Monday, October 18, 2004
Prayer of Thanksgiving
O Most Merciful Baseball Father, thou hast given
Unto thy undeserving Nation a great victory.
Many signs and omens have been given, and we,
Who wander like the Israelites in the desert,
Had lost faith.
But Thou art a Gentle Father, and have given us a rally for the ages.
Thank you, O Clement One, for the Great Papi, and
His mighty shoulders, which power many dingers unto Thy Glory
Grant, O Loving Divine Manager, that we,
Thy Unprofitable fans, might keep Thy Faith in our hearts,
So as to believe in the power of the intercession of Thy Holy Players:
St. Yaz, Immaculate Captain, ora pro nobis
St Pudge, The Ever-Clutch, ora pro nobis
St. Dewey, The Gun in Right, ora pro nobis
St. Freddie, Mendicant of CF, ora pro nobis
St. Dom, The Underappreciated, ora pro nobis
St. Steamer of the Wayward Beach Ball, ora pro nobis
St. Buckner, The Maligned and Afflicted of the Lord, ora pro nobis
St. Spaceman, Proto-Idiot, ora pro nobis
St. Pesky of the Pole, ora pro nobis
Holy Tiant, Forerunner of the Facial Hair, ora pro nobis
All Holy Fielders and Batters, ora pro nobis
If, in Thy Superabundant Generosity, Thou wast to allow
Thy Holy Idiots to be the first team to come back from 3-0,
We will declare a Holy Crusade to Arizona, to recover
The Holiest of Fenway Relics, the Head of the Thy servant
St. Ted, Holy Kid of the Homer.
Dieu li volt!
Cowboy Up!
O Most Merciful Baseball Father, thou hast given
Unto thy undeserving Nation a great victory.
Many signs and omens have been given, and we,
Who wander like the Israelites in the desert,
Had lost faith.
But Thou art a Gentle Father, and have given us a rally for the ages.
Thank you, O Clement One, for the Great Papi, and
His mighty shoulders, which power many dingers unto Thy Glory
Grant, O Loving Divine Manager, that we,
Thy Unprofitable fans, might keep Thy Faith in our hearts,
So as to believe in the power of the intercession of Thy Holy Players:
St. Yaz, Immaculate Captain, ora pro nobis
St Pudge, The Ever-Clutch, ora pro nobis
St. Dewey, The Gun in Right, ora pro nobis
St. Freddie, Mendicant of CF, ora pro nobis
St. Dom, The Underappreciated, ora pro nobis
St. Steamer of the Wayward Beach Ball, ora pro nobis
St. Buckner, The Maligned and Afflicted of the Lord, ora pro nobis
St. Spaceman, Proto-Idiot, ora pro nobis
St. Pesky of the Pole, ora pro nobis
Holy Tiant, Forerunner of the Facial Hair, ora pro nobis
All Holy Fielders and Batters, ora pro nobis
If, in Thy Superabundant Generosity, Thou wast to allow
Thy Holy Idiots to be the first team to come back from 3-0,
We will declare a Holy Crusade to Arizona, to recover
The Holiest of Fenway Relics, the Head of the Thy servant
St. Ted, Holy Kid of the Homer.
Dieu li volt!
Cowboy Up!
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Oremus
O Loving Father of all that is good on the diamond, hear our prayer!
The Holy Idiots of Landsdown Street are in grave danger,
Falling before the mercenary hordes of the Evil One.
Give them strength in this, their hour of need.
St. Cronin, Perpetual Manager, and St Yaz, Most Immaculate Captain, pray for us.
The man who would make himself an image of Your Son,
So tough in the leadoff spot all year,
Has lost his eye and swing, staying off the basepaths when he is most needed.
Grant him Your Favor, O Most Clement One, that he might pick up the ball,
and take many walks and smash many doubles, unto thy Everlasting Glory.
St Freddie, Patron of CF, and St. Dewey, Leadoff Warrior of the Lord, pray for us.
We pray that the stinky heat balm of Your healing Grace
Might come over the ankle tendons of Your servant Curt.
But if You so ordain that he must forebear,
May his stalwart support guide his brother pitchers
To many K's, and flyouts and groundouts.
Holy Tiant, Strong Arm of God, and Blessed Spaceman of the Bloody Fracas, pray for us.
The lineup, O lord, being so full of Your Idiotic Servants -
Manny and Ortiz, Millah and Trot, Tek and Mueller,
Bellhorn and He Who Has Replaced the Whiney One-
Grant that they may hit many RBI singles and doubles and dingers, which are so pleasing to You.
St. Ted, Holy Kid of the Homer, and St. Pudge, The Ever-Clutch, pray for us.
O Most Merciful Father, Your Idiots have been through the Dark Night,
Grant that they may leave behind in that Unholy Land all that ails them,
And find new life in the Most Holy of Your Temples.
St. Pesky of the Pole, and St. Dom the Underappreciated-because-of-His-evil-pinstriped-brother, pray for us.
All Holy Batters and Fielders, pray for us
May Your Servants take a Three Game Sweep at Home,
And send the Mercenary Hordes of He Who We Do Not Name
Back to their Bronx Coven, once again knowing the fury of Your Holy Crusaders
And may the ancient refrain, so rarely heard in these Dark Days, once again resound:
COWBOY UP!
Amen.
O Loving Father of all that is good on the diamond, hear our prayer!
The Holy Idiots of Landsdown Street are in grave danger,
Falling before the mercenary hordes of the Evil One.
Give them strength in this, their hour of need.
St. Cronin, Perpetual Manager, and St Yaz, Most Immaculate Captain, pray for us.
The man who would make himself an image of Your Son,
So tough in the leadoff spot all year,
Has lost his eye and swing, staying off the basepaths when he is most needed.
Grant him Your Favor, O Most Clement One, that he might pick up the ball,
and take many walks and smash many doubles, unto thy Everlasting Glory.
St Freddie, Patron of CF, and St. Dewey, Leadoff Warrior of the Lord, pray for us.
We pray that the stinky heat balm of Your healing Grace
Might come over the ankle tendons of Your servant Curt.
But if You so ordain that he must forebear,
May his stalwart support guide his brother pitchers
To many K's, and flyouts and groundouts.
Holy Tiant, Strong Arm of God, and Blessed Spaceman of the Bloody Fracas, pray for us.
The lineup, O lord, being so full of Your Idiotic Servants -
Manny and Ortiz, Millah and Trot, Tek and Mueller,
Bellhorn and He Who Has Replaced the Whiney One-
Grant that they may hit many RBI singles and doubles and dingers, which are so pleasing to You.
St. Ted, Holy Kid of the Homer, and St. Pudge, The Ever-Clutch, pray for us.
O Most Merciful Father, Your Idiots have been through the Dark Night,
Grant that they may leave behind in that Unholy Land all that ails them,
And find new life in the Most Holy of Your Temples.
St. Pesky of the Pole, and St. Dom the Underappreciated-because-of-His-evil-pinstriped-brother, pray for us.
