...Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
God, for the sake of His own glory (it must have been, for I've been an absolute wretch today (as is my wont)) reminded me how merciful and compassionate--how truly good He is today. I deserved, and deserve, to be squished like a mosquito and He instead provided a very real, timely and practical reminder of His great love. There are no words to describe that massive disconnect. Suffice it to say, merely typing the words "I" and "deserve wrath" in the same sentence are redundant. It's in these moments of recognition that the love of God is all the more dumbfounding.
I am in awe. I'll never get used to this.
Monday, June 30, 2008
A smack on the behind?
Clinton tells Obama... well, read for yourself.
Look, just because Katie Couric did it on a regular basis doesn't mean...
Look, just because Katie Couric did it on a regular basis doesn't mean...
Good try, Lou.
If memory serves, the last time Lou got ejected, it provided the spark to help the Cubs win.
Not so effective this time. Sox spanked em 5-1 last night, the Cubs lose 4 in a row for the first time all year, lose the "best record in baseball" nonsense that was hanging around their necks like an obese albatross with a lead brick in each talon, fall to 2.5 ahead of the Cards.
Eh. I'm still not going to start wigging until after the all star break, which is two weeks away. We're going to play the Giants, who are 10 below .500. Yes they're on a two game winning streak but we should take three of four. Then it's at St. Louis, where we last dropped 2 of 3. The Cubs will be hungry for revenge. And Z will start. I predict we take two of three.
The further adventures of Pepe
So it seems my previously reported skunk woes are not at an end.
Over the weekend, we started noticing a funny smell in one of the rooms of the basement. Faint, at first, so that we thought it might have been general basement mustiness or something. But it grew over time, and it's olfactory texture had taken on a decidedly skunky motif. I was not comforted by the reminder that this room's foundational wall stood adacent to the front porch under which our unwelcome guest, prior to his or her unfortunate and premature demise, had so recently taken up residence.
Further inspection of the porch confirmed that something of the family Mephitidae had indeed cut one recently. However, the previous entry to the burrow was still filled in and I couldn't see any other holes or displaced earth to indicate that another skunk had moved in. Perhaps one was ambling through the yard and was suprised by the neighbors dog, I thought. But would we be able to smell that below ground? Futhermore, while the smell was powerful strong in the basement, we couldn't smell a thing upstairs (God be praised).
Whatever was causing da funk was doing it below ground.
Under my porch.
Adjacent to a room in my basement--which was becoming increasingly oppressive to enter as the weekend wore on (but which also, God be praised, has a door).
Which leads the enchanting Mrs. White and myself to the speculate the following: there were some little skunky pups that got buried in that burrow, and their little skunky bodies are now decomposing to the point that thar stank glands is rupturin'. We'll have our suspicions confirmed or denied later today when the trapper guy comes back.
Oh how the ghost of you clings...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The other Kennedy ruling
This editorial from National Review online succinctly explains why Justice Kennedy's presence on SCOTUS is, generally speaking, cruel and unusual punishment.
The eighth amendment of the constitution forbids "cruel and unusual punishment." Unusual, in that the punishment doesn't fit the crime, Cruel, in that it's exceedingly sadistic. For example, tarring and feathering one of King George III's tax collectors for just doing his job, or lynching someone for having skin pigmentation that doesn't suit you.
Our country, indeed Western Civilization, indeed civilization from the time of Adam and Eve, has long understood and thought it reasonable that certain crimes are so heinous as to be deserving of death, and in such situations, meting death is neither "cruel" nor "unusual." Kennedy has argued that sexually torturing a child is a crime for which a perpetrator should not have to pay with his or her life. What I would do as a father to someone who did such a thing to my child and what the law should allow for may be two different things, so I am willing to lend a (very) small amount of credence toward that view.
However, in view of the fact that we are talking about punishment for a crime that is about as heinous as they come, I am incredulous that Justice Kennedy feels so comfortable in his definitive assessment that such a crime is absolutely NOT worthy of death. I think the court should have affirmed the soverignity of individual states to call the shots on this one.
The eighth amendment of the constitution forbids "cruel and unusual punishment." Unusual, in that the punishment doesn't fit the crime, Cruel, in that it's exceedingly sadistic. For example, tarring and feathering one of King George III's tax collectors for just doing his job, or lynching someone for having skin pigmentation that doesn't suit you.
Our country, indeed Western Civilization, indeed civilization from the time of Adam and Eve, has long understood and thought it reasonable that certain crimes are so heinous as to be deserving of death, and in such situations, meting death is neither "cruel" nor "unusual." Kennedy has argued that sexually torturing a child is a crime for which a perpetrator should not have to pay with his or her life. What I would do as a father to someone who did such a thing to my child and what the law should allow for may be two different things, so I am willing to lend a (very) small amount of credence toward that view.
However, in view of the fact that we are talking about punishment for a crime that is about as heinous as they come, I am incredulous that Justice Kennedy feels so comfortable in his definitive assessment that such a crime is absolutely NOT worthy of death. I think the court should have affirmed the soverignity of individual states to call the shots on this one.
