afghanistan resulting in the death of 15 people, and NEWSWEEK has apologized for that, but they have not accepted the blame. After all, they are part of the mainstream media so they are not responsible for their actions - only their sources are.

Perhaps if the media would stop trying so hard to find fault with the military, the current administration, the Religious Right, and anyone else that may be considered conservative, they could consentrate on actually doing their job of reporting the news. Perhaps if they would stop being so anxious to attack others, and begin to check out their sources before printing an article, they would not have to do so much back-tracking and explaining.

I find it amazing that I am told by some fairly reliable scholars that we can't believe that the Bible is really the Word of God, while I am supposed to believe what I read and hear from the mainstream media. Well all I can say is, God has never had to apologize for what's in His Word.

It's Friday, Mon!

2005-05-13T08:37:00.000-04:00

Due to the simple fact that it is Friday, and I don’t believe in thinking on Fridays, I have decided to make this the day that I write something purely for fun. It is kind of like wearing jeans and a flowered shirt to the office; it’s a way to wind down the week and begin to look forward to a relaxing weekend.

Therefore I received a great joke from a good friend of mine this morning and feel that it is a great entry for my first Friday blog. I hope you enjoy it, and have a great weekend?

Lost at sea, two Irishmen, Patrick and Michael, were adrift in a lifeboat following a dramatic escape from a burning freighter. While rummaging through the boat's provisions, Patrick stumbled across an old lamp. Secretly hoping that a genie would appear, he rubbed the lamp vigorously. To his amazement, a genie came forth, however this particular genie stated that he could only deliver one wish, not the standard three. Without giving much thought to the matter, Patrick blurted out, "Make the entire ocean into Guinness Beer!” The genie clapped his hands with a deafening crash, and immediately the entire sea turned into the finest brew ever sampled by mortals. Simultaneously, the genie vanished.

Only the gentle lapping of Guinness on the hull broke the stillness as the two men considered their circumstances. Michael looked disgustedly at Patrick and after a long, tension filled moment, he spoke.

"Nice going Patrick! Now we're going to have to pee in the boat."

Jesus Has a Social Security Number?

2005-05-12T10:04:00.000-04:00

In Charleston, WV, a man by the name of Peter Robert Phillips Jr. was denied a driver’s license because he wanted it under the name of “Jesus Christ”. It seems Mr. Phillips has been using the name Jesus Christ for somewhere around 15 years, but has never received court approval for a legal name change.

All tastelessness aside, what really scares me is that according to the AP story, “He already has a U.S. passport, Social Security card and Washington, D.C., driver's license bearing the name Jesus Christ.”

How in the name of Sam Hill did this man get a passport and Social Security card, using a false name? If this person has never had a legal name change, shouldn’t the issuance of such important documents under any other name have been denied? Furthermore, if this guy has been running around with such documentation, how many others could there be who have similar stories?

In a time when liberals are screaming that the Patriot Act is too harsh, or that individuals are losing their liberties, it seems that this man is proof that the liberals are wrong! We as a country can not afford to be too cautious, especially in a time of war.

As for him having a driver’s license from D.C., that doesn’t surprise me. After all, that city is full of people who believe they are God – they are called judges.

Minister Resigns Over Political Preaching

2005-05-11T08:45:00.000-04:00

According to a story on the AP wires this morning, a Baptist minister in Waynesville, NC has resigned as pastor of his church after being there for three years. Now this is not something new, nor is it something that one would find all that different except that this particular minister, Rev. Chan Chandler, told his congregation back in November that they should vote for Pres. George W. Bush, or resign from the church. Needless to say, the man took his political views very seriously – but even I would agree that the pulpit is not the place for political endorsements, let alone political pressuring. It can be easily understood why such activity would cause dissention in the church to the point that the minister felt he had to resign.

What I really find interesting about this however, is that more than six months after the election this is making the news at all. After all, haven’t ministers like Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton been endorsing Democrat candidates for years? What about all the times Democrats have spoken "from the pulpit" during church services while campaigning?

I personally feel that what Rev. Chandler did was wrong, but I don’t think he did anything that hasn’t been done before on both sides of the party lines. I really think that the only reason this is making news headlines, is because Rev. Chandler did it on behalf of a Republican and not a Democrat. Does anyone really believe that such coverage would exist if a minister was just now resigning because he told his congregation to vote for John Kerry back in November?

But then, the only reason such a minister would have to resign would be due to embarrassment for endorsing Kerry in the first place.

Thank You, Mr. Lucas

2005-05-10T11:31:00.000-04:00

It is hard to believe that the final STAR WARS movie is finally coming out, and that a cultural icon will at last come to an end. George Lucas’ tale of “good versus evil” has probably had more of an impact on modern pop culture than any other piece of entertainment, and will certainly go down in history as a true technical phenomenon. For some of us, it will go down as a part of our lives.

I still remember experiencing STAR WARS Episode IV the week it came out in 1977; I was 20 years old, working at my first naval duty station in New Orleans. I took a Tuesday afternoon off from work, just to catch the 2:00 showing of the movie – the first of six times that I would sit in that theatre to watch Luke Skywalker and Han Solo take on Darth Vader, and blow up the first Death Star. At night I would put the LP of the movie soundtrack on my stereo, listen to John Williams’ wonderful score, and watch the whole movie again in my mind. Even today, 28 years later, I can vividly remember first hearing those opening bars, and watching those now famous scrolling words: STAR WARS Episode IV: A New Hope.

Those who have been born since 1977 can’t really appreciate how much STAR WARS changed movie entertainment. The special effects of that first installment were like nothing ever seen before, and the new sound system designed for that movie changed theatres forever. It was obvious to many of us back then we were experiencing a new era of movie magic, one that would transform the way movies were made, and the way they would be seen from then on.

But on a deeper level, we also witnessed good, old fashioned storytelling. We saw a movie that not only entertained us, but captured our imaginations and made us long for more. We eagerly awaited the successive installments; wondering where the story would take us…wishing the story would never end.

But as it has been said, all good things must come to an end.

So to George Lucas, I say thank you. Thank you for your vision, your talent, and your years of dedication. But most of all, thank you for taking us on an amazing journey of fantasy and adventure to a time and place, “long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away”.

More "Proof" of Right Wing Extremism

2005-05-09T15:41:00.000-04:00

In an article entitled Sex Offender's Suicide Raises Questions by Allen G. Breed of the Associated Press, only one of nine people mentioned is identified by religion and party affiliation. In fact the person so identified, County Commissioner Randy Harris of Ocala, Florida, is pointed out as being "a three-term Republican with a Christian flag on his desk, the Ten Commandments 0n his office wall and a "Choose Life" license plate on his pickup".

Of course such a description is not bad, except that it is preceded in the article by Mr. Harris being accused of contributing to the cited suicide by "whipping up a kind of sexual "McCarthyism" and of being less than fully compassionate. Which seems to indicate that his politically incorrect actions are a direct result of his incorrect politics and mean spirited faith; further "proof" of the right wing extremism that is taking over our country. By golly, call Michael Moore because there is probably a movie plot here...somewhere.

As I said, no one else in the article is so identified; not the attorney working on the case, or the psychologist who wrote to corrections officials on behalf of the deceased sex offender in 1994. Nope, only the non-compassionate county commissioner whose lack of humanity is attributed to his pro-life, Republican Christianity. So once again one who is to the right of center, and who professes to believe in God, is singled out by the "un-biased" media as being wrong.

So tell me, if the religious right is taking over the country, why are the Christians the ones being treated unfairly?