All Holy Batters and Fielders, pray for us
May Your Servants take a Three Game Sweep at Home,
And send the Mercenary Hordes of He Who We Do Not Name
Back to their Bronx Coven, once again knowing the fury of Your Holy Crusaders
And may the ancient refrain, so rarely heard in these Dark Days, once again resound:
COWBOY UP!
Amen.
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Bishop Displays Absolute Inability to See Irony of Statement
I laughed out loud at this. I shouldn't have, but I have a perverse sense of humor.
I was looking at azcentral.com to see if by some editorial oversight they had printed my email in re: the ridiculous vice-Mayor of Mesa's op-ed piece. While there, I spotted this headline:
Bishop Seeks Probation
The article opens thusly:
Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien acknowledged for the first time publicly Friday that he feels responsible for the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian last summer.
But he implored a judge to sentence him to probation so he can "continue to serve the church and the community."
OK, Christian Charity demands that I love and pray for this poor man, who presided over the liturgical and catechetical destruction of the Diocese of Phoenix , covered for abusing priests, and then hit a man with the diocesan Buick and drove off. I'm working on it ("Just Do It" is sometimes an excellent slogan for acts of Charity as well as sneakers).
But, I think it is not outside the bounds of Charity to be able to laugh at the sheer absurdity of the statement above. I mean, if his actions as bishop are to be taken as normative of his behavior and his ideas of how to serve the church and community, wouldn't it be a greater service if the judge just locked him up?
I laughed out loud at this. I shouldn't have, but I have a perverse sense of humor.
I was looking at azcentral.com to see if by some editorial oversight they had printed my email in re: the ridiculous vice-Mayor of Mesa's op-ed piece. While there, I spotted this headline:
Bishop Seeks Probation
The article opens thusly:
Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien acknowledged for the first time publicly Friday that he feels responsible for the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian last summer.
But he implored a judge to sentence him to probation so he can "continue to serve the church and the community."
OK, Christian Charity demands that I love and pray for this poor man, who presided over the liturgical and catechetical destruction of the Diocese of Phoenix , covered for abusing priests, and then hit a man with the diocesan Buick and drove off. I'm working on it ("Just Do It" is sometimes an excellent slogan for acts of Charity as well as sneakers).
But, I think it is not outside the bounds of Charity to be able to laugh at the sheer absurdity of the statement above. I mean, if his actions as bishop are to be taken as normative of his behavior and his ideas of how to serve the church and community, wouldn't it be a greater service if the judge just locked him up?
Friday, March 19, 2004
The Vice-Mayor has a Conniption
A correspondant friend of mine sent me a link to an article on the azcentral.com web site. It is an op-ed piece by the Vice-mayor of Mesa, AZ, Dennis Kavanaugh.
It seems the Vice-mayor is somewhat dismayed at the return of the Latin Mass in the Diocese of Phoenix.
The article is an absolute screamer from a to z. A perfect weaving of popular mistaken opinion and progressive head-in-the-clouds, isn't-everything-getting-better-and-more-inclusive-and-more-socially-just delusion as to the meaning of Vat2 and the "reforms" of the 60's and 70's.
I then read Dom's take on the piece, and he inspired me to write a little missive to the azcentral people.
Here is the text of that email:
"I have just finished reading Dennis Kavanaugh's piece on Bishop Ohlmsted's recent decision to allow the Latin Mass to be said in his diocese.
"With all due respect to his vice-honor, it is a fairly vapid, nonsensical response to the bishop's action.
"First, the Second Vatican Council never stated that all liturgy in the Western Church should be said in the vernacular. In fact, the document Sacrosanctum Concilium states that the vernacular may be used in some cases, but that Latin should remain the ordinary language of the liturgy. If Mr. Kavanaugh would have taken the time to actually read the documents of the council he cited, he could have avoided this gross factual error.
"Also, his statement that 'Conservative groups such as Opus Dei have infiltrated the clergy in many communities and are subtly wielding power to influence many of these changes,' smacks of paranoid conspiracy theorizing. Where have these nefarious, ecclesial black-helicopter-types infiltrated? Does he know any such infiltrators, or is he making a generalization based on excerpts of The DaVinci Code?
"As someone who grew up in the 60's and 70's, I would also dispute the assertion that these decades were a "renaissance" for the Catholic Church. People left the Church in droves during this "renaissance", whether from bad catechesis or just aesthetic disgust at all the orange and brown abstract art that was produced by this blooming time of rebirth, I don't know. If one must wax poetic about those decades, the best one could hope for is some synonym for "transition" or even "liberation". But "renaissance"? That may be too revisionist by half.
"Lastly, I find it interesting that a man who lists Jimmy Carter as the person he most admires would be upset at the inclusion of a Latin Mass. Is this not diversity? Doesn't it increase the overall "church experience" to have the mass in not just English and Spanish, but also Latin?
"Increasing liturgical diversity might not be a groundbreaking, highly effective diplomatic endeavor like his honor's hero Mr. Carter performed in such places as North Korea, Cuba, or in helping to put President Aristide in power in Haiti, but the bishop is not a great statesman like the former President from Georgia. He can only hope that his efforts at expanding the liturgical horizons of the Diocese of Phoenix might meet with the same kind of resounding success as Mr. Carter's diplomatic efforts around the globe.
"Thank you for taking the time to read my email, [etc, etc]"
Not my best work, but it was late. I stole Dom's DaVinci line, but he has absolved me any charges of plagiarism.
The Jimmy Carter thing was kind of a reach, but I couldn't not take a poke at that being the person he most admires (please see this and this for a graphic tour of Mista Cahta's diplomatic triumphs).
I agree with the oft expressed sentiment that this sort of wailing and gnashing of teeth is generally a good sign. There's nothing so quickening to a Catholic as when one of the progressive nudniks who assisted in the deconstruction of the Church laments that the only people who still care about Her are the ones who actually believe in all the stuff they have tried to jettison. Rigid young priests. Deluded, masochistic laypeople yearning to be patriarchally oppressed. Neanderthalic bishops who want to reinstitute the inquisition and start warming the episcopal residence with copies of the Collected Poems and Reflections of Sister Joan Chittister.
Well, good news for Phoenix. This Olmsted fellow seems to know what he is about.
A correspondant friend of mine sent me a link to an article on the azcentral.com web site. It is an op-ed piece by the Vice-mayor of Mesa, AZ, Dennis Kavanaugh.
It seems the Vice-mayor is somewhat dismayed at the return of the Latin Mass in the Diocese of Phoenix.
The article is an absolute screamer from a to z. A perfect weaving of popular mistaken opinion and progressive head-in-the-clouds, isn't-everything-getting-better-and-more-inclusive-and-more-socially-just delusion as to the meaning of Vat2 and the "reforms" of the 60's and 70's.
I then read Dom's take on the piece, and he inspired me to write a little missive to the azcentral people.
Here is the text of that email:
"I have just finished reading Dennis Kavanaugh's piece on Bishop Ohlmsted's recent decision to allow the Latin Mass to be said in his diocese.