Stephen, get your vision checked.
"In my view," writes Justice Breyer, in his dissent of today's SCOTUS decision upholding our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, "there simply is no untouchable constitutional right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to keep loaded handguns in the house in crime-ridden urban areas."
So Constitutional rights should be conditional, it seems, according to Justice Breyer. At least that's the implication. By saying that there's no "untouchable constitutional right" for guns in "crime-ridden urban areas" specifically, he seems to be implying that there is more of a right, or at least less of an issue Constitutionally speaking, for more affluent areas. In his "view," certain neighborhoods and areas are worthy of such rights and others less so. Never mind what the Constitution says; the Great and Powerful Breyer has spoken.
This is the height of arrogance, and "in my view," illustrates clearly why Breyer isn't worthy to be a Supreme Court justice.
The other justices who believe that their supreme wisdom supercedes that of the Constitution: John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and David Souter. I can't believe Kennedy did something right for a change.
So Constitutional rights should be conditional, it seems, according to Justice Breyer. At least that's the implication. By saying that there's no "untouchable constitutional right" for guns in "crime-ridden urban areas" specifically, he seems to be implying that there is more of a right, or at least less of an issue Constitutionally speaking, for more affluent areas. In his "view," certain neighborhoods and areas are worthy of such rights and others less so. Never mind what the Constitution says; the Great and Powerful Breyer has spoken.
This is the height of arrogance, and "in my view," illustrates clearly why Breyer isn't worthy to be a Supreme Court justice.
The other justices who believe that their supreme wisdom supercedes that of the Constitution: John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and David Souter. I can't believe Kennedy did something right for a change.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
No accident
Forgot to blog about this after it happened, but last Tuesday I parked my car at a different train station than usual. Embedded in a sudoku puzzle on the way home, I failed to notice my stop come and go. When I realized my error I had just enough time to utter a few colorful sayings of my Irish heritage and hop off the train at the next stop.
The next train that would take me back to my car wouldn't be along for another 10 minutes. I wasn't cheered by the thought that by the time I rode back, got my car and drove home, nearly an extra hour would be tacked on to my commute. I was even less cheered when the next train that came by blew through the station without stopping. I didn't have a watch on, but that train seemed to coincide purty close with the time for the next train on the schedule.
The only other person on the platform was a kid, maybe 18, slouched on a bench. I asked him if that bullet was the 7:40pm we were supposed to catch and he said he hoped not. Making small talk, I explained the situation with my car. He made some noise that might have indicated sympathy or indifference. Then he asked me if he could borrow a pen. I gave it to him with a feeling of complete assurance that I would never see it again. I noticed a perfectly rendered marijuana leaf on his left hand and asked him if he intended to draw its twin. He laughed and said he didn't know.
Before long I had a halfway decent conversation going with this kid. He had lived with his brother and sister-in-law until recently, and was now back with his mother for the time being. He had dropped out of high school but his brother's father-in-law offered to put him through college if he got his GED. He liked to draw marijuana leaves.
I steered the direction toward faith. He wasn't really sure about any of that, didn't like organized religion, blah blah. Then I asked him if he believed in right and wrong. Absolutely, he replied. "Well," I said, "the thing I can never get my head around is how you can have right and wrong in a meaningless universe. Because if the whole universe has no point or meaning, if there's nothing or no one behind it, then it's impossible for right and wrong to exist. You can't create meaning in a meaningless universe." He seemed to think that was a fairly heady concept. About that time (God be praised) the real 7:40 pulled up.
We boarded and I asked him where he was sitting. He pointed off in some direction and I shook his hand and told him it was nice meeting him. To my utter astonishment, he said "wait, I don't want to completely cut off this conversation." So we sat down next to each other, and on and off for the next 15 minutes I shared the Gospel with him: How God is a God who is outraged and offended by sin; how Christianity is the only faith out there that acknowledges that man can't make himself righteous before God, rather that God must do that work for man; how Jesus accomplished this through the cross; how God loved this kid more than words can describe, and would gladly welcome him into His kingdom if he would receive for himself Christ's sacrifice and submit his life wholeheartedly to God. He truly seemed impacted by what I was saying. He wasn't ready for no altar call, but he told me he'd think about what I had said. I gave him the contact information and locations/meeting times for my church, along with my phone number and told him he was welcome at my church any time. I also told him to study hard and to hold his brother's father-in-law to his promise.
As the train was nearing my stop, I said, "you know, a half hour ago I was pretty mad when I first realized that I forgot to get off at this next station. But the more I think about it, I don't think that was a mistake at all. I don't think it's any accident that I met you tonight. I think God planned this whole thing." He just laughed in a way that suggested that he thought I might be right.
I don't know if I'll ever see that kid again, but I'm praying for him. And I'm grateful to God for turning what first appeared to be an annoyance into a magnificent opportunity to bring Him glory.
The next train that would take me back to my car wouldn't be along for another 10 minutes. I wasn't cheered by the thought that by the time I rode back, got my car and drove home, nearly an extra hour would be tacked on to my commute. I was even less cheered when the next train that came by blew through the station without stopping. I didn't have a watch on, but that train seemed to coincide purty close with the time for the next train on the schedule.