"With all due respect to his vice-honor, it is a fairly vapid, nonsensical response to the bishop's action.
"First, the Second Vatican Council never stated that all liturgy in the Western Church should be said in the vernacular. In fact, the document Sacrosanctum Concilium states that the vernacular may be used in some cases, but that Latin should remain the ordinary language of the liturgy. If Mr. Kavanaugh would have taken the time to actually read the documents of the council he cited, he could have avoided this gross factual error.
"Also, his statement that 'Conservative groups such as Opus Dei have infiltrated the clergy in many communities and are subtly wielding power to influence many of these changes,' smacks of paranoid conspiracy theorizing. Where have these nefarious, ecclesial black-helicopter-types infiltrated? Does he know any such infiltrators, or is he making a generalization based on excerpts of The DaVinci Code?
"As someone who grew up in the 60's and 70's, I would also dispute the assertion that these decades were a "renaissance" for the Catholic Church. People left the Church in droves during this "renaissance", whether from bad catechesis or just aesthetic disgust at all the orange and brown abstract art that was produced by this blooming time of rebirth, I don't know. If one must wax poetic about those decades, the best one could hope for is some synonym for "transition" or even "liberation". But "renaissance"? That may be too revisionist by half.
"Lastly, I find it interesting that a man who lists Jimmy Carter as the person he most admires would be upset at the inclusion of a Latin Mass. Is this not diversity? Doesn't it increase the overall "church experience" to have the mass in not just English and Spanish, but also Latin?
"Increasing liturgical diversity might not be a groundbreaking, highly effective diplomatic endeavor like his honor's hero Mr. Carter performed in such places as North Korea, Cuba, or in helping to put President Aristide in power in Haiti, but the bishop is not a great statesman like the former President from Georgia. He can only hope that his efforts at expanding the liturgical horizons of the Diocese of Phoenix might meet with the same kind of resounding success as Mr. Carter's diplomatic efforts around the globe.
"Thank you for taking the time to read my email, [etc, etc]"
Not my best work, but it was late. I stole Dom's DaVinci line, but he has absolved me any charges of plagiarism.
The Jimmy Carter thing was kind of a reach, but I couldn't not take a poke at that being the person he most admires (please see this and this for a graphic tour of Mista Cahta's diplomatic triumphs).
I agree with the oft expressed sentiment that this sort of wailing and gnashing of teeth is generally a good sign. There's nothing so quickening to a Catholic as when one of the progressive nudniks who assisted in the deconstruction of the Church laments that the only people who still care about Her are the ones who actually believe in all the stuff they have tried to jettison. Rigid young priests. Deluded, masochistic laypeople yearning to be patriarchally oppressed. Neanderthalic bishops who want to reinstitute the inquisition and start warming the episcopal residence with copies of the Collected Poems and Reflections of Sister Joan Chittister.
Well, good news for Phoenix. This Olmsted fellow seems to know what he is about.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Now this is a good quiz
While doing a quiz in re: What cartoon dog are you? (Peabody, by the way), linked by the Summas, I came across the following - What lesser-known Simpsons character are you?
My Result:
Is here. Due to some blue language, and because my wife insists that I keep the profanity down on the blog, I'll just give you the link to my result - Krusty the Clown.
Krusty is one of my absolute favs. Nothing is funnier than the "Jazz Singer" episode where we learn that Krusty is the son of a Rabbi (at the Simpsons' house, he says the traditional Hebrew meal blessing, to which Homer comments, "Ha, ha, ha, ha, he's talking funny!"). The scene where Rabbi Hyman Krustofski walks in on his son doing illicit clown practice in his room is priceless.
Looking over the possible results, I realized that the Simpsons has created more hilarious, archetypically right on characters than any show in history. I need to see if I can get the "golden years" on DVD.
While doing a quiz in re: What cartoon dog are you? (Peabody, by the way), linked by the Summas, I came across the following - What lesser-known Simpsons character are you?
My Result:
Is here. Due to some blue language, and because my wife insists that I keep the profanity down on the blog, I'll just give you the link to my result - Krusty the Clown.
Krusty is one of my absolute favs. Nothing is funnier than the "Jazz Singer" episode where we learn that Krusty is the son of a Rabbi (at the Simpsons' house, he says the traditional Hebrew meal blessing, to which Homer comments, "Ha, ha, ha, ha, he's talking funny!"). The scene where Rabbi Hyman Krustofski walks in on his son doing illicit clown practice in his room is priceless.
Looking over the possible results, I realized that the Simpsons has created more hilarious, archetypically right on characters than any show in history. I need to see if I can get the "golden years" on DVD.
Monday, March 08, 2004
Do you believe in hard work and hockey demagoguery? YES!
My review of Miracle is up at Popcorn Critics.
My review of Miracle is up at Popcorn Critics.
Friday, March 05, 2004
The Great Leader Presumptive
If you needed any reason NOT to vote for John Kerry, READ THIS STORY.
It's nice that these paragons of Far East journalistic impartiality have given us a clear contrast between the candidates.
If you needed any reason NOT to vote for John Kerry, READ THIS STORY.
It's nice that these paragons of Far East journalistic impartiality have given us a clear contrast between the candidates.
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Great reports from the Lowest of the Fiery Depths!
That wacky demon Moloch has started a blog that has lots of interesting inside 411 on how good modern times are for the child-devouring horned one.
The voter guide is particularly helpful.
Drop by and see what is going on at the spiritual center of the Culture of Death!
That wacky demon Moloch has started a blog that has lots of interesting inside 411 on how good modern times are for the child-devouring horned one.
The voter guide is particularly helpful.
Drop by and see what is going on at the spiritual center of the Culture of Death!
Friday, February 27, 2004
Holy Opus Omnia, Batman!
via Our Favorite Elderly Oppressor
The Complete Works of John Henry Cardinal Newman are now online!!
Hosanna! Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
Bookmark and refer back to it often. I haven't been this happy since I found the Summa at New Advent!
via Our Favorite Elderly Oppressor
The Complete Works of John Henry Cardinal Newman are now online!!
Hosanna! Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
Bookmark and refer back to it often. I haven't been this happy since I found the Summa at New Advent!
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Well, that's nice
In a quest to get Terry to drink ALL of her Diet Cokes before lent, I am posting another quiz result (Check Sancta Sanctis for details of the rather tame soda drinking game).
And so, we see what a life of sin will get you:
Bree
How Far Would You Have Come Still Bearing the Ring?
brought to you by Quizilla
In a quest to get Terry to drink ALL of her Diet Cokes before lent, I am posting another quiz result (Check Sancta Sanctis for details of the rather tame soda drinking game).
And so, we see what a life of sin will get you:
Bree
How Far Would You Have Come Still Bearing the Ring?
brought to you by Quizilla
Book Quiz, Got One of My Favs
Took a What-Book-are-You kinda quiz that I got from my new favorite priest blog (sorry Father S), Catholic Ragemonkey.
My result was:
I LOVE this book, and Bradbury in general. I love his bio, never went to college. Educated himself at the LA public library. Super, thoughtful writer.
Here's the line that hooked me when I first read F 451, and then came home to roost later in my life:
Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of the dozen abortions you've had, go home and think of that and your damn Caesarian sections, too, and your children who hate your guts! Go home and think how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it?
It was the first time in my good, Northeastern educated life that I thought about abortion not as a political question, but as a moral question.
Fast forward to my first semester of Philosophy at the College of Saint Thomas More in Fort Worth. We were studying the Aristotelian concept of poteniality and actuality. I remember the whole thing hitting me in a flash. The connections were made in my mind and I saw the issue clearly:
Abortion and Contraception are evil. Not just objectionable, but evil. They actively take the potential and stop it from becoming actual, each in a different way. But they are the same thing fundamentally. And all this before I believed a single word of the Gospel.
So, I give thanks all the time for Mr. Bradbury and his remarkable little story.
Took a What-Book-are-You kinda quiz that I got from my new favorite priest blog (sorry Father S), Catholic Ragemonkey.
My result was:
You're Fahrenheit 451!
by Ray Bradbury
Having wanted to be a firefighter much of your life, you've recently
discovered the job wasn't exactly what you were looking for. While ignorance seems like
the result of oppression, it all began with people just wanting to be ignorant. As you
realize more about the sordid world around you, you decide to watch less TV and work on
your memorization skills. Though your memory will save you in the end, don't forget to
practice running from dogs as well.
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
I LOVE this book, and Bradbury in general. I love his bio, never went to college. Educated himself at the LA public library. Super, thoughtful writer.
Here's the line that hooked me when I first read F 451, and then came home to roost later in my life:
Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of the dozen abortions you've had, go home and think of that and your damn Caesarian sections, too, and your children who hate your guts! Go home and think how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it?
It was the first time in my good, Northeastern educated life that I thought about abortion not as a political question, but as a moral question.
Fast forward to my first semester of Philosophy at the College of Saint Thomas More in Fort Worth. We were studying the Aristotelian concept of poteniality and actuality. I remember the whole thing hitting me in a flash. The connections were made in my mind and I saw the issue clearly:
Abortion and Contraception are evil. Not just objectionable, but evil. They actively take the potential and stop it from becoming actual, each in a different way. But they are the same thing fundamentally. And all this before I believed a single word of the Gospel.
So, I give thanks all the time for Mr. Bradbury and his remarkable little story.
"Canadian Jewish Columnist has LOST HIS MIND!"
It is quite obvious that columnist Ezra Levant of the Calgary Sun has completely lost his mind.
Totally gone off the tracks. How else could you explain this review of "The Passion of the Christ" where he ABSOLVES THE MOVIE OF CHARGES OF ANTI-SEMITISM. I mean, the guy went to Hebrew school, for crying out loud! And he says the rendition of the Seder is accurate! Man, this guy must be a self-hating Jew.
No other possible explanation.
Of course, there is the possibility he's being fair and unbiased, but if that were so, he'd be condemning it! Yup, the man has lost his mind.
Gratias tibi ago to Imperator Marcus Sheaus for the link
It is quite obvious that columnist Ezra Levant of the Calgary Sun has completely lost his mind.
Totally gone off the tracks. How else could you explain this review of "The Passion of the Christ" where he ABSOLVES THE MOVIE OF CHARGES OF ANTI-SEMITISM. I mean, the guy went to Hebrew school, for crying out loud! And he says the rendition of the Seder is accurate! Man, this guy must be a self-hating Jew.
No other possible explanation.
Of course, there is the possibility he's being fair and unbiased, but if that were so, he'd be condemning it! Yup, the man has lost his mind.
Gratias tibi ago to Imperator Marcus Sheaus for the link
About Time, Dubyah
Apparently, President Bush's polling now shows that the Federal Marriage Amendment is a winner.
That sounds a little cynical, I know. And I know he assured Deal Hudson and Peggy Noonan and K-Lo and everybody last month that he was on board. But it is an election year, and so I imagine that Karl Rove is vetting everything past the polls these days.
But, regardless of political motives, I am happy that he is now going to back the amendment. Let the representatives of the republic vote on it.
By the way, it just slipped past me that Bush appointed Pickering and Pryor to the bench as recess appointments. If anyone knows, is that something that Presidents don't do because it's a political taboo? It seems an excellent answer to the problem. Why didn't Bubba do that when his guys couldn't get out of committee? Or does the nominee have to make it out of committee first?
Apparently, President Bush's polling now shows that the Federal Marriage Amendment is a winner.
That sounds a little cynical, I know. And I know he assured Deal Hudson and Peggy Noonan and K-Lo and everybody last month that he was on board. But it is an election year, and so I imagine that Karl Rove is vetting everything past the polls these days.
But, regardless of political motives, I am happy that he is now going to back the amendment. Let the representatives of the republic vote on it.
By the way, it just slipped past me that Bush appointed Pickering and Pryor to the bench as recess appointments. If anyone knows, is that something that Presidents don't do because it's a political taboo? It seems an excellent answer to the problem. Why didn't Bubba do that when his guys couldn't get out of committee? Or does the nominee have to make it out of committee first?
Monday, February 23, 2004
Being and Time for a Beer Bong
I found this quiz over at The Old Oligarch. I took it twice (as the answers were not always very satisfying), with two different results:
You are Martin Heidegger! Your reputation is
stained a bit by the fact that you were a
member of the Nazi party, but your
groundbreaking Being and Time is still
read by a whole lot of people. You overuse the
hyphen, and make up a lot of words. You died in
1976.
What 20th Century Theorist are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
and . .
You are an undergraduate! Your mind has not yet
warped into the utter oddness of contemporary
theory. If you put down the beer bong, and
start reading dreadfully weird theory, you'll
probably have a better chance of not getting
the answer designed to make fun of you.
What 20th Century Theorist are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Nice dichotomy, that.
I found this quiz over at The Old Oligarch. I took it twice (as the answers were not always very satisfying), with two different results:
You are Martin Heidegger! Your reputation is
stained a bit by the fact that you were a
member of the Nazi party, but your
groundbreaking Being and Time is still
read by a whole lot of people. You overuse the
hyphen, and make up a lot of words. You died in
1976.
What 20th Century Theorist are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
and . .
You are an undergraduate! Your mind has not yet
warped into the utter oddness of contemporary
theory. If you put down the beer bong, and
start reading dreadfully weird theory, you'll
probably have a better chance of not getting
the answer designed to make fun of you.
What 20th Century Theorist are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Nice dichotomy, that.
John Kerry, War Hero
I have no military chops with which to criticize John Kerry. Never served. Wouldn't be right for me to presume to call into question anyone's service.
This guy, however, does have the chops.
I don't like John Kerry. If he was a Republican, I wouldn't like him. If he was pro-life, I wouldn't like him.
Massachusetts is heaped full of negative stories about John Kerry. I doubt you'll hear a lot of them, but they are there.