The only other person on the platform was a kid, maybe 18, slouched on a bench. I asked him if that bullet was the 7:40pm we were supposed to catch and he said he hoped not. Making small talk, I explained the situation with my car. He made some noise that might have indicated sympathy or indifference. Then he asked me if he could borrow a pen. I gave it to him with a feeling of complete assurance that I would never see it again. I noticed a perfectly rendered marijuana leaf on his left hand and asked him if he intended to draw its twin. He laughed and said he didn't know.
Before long I had a halfway decent conversation going with this kid. He had lived with his brother and sister-in-law until recently, and was now back with his mother for the time being. He had dropped out of high school but his brother's father-in-law offered to put him through college if he got his GED. He liked to draw marijuana leaves.
I steered the direction toward faith. He wasn't really sure about any of that, didn't like organized religion, blah blah. Then I asked him if he believed in right and wrong. Absolutely, he replied. "Well," I said, "the thing I can never get my head around is how you can have right and wrong in a meaningless universe. Because if the whole universe has no point or meaning, if there's nothing or no one behind it, then it's impossible for right and wrong to exist. You can't create meaning in a meaningless universe." He seemed to think that was a fairly heady concept. About that time (God be praised) the real 7:40 pulled up.
We boarded and I asked him where he was sitting. He pointed off in some direction and I shook his hand and told him it was nice meeting him. To my utter astonishment, he said "wait, I don't want to completely cut off this conversation." So we sat down next to each other, and on and off for the next 15 minutes I shared the Gospel with him: How God is a God who is outraged and offended by sin; how Christianity is the only faith out there that acknowledges that man can't make himself righteous before God, rather that God must do that work for man; how Jesus accomplished this through the cross; how God loved this kid more than words can describe, and would gladly welcome him into His kingdom if he would receive for himself Christ's sacrifice and submit his life wholeheartedly to God. He truly seemed impacted by what I was saying. He wasn't ready for no altar call, but he told me he'd think about what I had said. I gave him the contact information and locations/meeting times for my church, along with my phone number and told him he was welcome at my church any time. I also told him to study hard and to hold his brother's father-in-law to his promise.
As the train was nearing my stop, I said, "you know, a half hour ago I was pretty mad when I first realized that I forgot to get off at this next station. But the more I think about it, I don't think that was a mistake at all. I don't think it's any accident that I met you tonight. I think God planned this whole thing." He just laughed in a way that suggested that he thought I might be right.
I don't know if I'll ever see that kid again, but I'm praying for him. And I'm grateful to God for turning what first appeared to be an annoyance into a magnificent opportunity to bring Him glory.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sensible
Now this is the sort of cat with whom I could have a reasonable conversation about global warming: Yuval Levin.
Levin claims that the truth lies somewhere in between the insane alarmism of the left and the utter denialism of some on the right (though the truth lies somewhere closer to the right, of course :) ).
On this issue, I call myself a skeptic and not a denier (how can I deny completely what I don't completely know (indeed, when I don't know what I don't know, er, completely?). But if I'm ever going to be completely persuaded one way or the other, it's going to be by guys like Levin and not the Rainbow Warrior Coalition of Gore, Greenpeace and Co.
Levin claims that the truth lies somewhere in between the insane alarmism of the left and the utter denialism of some on the right (though the truth lies somewhere closer to the right, of course :) ).
On this issue, I call myself a skeptic and not a denier (how can I deny completely what I don't completely know (indeed, when I don't know what I don't know, er, completely?). But if I'm ever going to be completely persuaded one way or the other, it's going to be by guys like Levin and not the Rainbow Warrior Coalition of Gore, Greenpeace and Co.
Oh, Be Nice.
And the crybaby of the century award goes to... Kenny Williams.
"It is so different. You might as well build a border, a Great Wall of China on Madison, because we are so different," said the Sox general manager, dabbling in the sociology of the rivalry. "We might as well be in two different cities. The unfortunate thing for me is it's a shame that a certain segment of Chicago refused to enjoy a baseball championship being brought to their city. The only thing I can say is, 'Happy anniversary.'" --From Jay Mariotti's column today.
Uh oh! I think somebody needs a hug! C'mere, you rascal...
"It is so different. You might as well build a border, a Great Wall of China on Madison, because we are so different," said the Sox general manager, dabbling in the sociology of the rivalry. "We might as well be in two different cities. The unfortunate thing for me is it's a shame that a certain segment of Chicago refused to enjoy a baseball championship being brought to their city. The only thing I can say is, 'Happy anniversary.'" --From Jay Mariotti's column today.
Uh oh! I think somebody needs a hug! C'mere, you rascal...
Don't Drill Me, Bro
Obama's latest sophomoric slogan is "we can't drill our way out" of higher oil prices. Which makes about as much sense as saying that you can't "study your way" to higher grades, "diet and exercise your way" to better health, or "save your way" to a bigger bank account.