Howie Carr, a Boston columnist/radio host (who I think gave Kerry the nickname "Live Shot") says that the best way to get the phones ringing on a slow day is to ask people to call in with their favorite John Kerry stories.
Love the gold digger line.
And this from Dave Barry in the Miami Herald (who is apparently running for President as an independent, focusing on the issue of harmonica safety and harmonica-related deaths):
In conclusion, I want to extend my sincere best wishes to all of my opponents, Republican and Democrat, and to state that, in the unlikely event I am not elected, I will support whoever is, even if it is Sen. John Kerry, who once came, with his entourage, into a ski-rental shop in Ketchum, Idaho, where I was waiting patiently with my family to rent snowboards, and Sen. Kerry used one of his lackeys to flagrantly barge in line ahead of us and everybody else, as if he had some urgent senatorial need for a snowboard, like there was about to be an emergency meeting, out on the slopes, of the Joint Halfpipe Committee. I say it's time for us, as a nation, to put this unpleasant incident behind us. I know that I, for one, have forgotten all about it. That is how fair and balanced I am.
My father says he knows of shady dealing by Kerry in MA. He won't name names, though. He is the soul of discretion.
As I said, I just don't like the guy. He makes me feel, well, icky. Not deep analysis, I know, but that's how he makes me feel. A tragedy if he gets himself elected.
I have no military chops with which to criticize John Kerry. Never served. Wouldn't be right for me to presume to call into question anyone's service.
This guy, however, does have the chops.
I don't like John Kerry. If he was a Republican, I wouldn't like him. If he was pro-life, I wouldn't like him.
Massachusetts is heaped full of negative stories about John Kerry. I doubt you'll hear a lot of them, but they are there.
Howie Carr, a Boston columnist/radio host (who I think gave Kerry the nickname "Live Shot") says that the best way to get the phones ringing on a slow day is to ask people to call in with their favorite John Kerry stories.
Love the gold digger line.
And this from Dave Barry in the Miami Herald (who is apparently running for President as an independent, focusing on the issue of harmonica safety and harmonica-related deaths):
In conclusion, I want to extend my sincere best wishes to all of my opponents, Republican and Democrat, and to state that, in the unlikely event I am not elected, I will support whoever is, even if it is Sen. John Kerry, who once came, with his entourage, into a ski-rental shop in Ketchum, Idaho, where I was waiting patiently with my family to rent snowboards, and Sen. Kerry used one of his lackeys to flagrantly barge in line ahead of us and everybody else, as if he had some urgent senatorial need for a snowboard, like there was about to be an emergency meeting, out on the slopes, of the Joint Halfpipe Committee. I say it's time for us, as a nation, to put this unpleasant incident behind us. I know that I, for one, have forgotten all about it. That is how fair and balanced I am.
My father says he knows of shady dealing by Kerry in MA. He won't name names, though. He is the soul of discretion.
As I said, I just don't like the guy. He makes me feel, well, icky. Not deep analysis, I know, but that's how he makes me feel. A tragedy if he gets himself elected.
Advice on Preparing for the Passion
Some thoughts from Barbara Nicolosi on preparing oneself to see the "Passion of the Christ".
Very good thoughts, here. Warnky and I are going to see it after mass Wednesday night. Lizzie is not going to go until after the baby is born. Wise decision, I think.
I'll let y'all know what I think of it. Or not. I'll make that call after the movie.
But if it is everything I think it is, I will DEFINITELY be going to confession on Thursday.
Some thoughts from Barbara Nicolosi on preparing oneself to see the "Passion of the Christ".
Very good thoughts, here. Warnky and I are going to see it after mass Wednesday night. Lizzie is not going to go until after the baby is born. Wise decision, I think.
I'll let y'all know what I think of it. Or not. I'll make that call after the movie.
But if it is everything I think it is, I will DEFINITELY be going to confession on Thursday.
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Oh, the Places You'll Go (or have gone)!
create your own visited states map
or write about it on the open travel guide
create your own visited states map
or write about it on the open travel guide
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Now here's some ecumenism I can live with!
Duty, honor, sacrifice. A story that needs to be told more often.
The Four Chaplains
Duty, honor, sacrifice. A story that needs to be told more often.
The Four Chaplains
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
If nothing matters, why do I care what kind of Dysfunctional Care Bear I am?
Thanks to Terry at the Summas via our favorite Tart Motley, I now know that I am:
Nihilist Bear
Which Dysfunctional Care Bear Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Good stuff. If they don't have "Disgruntled Ciceronian Bear", this is my next choice.
N.B. - Great trivia:
if you look at Thug Bear, you will notice he has a gun on his stomach (try to ignore the picture caption)
That gun is a Laser Pistol from the best, most underrated conservative TV show of all time Battlestar Galactica. I will post my theory as to why it was conservative at a later date.
Thanks to Terry at the Summas via our favorite Tart Motley, I now know that I am:
Nihilist Bear
Which Dysfunctional Care Bear Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Good stuff. If they don't have "Disgruntled Ciceronian Bear", this is my next choice.
N.B. - Great trivia:
if you look at Thug Bear, you will notice he has a gun on his stomach (try to ignore the picture caption)
That gun is a Laser Pistol from the best, most underrated conservative TV show of all time Battlestar Galactica. I will post my theory as to why it was conservative at a later date.
Monday, January 26, 2004
License to Il
My favorite Objectivists, Cox & Forkum (link rightward), have once again drawn attention, literally, to the machinations of the last, great Stalinist: DRNK Grand-Poobah-for-Life Kim Jong Il.
The man is amazing. He takes crazy/brutal to a whole new level. And cunning as a fox.
The most dangerous man in the world.
My favorite Objectivists, Cox & Forkum (link rightward), have once again drawn attention, literally, to the machinations of the last, great Stalinist: DRNK Grand-Poobah-for-Life Kim Jong Il.
The man is amazing. He takes crazy/brutal to a whole new level. And cunning as a fox.
The most dangerous man in the world.
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Is there an Anglosphere or not?
This may be a passé question, but it is one I have been fascinated with for some time. Is the support of Britain and Australia during the Iraq war an accident of who happened to be in power at the time, or is it indicative of some larger phenomenon? Is there something in the shared political and social life of those countries which have grown from English roots? Or am I just romanticizing a historical convergence of leaders who all wanted to do the same thing at the same time?
I would like to believe the former, but have not given it real assent as of yet. I would like to believe that the sentiments that I have for my new favorite socialist, Tony Blair, and for Prime Minister Howard in Australia are rooted in some great Anglo-American-Australian tradition that values freedom above political security. I still get teary thinking of Blair at the SOTU address after 9-11, and Bush remarking that America has no greater friend than Great Britain. Great stuff.
But I may be fooling myself. I realize that the anglosphere may not be real, but just a good spin on a singular situation.
Keeping that in mind, I'm feeling all Anglofreaky today, reading this super article by Caroline Overington, the New York correspondent for the Australian paper The Age. If my theory of the Anglosphere is wrong, it's the kind of wrong I can live with.
This may be a passé question, but it is one I have been fascinated with for some time. Is the support of Britain and Australia during the Iraq war an accident of who happened to be in power at the time, or is it indicative of some larger phenomenon? Is there something in the shared political and social life of those countries which have grown from English roots? Or am I just romanticizing a historical convergence of leaders who all wanted to do the same thing at the same time?
I would like to believe the former, but have not given it real assent as of yet. I would like to believe that the sentiments that I have for my new favorite socialist, Tony Blair, and for Prime Minister Howard in Australia are rooted in some great Anglo-American-Australian tradition that values freedom above political security. I still get teary thinking of Blair at the SOTU address after 9-11, and Bush remarking that America has no greater friend than Great Britain. Great stuff.
But I may be fooling myself. I realize that the anglosphere may not be real, but just a good spin on a singular situation.
Keeping that in mind, I'm feeling all Anglofreaky today, reading this super article by Caroline Overington, the New York correspondent for the Australian paper The Age. If my theory of the Anglosphere is wrong, it's the kind of wrong I can live with.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Environmentalism, the new Religion
The Curt Jester Has a piece about environmentalism as the Atheist religion.
After reading it, I Googled to find the Michael Crichton speech referenced in the article. What I found was somewhat surprising. It's a really interesting speech.
And while I shudder to think what his analysis of the Catholic Faith would sound like, I agree with his critique of the environmentalist's approach to fact when it conflicts with the accepted Green dogma. I have always thought that for a movement that is supposed to be based on scientific principles, environmentalism and its most radical adherents are amazingly unscientific when shown data that does not support their theories.
I particularly liked his jab at the Rousseauian "Noble Savage" and "Gentle Native Americans Living in Harmony with the World" myths.
And here is an eye-opener:
Although the preachers of environmentalism have been yelling about population for fifty years, over the last decade world population seems to be taking an unexpected turn. Fertility rates are falling almost everywhere. As a result, over the course of my lifetime the thoughtful predictions for total world population have gone from a high of 20 billion, to 15 billion, to 11 billion (which was the UN estimate around 1990) to now 9 billion, and soon, perhaps less. There are some who think that world population will peak in 2050 and then start to decline. There are some who predict we will have fewer people in 2100 than we do today. Is this a reason to rejoice, to say halleluiah? Certainly not. Without a pause, we now hear about the coming crisis of world economy from a shrinking population. We hear about the impending crisis of an aging population. Nobody anywhere will say that the core fears expressed for most of my life have turned out not to be true. As we have moved into the future, these doomsday visions vanished, like a mirage in the desert. They were never there---though they still appear, in the future. As mirages do.
Now, chances are he'd say the Resurrection was a mirage, I don't know. But his critique of the environmental position is right on.
I may buy a replacement copy of The Andromeda Strain to show my support.
The Curt Jester Has a piece about environmentalism as the Atheist religion.
After reading it, I Googled to find the Michael Crichton speech referenced in the article. What I found was somewhat surprising. It's a really interesting speech.
And while I shudder to think what his analysis of the Catholic Faith would sound like, I agree with his critique of the environmentalist's approach to fact when it conflicts with the accepted Green dogma. I have always thought that for a movement that is supposed to be based on scientific principles, environmentalism and its most radical adherents are amazingly unscientific when shown data that does not support their theories.
I particularly liked his jab at the Rousseauian "Noble Savage" and "Gentle Native Americans Living in Harmony with the World" myths.
And here is an eye-opener:
Although the preachers of environmentalism have been yelling about population for fifty years, over the last decade world population seems to be taking an unexpected turn. Fertility rates are falling almost everywhere. As a result, over the course of my lifetime the thoughtful predictions for total world population have gone from a high of 20 billion, to 15 billion, to 11 billion (which was the UN estimate around 1990) to now 9 billion, and soon, perhaps less. There are some who think that world population will peak in 2050 and then start to decline. There are some who predict we will have fewer people in 2100 than we do today. Is this a reason to rejoice, to say halleluiah? Certainly not. Without a pause, we now hear about the coming crisis of world economy from a shrinking population. We hear about the impending crisis of an aging population. Nobody anywhere will say that the core fears expressed for most of my life have turned out not to be true. As we have moved into the future, these doomsday visions vanished, like a mirage in the desert. They were never there---though they still appear, in the future. As mirages do.
Now, chances are he'd say the Resurrection was a mirage, I don't know. But his critique of the environmental position is right on.
I may buy a replacement copy of The Andromeda Strain to show my support.
Dean Blows a gasket
This is the funniest damn thing I have heard in long time. Here's Byron York's take on Dean's Iowa speech in Nat'l Review.
And here is an audio clip of Deans' imitation of Randy "Macho-Man" Savage at Wrestlemania III:
CAUTION! DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS CLIP WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DRINKING A COKE OR ANY OTHER BEVERAGE. WILL CAUSE VIOLENT LAUGHING SPASMS THAT COULD RESULT IN "MILK OUT THE NOSE" SYNDROME.
The man is the best thing to happen to politics since Jim Trafacant. I wish he had a catchy phrase like Trafacant's "Beam me up, Scotty!" Given that it appears that his handlers and speech writers are all ex-WWF performers, maybe something like "Can you smell what the Gov's cookin'?!"
The man is a train wreck waiting to happen. And it's super. Just think, this is the man that Al Gore, the service Unions, and the bulk of Dem support has gone to so far. They have to stick with him. If he is prone to these sorts of personality retrogrades and yet still wins the nomination, the Dems are sunk.
But how much fun would it be to see President Dean give a speech like this at the UN? That would be priceless.
This is the funniest damn thing I have heard in long time. Here's Byron York's take on Dean's Iowa speech in Nat'l Review.
And here is an audio clip of Deans' imitation of Randy "Macho-Man" Savage at Wrestlemania III:
CAUTION! DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS CLIP WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DRINKING A COKE OR ANY OTHER BEVERAGE. WILL CAUSE VIOLENT LAUGHING SPASMS THAT COULD RESULT IN "MILK OUT THE NOSE" SYNDROME.
The man is the best thing to happen to politics since Jim Trafacant. I wish he had a catchy phrase like Trafacant's "Beam me up, Scotty!" Given that it appears that his handlers and speech writers are all ex-WWF performers, maybe something like "Can you smell what the Gov's cookin'?!"
The man is a train wreck waiting to happen. And it's super. Just think, this is the man that Al Gore, the service Unions, and the bulk of Dem support has gone to so far. They have to stick with him. If he is prone to these sorts of personality retrogrades and yet still wins the nomination, the Dems are sunk.
But how much fun would it be to see President Dean give a speech like this at the UN? That would be priceless.
Da na, da na na na na na, HEY!
In case you were wondering, that is my poor translation of Gary Glitter's "Rock N' Roll Part 2", the preferred anthem of the Fanatical Foxboro Fan Legion of the New England Patriots.
And once again that song is echoing around NE as Bill from Annapolis is leading the Pats to their second Super Bowl in 3 years.