Yes, part of the problem is of lack of new refineries, which for the last three decades liberals have reliably ensured remain too expensive to build. But don't tell me that increasing the supply of oil, raw or refined, isn't going to have an effect on the market, in a hurry. I can't say by how much, or how quickly. No one can with absolute certainty. Which makes me wonder where Mr. Obama got his definitive proof that drilling now wouldn't affect the market for years to come and that by only a few pennies a gallon.
Yes, part of the problem is of lack of new refineries, which for the last three decades liberals have reliably ensured remain too expensive to build. But don't tell me that increasing the supply of oil, raw or refined, isn't going to have an effect on the market, in a hurry. I can't say by how much, or how quickly. No one can with absolute certainty. Which makes me wonder where Mr. Obama got his definitive proof that drilling now wouldn't affect the market for years to come and that by only a few pennies a gallon.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
KOSUKE!!!!!
Heartbreaker!! What is this not-quite-a-rally-in-the-9th nonsense that the Cubbies have fallen into lately?
There must be a cause and I blame that STOOOOOOOPID trip to Cooperstown. To the genius who thought that up: the next time you're at Wrigley, may you accidentally walk into a locked turnstile and suffer a shot to the Steve Stones.
Best. Ad. Ever.
Thank you, Harley-Davidson.
This ad should be played before both chambers of Congress, before every broadcast of every evening news program, and in every school in America (with perhaps omission of a mild expletive or two).
"We Don't Do Fear." This is the American spirit. Glad to know somebody still has it.
This ad should be played before both chambers of Congress, before every broadcast of every evening news program, and in every school in America (with perhaps omission of a mild expletive or two).
"We Don't Do Fear." This is the American spirit. Glad to know somebody still has it.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Oh, Canada...
Jonah Goldberg, who is something of a journalistic hero of mine, writing on another JH, Mark Steyn. Or rather, the trouble he finds himself in.
In a recent post I wrote that a SCOTUS decision was a sign of a civilization with suicidal tendencies. I have once again been reminded that we have nothing on the Canadians.
Just be nice to them. Maybe they'll spare our lives...
In a recent post I wrote that a SCOTUS decision was a sign of a civilization with suicidal tendencies. I have once again been reminded that we have nothing on the Canadians.
Just be nice to them. Maybe they'll spare our lives...
Why I'm skeptical of man made global warming, Part I
There are a great many things about the great Global Warming brouhaha that make my BS detector perk up at first blush, even before examing the scientific merits (or possible absence thereof). There are a couple of things I hope to blog about regarding this subject, but big problemo numero uno has to be:
1. Al Gore. Who is the poster child for Man Made Global Warming? Who is the face (regrettably) of this allegedly single most important issue now facing mankind? Who is the one person whose words are held aloft as gospel, who is quoted as an irrefutable authority and who has received international adulation for "raising awareness" (one of the most obnoxious phrases ever coined) in the "war" against MMGW? One Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. Before "climate change" breathed new life into Mr. Gore's decidedly kaput career; before Post-2000 election fat-bearded-and-crazy Gore, back when he was simply the most smug, arrogant and entitled politician ever to set foot in Washington, Al had established an impressive and very public record of outright lies, disingeniousness and all-around duplicitousness. Gore is far more than just the man who "took the initiative in creating the internet." At the 1996 Democratic National Convention, Gore railed against tobacco, speaking emotionally of his sister, who died of lung cancer--while failing to mention that his family farmed tobacco, and continued to do so for seven years after her death, an enterprise from which he personally profited. During the 2000 election, Gore floated a ludicrous story that his mother-in-law and his dog took the same arthritis medication, but that the cost to the mommykins was 3x the cost to fido. He quickly changed his story in the face of massive ridicule. And of course, in the waning days of the Clinton Administration, as all of the details were emerging over the administration's dealings with fundraisers with ties to Chinese intelligence, we were reminded of the "I didn't know it was a fundraiser" fundraiser. I could go on. For a long time. Suffice it to say, Mr Gore had solidly established his reputation as a deeply dishonest and untrustworthy man long before your average joe had ever heard the words "global warming."
I don't care what your personal crusade is. Is this the kind of guy you would want championing it? Is the the kind of guy with whom you'd like to be associated? Is this the guy whose personal credibilty you would want inextricably linked to your own?
To be continued...
1. Al Gore. Who is the poster child for Man Made Global Warming? Who is the face (regrettably) of this allegedly single most important issue now facing mankind? Who is the one person whose words are held aloft as gospel, who is quoted as an irrefutable authority and who has received international adulation for "raising awareness" (one of the most obnoxious phrases ever coined) in the "war" against MMGW? One Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. Before "climate change" breathed new life into Mr. Gore's decidedly kaput career; before Post-2000 election fat-bearded-and-crazy Gore, back when he was simply the most smug, arrogant and entitled politician ever to set foot in Washington, Al had established an impressive and very public record of outright lies, disingeniousness and all-around duplicitousness. Gore is far more than just the man who "took the initiative in creating the internet." At the 1996 Democratic National Convention, Gore railed against tobacco, speaking emotionally of his sister, who died of lung cancer--while failing to mention that his family farmed tobacco, and continued to do so for seven years after her death, an enterprise from which he personally profited. During the 2000 election, Gore floated a ludicrous story that his mother-in-law and his dog took the same arthritis medication, but that the cost to the mommykins was 3x the cost to fido. He quickly changed his story in the face of massive ridicule. And of course, in the waning days of the Clinton Administration, as all of the details were emerging over the administration's dealings with fundraisers with ties to Chinese intelligence, we were reminded of the "I didn't know it was a fundraiser" fundraiser. I could go on. For a long time. Suffice it to say, Mr Gore had solidly established his reputation as a deeply dishonest and untrustworthy man long before your average joe had ever heard the words "global warming."