As a lifelong Pats fan, this is a situation I have trouble dealing with. The 2001 team was awesome, the way they kept upsetting the favorites and eeking out tough games. But that was one year. Every franchise is capable of having one good year.
But now I'm faced with something else. 15 straight wins (most in one season since '72 Dolphins). 7 point favorites. Accolades, hosannas! Annoitning of a possible Dynasty in the era of no Dynasties.
This is far too much for one man to bear. The Pats do not do this. All of my football sureties are slipping away. We NEVER are the best team in a Super Bowl.
I'll have to start telling myself that we're going to lose. No shot. Carolina is going to beat us into the ground with their running game and make us look like the old Patsies. It's the only way I can stay grounded in this time of great expectation.
In case you were wondering, that is my poor translation of Gary Glitter's "Rock N' Roll Part 2", the preferred anthem of the Fanatical Foxboro Fan Legion of the New England Patriots.
And once again that song is echoing around NE as Bill from Annapolis is leading the Pats to their second Super Bowl in 3 years.
As a lifelong Pats fan, this is a situation I have trouble dealing with. The 2001 team was awesome, the way they kept upsetting the favorites and eeking out tough games. But that was one year. Every franchise is capable of having one good year.
But now I'm faced with something else. 15 straight wins (most in one season since '72 Dolphins). 7 point favorites. Accolades, hosannas! Annoitning of a possible Dynasty in the era of no Dynasties.
This is far too much for one man to bear. The Pats do not do this. All of my football sureties are slipping away. We NEVER are the best team in a Super Bowl.
I'll have to start telling myself that we're going to lose. No shot. Carolina is going to beat us into the ground with their running game and make us look like the old Patsies. It's the only way I can stay grounded in this time of great expectation.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Somebody get the IOC on the horn, I've got some new events that need to be included in Athens 2004
Over at the inimitable Summa Mamas, Terri(y) has this to say (I can never remember if Terri(y) is "y" and Micky(i) is "i" or vice versa):
I've not read the article yet, because I have not had 5 minutes of uninterrupted quiet time today. They phone rung off the wall, McBaby was in and out of the refrigerator continually (and believe me, GRAPES EVERYWHERE is a hideous game to play) . . .
I know that "Grapes Everywhere" game. It is one of Mac's favorites. Almost as popular in my house as "The Juicebox Squeeze Challenge", where contestants are judged on fluid height and distance. Mac and Auggie are both Jr Olympians in the Juicebox Pentathlon.
The other day, however, we discovered a new and exciting game.
Auggie was choo-chooing some of his favorite trains on the floor next to me, but Mackie was nowhere to be seen. My wife, who was sewing away in her studio, says, in a voice much like Samuel or Nathan at their most prophetic: "Hey, where's Mackie?"
All was quiet in the house, but it was that quiet that sits you bolt upright in your chair when you finally realize its enormous stillness, with an exclamation of "WHAT'S GOING ON?!!!" Something was amiss. I walked into the other room and saw this as I went:
In the hall, small, fresh droplets of the pink paint we are using in Scagel Mk 3's room decorate the hardwood floors.
Then Mac, who walks out of the bathroom and stops dead in his tracks when he sees me. He goes immediately pale.
"What are you doing, buddy?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Really, what's up in the bathroom?"
"Weeeeeellllll, I was just doing sumpthing."
I walk into the bathroom and the old-hanging-off-the-wall type sink is pink. Totally PINK. The water is running and a paint brush is being cleaned by the cold H2O, obviously refreshing itself from it child-sponsored endeavors.
"LIZZZZZZIIIIEEEEE!"
"[CRY, CRY CRY]"
"It's OK, buddy."
I was upset, but so shocked by the humor of the whole situation that I was that kind of over-the-top magnanimous that I find is my default reaction to such situations as painted sinks, poopies on the floor, and sharp butcher knives being used as train bridges. I was trying to decide if I should roll on the floor laughing or use the new closet pole I had just put up as a switch. Luckily, I found a happy medium.
I was Helpful, "let's get this cleared up" Daddy. The paint was fresh and came up easily with a wet cloth. No lasting harm done.
Once that was done, I morphed, a la The Wonder Twins, into "Wroth of God" Daddy. "Form of, cold rage! Shape of, Bulging neck veins!"
Needless to say Scagel MK 1 was doing not much of anything constructive that hour that didn't involve sitting on his bed without toys. Well, maybe it was only 10 minutes, but the kid is so cute, it's hard to stay too mad at him for any length of time. "It's OK, Daddy, we'll get some paper towels! Is that a good idea?" He could charm the pants off the most hardbitten, anti-child cynic. He's just that adorable. It's becoming something of a disciplinary hurddle.
The next day we went to see "Cheaper by the Dozen". It was not the most amazing or highbrow film I've ever seen, but I liked it immensely. I'm sure my initiation into the "Sink Painting Time Trials" Event had something to do with my reaction to the film.
Over at the inimitable Summa Mamas, Terri(y) has this to say (I can never remember if Terri(y) is "y" and Micky(i) is "i" or vice versa):
I've not read the article yet, because I have not had 5 minutes of uninterrupted quiet time today. They phone rung off the wall, McBaby was in and out of the refrigerator continually (and believe me, GRAPES EVERYWHERE is a hideous game to play) . . .
I know that "Grapes Everywhere" game. It is one of Mac's favorites. Almost as popular in my house as "The Juicebox Squeeze Challenge", where contestants are judged on fluid height and distance. Mac and Auggie are both Jr Olympians in the Juicebox Pentathlon.
The other day, however, we discovered a new and exciting game.
Auggie was choo-chooing some of his favorite trains on the floor next to me, but Mackie was nowhere to be seen. My wife, who was sewing away in her studio, says, in a voice much like Samuel or Nathan at their most prophetic: "Hey, where's Mackie?"
All was quiet in the house, but it was that quiet that sits you bolt upright in your chair when you finally realize its enormous stillness, with an exclamation of "WHAT'S GOING ON?!!!" Something was amiss. I walked into the other room and saw this as I went:
In the hall, small, fresh droplets of the pink paint we are using in Scagel Mk 3's room decorate the hardwood floors.
Then Mac, who walks out of the bathroom and stops dead in his tracks when he sees me. He goes immediately pale.
"What are you doing, buddy?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Really, what's up in the bathroom?"
"Weeeeeellllll, I was just doing sumpthing."
I walk into the bathroom and the old-hanging-off-the-wall type sink is pink. Totally PINK. The water is running and a paint brush is being cleaned by the cold H2O, obviously refreshing itself from it child-sponsored endeavors.
"LIZZZZZZIIIIEEEEE!"
"[CRY, CRY CRY]"
"It's OK, buddy."
I was upset, but so shocked by the humor of the whole situation that I was that kind of over-the-top magnanimous that I find is my default reaction to such situations as painted sinks, poopies on the floor, and sharp butcher knives being used as train bridges. I was trying to decide if I should roll on the floor laughing or use the new closet pole I had just put up as a switch. Luckily, I found a happy medium.
I was Helpful, "let's get this cleared up" Daddy. The paint was fresh and came up easily with a wet cloth. No lasting harm done.
Once that was done, I morphed, a la The Wonder Twins, into "Wroth of God" Daddy. "Form of, cold rage! Shape of, Bulging neck veins!"
Needless to say Scagel MK 1 was doing not much of anything constructive that hour that didn't involve sitting on his bed without toys. Well, maybe it was only 10 minutes, but the kid is so cute, it's hard to stay too mad at him for any length of time. "It's OK, Daddy, we'll get some paper towels! Is that a good idea?" He could charm the pants off the most hardbitten, anti-child cynic. He's just that adorable. It's becoming something of a disciplinary hurddle.
The next day we went to see "Cheaper by the Dozen". It was not the most amazing or highbrow film I've ever seen, but I liked it immensely. I'm sure my initiation into the "Sink Painting Time Trials" Event had something to do with my reaction to the film.
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Hey, we're alive
Sorry about light blogging. Comment if anyone actually noticed.
I'm still in thrall to my Xbox. And yes, I have upgraded my lightsaber AND have my blitz package where I want it. I am the greatest Jedi/football coach on the Eastside of Ft Worth. Oy, when you read it in print, it seems so much more pathetic. Is there no limit to my geekdom? It is becoming a near occasion to sin: "Daddy, will you come read to us?" "Mac, can't you see that it's 4th-and-2 from the 12 yardline? This is a critical drive!!!!" "MOOOOOMMMMMMYYYYY!"
Elizabeth is busy with actual, concrete, real-world concerns.
Also, general Thanksgiving/Advent/pre-Christmas activities have curtailed our ability to blog.
I'm sure something will get us back into the swing. Lots of interesting things happening in the world.
Well, see all y'all later (see, Terry, a Yankee can properly use the plural of y'all when necessary).
Sorry about light blogging. Comment if anyone actually noticed.
I'm still in thrall to my Xbox. And yes, I have upgraded my lightsaber AND have my blitz package where I want it. I am the greatest Jedi/football coach on the Eastside of Ft Worth. Oy, when you read it in print, it seems so much more pathetic. Is there no limit to my geekdom? It is becoming a near occasion to sin: "Daddy, will you come read to us?" "Mac, can't you see that it's 4th-and-2 from the 12 yardline? This is a critical drive!!!!" "MOOOOOMMMMMMYYYYY!"
Elizabeth is busy with actual, concrete, real-world concerns.
Also, general Thanksgiving/Advent/pre-Christmas activities have curtailed our ability to blog.
I'm sure something will get us back into the swing. Lots of interesting things happening in the world.
Well, see all y'all later (see, Terry, a Yankee can properly use the plural of y'all when necessary).
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
The Bay State once again shines forth as a beacon of all that is pure and good
Dr. Patrick always told us that the two most Calvinist places in the Western World, Boston and Amsterdam, are also the ones that have led the way into post-Christian moral collapse.
Well, my home state has again, reliably, helped lead the way into the Brave New World, zip code 02108.
Mass Supremes vote 4-3 that man/woman only marriages unconstitutional, but punt back to the legislature for a solution. Way to pass the buck, guys.
Does anyone in MA (Irish Elk) know if they will pass the marriage amendment before the 180 day court deadline? I doubt it, but you never know. The vote in MA is weird, and the pols may not want to tick off the blue collar vote. I have long since given up hope that they would legislate based on principle.
I love the quotes from the plaintiffs' briefs. I'll let Morrison or someone more qualified parse them for you. Suffice it to say that the complete abstraction of Western men/womyn/entities is entering its final stages. Pretty soon you'll be able to marry your ficas tree because, I mean, you love the geist of the thing, right? What does the body have to do with that?
I prefer the gay rights arguments that take a completely materialistic stance. I'll take "it feels good" materialism over my-spirit-makes-contact-with-his-spirit, sweet-mystery-of-life idealism any day. It seems more grounded, if nothing else.
P.S. - Over in The Corner, Robert Alt clarifies what the SCOMA did by defering to the legislature.
Dr. Patrick always told us that the two most Calvinist places in the Western World, Boston and Amsterdam, are also the ones that have led the way into post-Christian moral collapse.
Well, my home state has again, reliably, helped lead the way into the Brave New World, zip code 02108.
Mass Supremes vote 4-3 that man/woman only marriages unconstitutional, but punt back to the legislature for a solution. Way to pass the buck, guys.
Does anyone in MA (Irish Elk) know if they will pass the marriage amendment before the 180 day court deadline? I doubt it, but you never know. The vote in MA is weird, and the pols may not want to tick off the blue collar vote. I have long since given up hope that they would legislate based on principle.
I love the quotes from the plaintiffs' briefs. I'll let Morrison or someone more qualified parse them for you. Suffice it to say that the complete abstraction of Western men/womyn/entities is entering its final stages. Pretty soon you'll be able to marry your ficas tree because, I mean, you love the geist of the thing, right? What does the body have to do with that?
I prefer the gay rights arguments that take a completely materialistic stance. I'll take "it feels good" materialism over my-spirit-makes-contact-with-his-spirit, sweet-mystery-of-life idealism any day. It seems more grounded, if nothing else.
P.S. - Over in The Corner, Robert Alt clarifies what the SCOMA did by defering to the legislature.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Light Blogging
Blogging shall be light. Two reasons:
1. work - I'd talk about it, but it's so boring you'd fall asleep on your keyboard.
2. Xbox - Yes, we have obtained an Xbox. I am a first generation video game junky, and have been out of the game of late, as it were. So, I am unraveling the mysteries of a Galaxy far, far away and dominating the NFL via Microsoft's latest attempt to dominate every single market in the world. Facilitating world domination was never this fun!
I will probably need an intervention here soon to break the grip that this little black box is inevitably going to have over me. So stay tuned and watch for posts about how I've upgraded my lightsaber or finally gotten my blitz package where I want it. If you see these signs of obsession, please send help.
"You need to come with us, Mr. Scagel. We're here to help you."
"Wait, wait, let me save first . . . aw, now I'm gonna have to heal my Wookie. Thanks a lot!"
"This might take a while. Get the straight jacket . . . "
Blogging shall be light. Two reasons:
1. work - I'd talk about it, but it's so boring you'd fall asleep on your keyboard.
2. Xbox - Yes, we have obtained an Xbox. I am a first generation video game junky, and have been out of the game of late, as it were. So, I am unraveling the mysteries of a Galaxy far, far away and dominating the NFL via Microsoft's latest attempt to dominate every single market in the world. Facilitating world domination was never this fun!
I will probably need an intervention here soon to break the grip that this little black box is inevitably going to have over me. So stay tuned and watch for posts about how I've upgraded my lightsaber or finally gotten my blitz package where I want it. If you see these signs of obsession, please send help.
"You need to come with us, Mr. Scagel. We're here to help you."
"Wait, wait, let me save first . . . aw, now I'm gonna have to heal my Wookie. Thanks a lot!"
"This might take a while. Get the straight jacket . . . "