I don't care what your personal crusade is. Is this the kind of guy you would want championing it? Is the the kind of guy with whom you'd like to be associated? Is this the guy whose personal credibilty you would want inextricably linked to your own?
To be continued...
Defeating Darwinism in Two Easy Steps
There are two fundamental problems for Darwinists, and I just can't think of a feasible workaround.
1. Darwinian evolutionary theory cannot account for the origin of life. Richard Dawkins freely admits this in the movie Expelled.
2. Darwinian evolutionary theory is not supported by the fossil record. The late great Havard Paleontologist Stephen J. Gould referred to this as his discipline's trade secret.
Um, why is this theory so popular again?
"I have this elegant, grand unified theory that explains how life began and how it got to its present state, and oh, by the way, I can neither explain how life began or refer to the most primary source evidence that should support my theory. But take it from me: my theory is "science" and all who disagree with me are "dogmatists." Because I said so. Don't question me! Can't you see I have a PhD????"
Of course some Darwinists say that they've never claimed that their theory explains how life began, only how it mutated after it got here. Codswallop. The movers and shakers in the Darwinist community are quite happy to let the battle lines be drawn by the media and in their own writings between "Science" and "Religion" in a winner-take-all war for ownership of the total theory of life--including how it began. Richard Dawkins talks of the overwhelming evidence for Darwinism that caused him to forever abandon any faith in God. Why would he do that if he didn't believe this "overwhemingly" proven theory could account for the beginning of life? Darwinists talk of life from "pre-biotic soups" with self-granted authority. Clearly they believe that the origin of life lies within naturalistic means (though they have no logical reason to believe so), and that, given just a few more discoveries around the corner, they will finally be able to prove their theory and forever vanquish their dreaded foe, Religion.
1. Darwinian evolutionary theory cannot account for the origin of life. Richard Dawkins freely admits this in the movie Expelled.
2. Darwinian evolutionary theory is not supported by the fossil record. The late great Havard Paleontologist Stephen J. Gould referred to this as his discipline's trade secret.
Um, why is this theory so popular again?
"I have this elegant, grand unified theory that explains how life began and how it got to its present state, and oh, by the way, I can neither explain how life began or refer to the most primary source evidence that should support my theory. But take it from me: my theory is "science" and all who disagree with me are "dogmatists." Because I said so. Don't question me! Can't you see I have a PhD????"
Of course some Darwinists say that they've never claimed that their theory explains how life began, only how it mutated after it got here. Codswallop. The movers and shakers in the Darwinist community are quite happy to let the battle lines be drawn by the media and in their own writings between "Science" and "Religion" in a winner-take-all war for ownership of the total theory of life--including how it began. Richard Dawkins talks of the overwhelming evidence for Darwinism that caused him to forever abandon any faith in God. Why would he do that if he didn't believe this "overwhemingly" proven theory could account for the beginning of life? Darwinists talk of life from "pre-biotic soups" with self-granted authority. Clearly they believe that the origin of life lies within naturalistic means (though they have no logical reason to believe so), and that, given just a few more discoveries around the corner, they will finally be able to prove their theory and forever vanquish their dreaded foe, Religion.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Jesus Christ - Absolutely Gorgeous
Varmint update...
So the guest under my porch is one of these...
I peeked out the window onto the porch this morning and espied the li'l polecat pacing up and down in the cage.
When I left the house I went out the back door, came around, quietly got into my car, disengaged the clutch and let it roll out to the street before starting. So far, no stink.
I'm praying my 5 year old doesn't run out onto the porch this morning for a closer look. I have no idea how the trapper is going to relocate the skunk sans explosion. All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not there right now.
Did I mention that it's costing me $170 to have this thing carted away?
Did I mention that it rained all last night?
Did I mention that I have this nasty grin on my face?
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Intolerable
So now it appears that Al Qaeda can sue the US Government in our courts. I don't believe this.
There are no words. SCOTUS just stabbed our men and women of the military, intelligence and law enforcement in the back. They just stabbed us all in the back. This is the sign of a civilization with suicidal tendencies.
There are no words. SCOTUS just stabbed our men and women of the military, intelligence and law enforcement in the back. They just stabbed us all in the back. This is the sign of a civilization with suicidal tendencies.
And speaking of weasels...
So I've got some sort of varmint living under the front porch.
Mrs. Prayersforwah calls me yesterday and asks "did you dump a bag full of pebbles near the front porch this morning?"
Not that I can recall, but mornings are generally a confused and blurry affair for me. I've done stranger things.
A few minutes later, she calls again "okay, something is living under the porch."
Marvelous. Something displaced a small mountain of rock to burrow under my concrete slab porch. To Mrs. PrayersforWah, I suggest pouring rat poison down the hole and filling it in.
"You can't do that! What about the smell?"
Ever bury a pet in the backyard?
So she calls the village, and sure enough, I'm not allowed to harm the bugger in any way. Must be democrats at village hall...
So I have to hire someone to trap it and release it elsewhere. Probably have to read the flipping thing Miranda too.
As Drudge would say, "developing..."
Mrs. Prayersforwah calls me yesterday and asks "did you dump a bag full of pebbles near the front porch this morning?"
Not that I can recall, but mornings are generally a confused and blurry affair for me. I've done stranger things.
A few minutes later, she calls again "okay, something is living under the porch."
Marvelous. Something displaced a small mountain of rock to burrow under my concrete slab porch. To Mrs. PrayersforWah, I suggest pouring rat poison down the hole and filling it in.
"You can't do that! What about the smell?"
Ever bury a pet in the backyard?
So she calls the village, and sure enough, I'm not allowed to harm the bugger in any way. Must be democrats at village hall...
So I have to hire someone to trap it and release it elsewhere. Probably have to read the flipping thing Miranda too.
As Drudge would say, "developing..."
WEASELS!!!!
Democrats in Congress yesterday voted not to go after an estimated 86 BILLION barrels of oil and 420 TRILLION cubic feet of natural gas that lies untapped off our shores this very moment.
But they care. They care about the little guy. They care about the guy struggling to support his wife and three kids who's trying to figure out how to make the tank of gas in the minivan last until the end of the month.
Losers.
But they care. They care about the little guy. They care about the guy struggling to support his wife and three kids who's trying to figure out how to make the tank of gas in the minivan last until the end of the month.
Losers.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Chimeras and Snake Oil Salesmen
Senate Republicans do the sensible thing. Nice to know they're still showing up for work.
Milton Friedman is generally credited with having said, "the business of business is business." (He may not have been the first to say it.) Somebody explain to me how a "windfall tax" like the one that the Senate Snake Oil Salespeople (SOS's -- an apt acronym for Democrat) proposed would not be passed directly on to the consumer. Anyone?
I've been hearing a lot of blather about "oil speculators" being to blame for the cost at the pump. I'm no economics guru, but my impression is this is obfuscation. In any market, there are speculators who will sign contracts to buy at a fixed price for a finite time period into the future, betting that the market cost will rise. This happens with paper in publishing, steel in construction, and oil in a host of industries. As Rush Limbaugh eloquently and concisely explained yesterday, speculators are not the problem.
The problem is one big problem, surrounded by a host of sub-problems. The problem writ large is Supply and Demand. There's just less oil on the open market than there used to be to go around. China and India are guzzling down more and more oil all the time. Supply gets more scarce, price goes up. Even my ultraliberal hippie free-love economics 101 professor knew that much.
The subproblems:
1. The SOS's won't let Evil Big Oil drill in ANWR and explore off shore to increase raw supply
2. The SOS's won't let Evil Big Oil build new oil refineries to increase market supply
3. The SOS's are pursuing Ethanol, a less efficient source of fuel than petroleum, with fanatical glee. One or two more petroleum refineries would be of the devil. But Ethanol refineries? Sure, why not.
4. Taxes. In the city of Chicago where I work, taxes are close to $.80/gallon. Not like that's significant or anything. No, it's those darned speculators!
Couple this with a weak dollar, and now we're talking about a complete playground beating.
Oh and by the way, thanks to the ethanol kool-aid that the SOS's are swilling and spilling, groceries are more expensive than ever too. I eat corn. Animals that I like to eat, eat corn. I haven't really figured out a way to eat petroleum to offset all of the corn that is now being used to feed my car.
Milton Friedman is generally credited with having said, "the business of business is business." (He may not have been the first to say it.) Somebody explain to me how a "windfall tax" like the one that the Senate Snake Oil Salespeople (SOS's -- an apt acronym for Democrat) proposed would not be passed directly on to the consumer. Anyone?
I've been hearing a lot of blather about "oil speculators" being to blame for the cost at the pump. I'm no economics guru, but my impression is this is obfuscation. In any market, there are speculators who will sign contracts to buy at a fixed price for a finite time period into the future, betting that the market cost will rise. This happens with paper in publishing, steel in construction, and oil in a host of industries. As Rush Limbaugh eloquently and concisely explained yesterday, speculators are not the problem.
The problem is one big problem, surrounded by a host of sub-problems. The problem writ large is Supply and Demand. There's just less oil on the open market than there used to be to go around. China and India are guzzling down more and more oil all the time. Supply gets more scarce, price goes up. Even my ultraliberal hippie free-love economics 101 professor knew that much.
The subproblems:
1. The SOS's won't let Evil Big Oil drill in ANWR and explore off shore to increase raw supply
2. The SOS's won't let Evil Big Oil build new oil refineries to increase market supply
3. The SOS's are pursuing Ethanol, a less efficient source of fuel than petroleum, with fanatical glee. One or two more petroleum refineries would be of the devil. But Ethanol refineries? Sure, why not.
4. Taxes. In the city of Chicago where I work, taxes are close to $.80/gallon. Not like that's significant or anything. No, it's those darned speculators!
Couple this with a weak dollar, and now we're talking about a complete playground beating.
Oh and by the way, thanks to the ethanol kool-aid that the SOS's are swilling and spilling, groceries are more expensive than ever too. I eat corn. Animals that I like to eat, eat corn. I haven't really figured out a way to eat petroleum to offset all of the corn that is now being used to feed my car.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time
So I'm a few weeks late with this. Big deal. This is only about the umpteenth attempt by someone to chronicle this:
The full list, with occasional commentary:
1. "Johnny B. Goode," Chuck Berry -- Bang on. Fantastic song, changed music forever.
2. "Purple Haze," The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
3. "Crossroads" Cream (1968)
4. "You Really Got Me" The Kinks (1964)
5. "Brown Sugar" The Rolling Stones (1971)
6. "Eruption" Van Halen (1978)
7. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" The Beatles (1968) -- It is so hard to say which Beatles song should come first so I guess this will do.
8. "Stairway to Heaven" Led Zepplin (1971)
9. "Statesboro Blues" The Allman Brothers Band (1971)
10. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Nirvana (1991)
11. "Whole Lotta Love" Led Zeppelin (1969)
12. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)
13. "Layla" Derek and the Dominos (1970)
14. "Born to Run" Bruce Springsteen (1975)
15. "My Generation" The Who (1965)
16. "Cowgirl in the Sand" Neil Young with Crazy Horse (1969)
17. "Black Sabbath" Black Sabbath (1970)
18. "Blitzkrieg Bop" Ramones (1976)
19. "Purple Rain" Prince and the Revolution (1984) -- Would have put "Lets Go Crazy" before this.
20. "People Get Ready" The Impressions (1965)
21. "Seven Nation Army" The White Stripes (2003)
22. "A Hard Day's Night" The Beatles (1964)
23. "Over Under Sideways Down" The Yardbirds (1966)
24. "Killing In The Name Of" Rage Against The Machine (1992)
25. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" The Rolling Stones (1971)
26. "How Blue Can you Get" B.B. King (1965)
27. "Look Over Yonders Wall" The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965)
28. "Where the Streets Have No Name" U2 (1987) -- Personally would have put BAD ahead of this.
29. "Back in Black" AC/DC (1980)
30. "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" Bill Haley and His Comets (1954)
31. "Keep Yourself Alive" Queen (1973)
32. "Sultans of Swing" Dire Straits (1978)
33. "Master of Puppets" Metallica (1986)
34. "Walk This Way" Aerosmith (1975)
35. "1969" The Stooges (1969) -- What, no Search And Destroy?
36. "Interstellar Overdrive" Pink Floyd (1967) --Again, so many songs that belong hard to rank the top PF song
37. "That's All Right" Elvis Presley (1954)
38. "Stay With Me" The Faces (1971)
39. "Black Magic Woman" Santana (1970)
40. "I Can See for Miles" The Who (1967)
41. "Marquee Moon" Television (1977)
42. "Hideaway" John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (1966)
43. "Holidays in the Sun" The Sex Pistols (1977) -- Just stupid. I don't care how "seminal" the SP were. The song is complete rot. If you're going for the quintissential SP song, it's Anarchy In the UK.
44. "Dig Me Out" Sleater-Kinne (1997)
45. "I Saw Her Standing There" The Beatles (1963)
46. "Miserlou" Dick Dale and the Del-Tones (1962)
47. "Panama" Van Halen (1984)
48. "London Calling" The Clash (1980) -- "Safe European Home" would have been a good choice instead of no. 43.
49. "Machine Gun" Jimi Hendrix (1970)
50. "Debaser" Pixies (1989)
51. "Crazy Train" Ozzy Osbourne (1981) -- Sweet.
52. "My Iron Lung" Radiohead (1995)
53. "Born on the Bayou" Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
54. "Little Wing" Stevie Ray Vaughan (1991)
55. "White Room" Cream (1968)
56. "Eight Miles High" The Byrds (1966)
57. "Dark Star" Grateful Dead (1969)
58. "Rumble" Link Wray (1958)
59. "Freeway Jam" Jeff Beck (1975)
60. "Maggot Brain" Funkadelic (1971)
61. "Soul Man" Sam and Dave (1967)
62. "Born Under a Bad Sign" Albert King (1967)
63. "Sweet Child O' Mine" Guns n' Roses (1987)
64. "Freebird" Lyrnyrd Skynyrd (1973) -- 64? This song is only worth 64?
65. "Message in a Bottle" The Police (1979)
66. "Texas Flood" Stevie Ray Vaughan (1983)
67. "Adam Raised a Cain" Bruce Springsteen (1978)
68. "The Thrill is Gone" B.B. King (1969)
69. "Money" Pink Floyd (1973)
70. "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" Smashing Pumpkins (1995) -- Cherub Rock more influential...
71. "Take It or Leave It" The Strokes (2001)
72. "Say It Ain't So" Weezer (1994) -- I like Weezer, but this is a joke. They don't belong anywhere near this list.
73. "Summertime Blues" Blue Cheer (1968)
74. "La Grange" ZZ Top (1973) -- After Weezer. Sheesh.
75. "Willie the Pimp" Frank Zappa (1969)
76. "American Girl" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976)
77. "Even Flow" Pearl Jam (1991) -- After Weezer. Sheesh. Sheesh.
78. "Stone Crazy" Buddy Guy (1970)
79. "Silver Rocket" Sonic Youth (1988)
80. "Kid Charlemagne" Steely Dan (1976)
81. "Beat It" Michael Jackson (1982)
82. "Walk — Don't Run" The Ventures (1960)
83. "What I Got" Sublime (1996)
84. "Gravity" John Mayer (2006)
85. "You Enjoy Myself" Phish (1988)
86. "I Ain't Superstitious" Jeff Beck (1968)
87. "Red" King Crimson (1974)
88. "Mona" Quicksilver Messenger Service (1969)
89. "I Love Rock N Roll" Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (1981)
90. "How Soon Is Now?" The Smiths (1985) -- Excellent. Belongs, albeit down here. Bought a tremelo just so I could play this song.
91. "Drunkship of Lanterns" The Mars Volta (2003)
92. "Memo from Turner" Mick Jagger (1970)
93. "Only Shallow" My Bloody Valentine (1991)
94. "Money for Nothing" Dire Straits (1984) -- Should be higher. That opening riff will live forever.
95. "Omaha" Moby Grape (1967)
96. "New Day Rising" Husker Du (1985)
97. "No One Knows" Queens of the Stone Age (2002)
98. "Under the Bridge" Red Hot Chili Peppers (1991)
99. "Run Thru" My Morning Jacket (2003)
100. "Vicarious" Tool (2006)
It seems that RS was attempting to be a wee bit eclectic in order to avoid the usual "old fart" label that haunts them. It's silly that My Morning Jacket (like them though I do) is on this list when, for example, Boston is not.
The full list, with occasional commentary:
1. "Johnny B. Goode," Chuck Berry -- Bang on. Fantastic song, changed music forever.
2. "Purple Haze," The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
3. "Crossroads" Cream (1968)
4. "You Really Got Me" The Kinks (1964)
5. "Brown Sugar" The Rolling Stones (1971)
6. "Eruption" Van Halen (1978)
7. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" The Beatles (1968) -- It is so hard to say which Beatles song should come first so I guess this will do.
8. "Stairway to Heaven" Led Zepplin (1971)
9. "Statesboro Blues" The Allman Brothers Band (1971)
10. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Nirvana (1991)
11. "Whole Lotta Love" Led Zeppelin (1969)
12. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)
13. "Layla" Derek and the Dominos (1970)
14. "Born to Run" Bruce Springsteen (1975)
15. "My Generation" The Who (1965)
16. "Cowgirl in the Sand" Neil Young with Crazy Horse (1969)
17. "Black Sabbath" Black Sabbath (1970)
18. "Blitzkrieg Bop" Ramones (1976)
19. "Purple Rain" Prince and the Revolution (1984) -- Would have put "Lets Go Crazy" before this.
20. "People Get Ready" The Impressions (1965)
21. "Seven Nation Army" The White Stripes (2003)
22. "A Hard Day's Night" The Beatles (1964)
23. "Over Under Sideways Down" The Yardbirds (1966)
24. "Killing In The Name Of" Rage Against The Machine (1992)
25. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" The Rolling Stones (1971)
26. "How Blue Can you Get" B.B. King (1965)
27. "Look Over Yonders Wall" The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965)
28. "Where the Streets Have No Name" U2 (1987) -- Personally would have put BAD ahead of this.
29. "Back in Black" AC/DC (1980)
30. "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" Bill Haley and His Comets (1954)
31. "Keep Yourself Alive" Queen (1973)
32. "Sultans of Swing" Dire Straits (1978)
33. "Master of Puppets" Metallica (1986)
34. "Walk This Way" Aerosmith (1975)
35. "1969" The Stooges (1969) -- What, no Search And Destroy?
36. "Interstellar Overdrive" Pink Floyd (1967) --Again, so many songs that belong hard to rank the top PF song
37. "That's All Right" Elvis Presley (1954)
38. "Stay With Me" The Faces (1971)
39. "Black Magic Woman" Santana (1970)
40. "I Can See for Miles" The Who (1967)
41. "Marquee Moon" Television (1977)
42. "Hideaway" John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (1966)
43. "Holidays in the Sun" The Sex Pistols (1977) -- Just stupid. I don't care how "seminal" the SP were. The song is complete rot. If you're going for the quintissential SP song, it's Anarchy In the UK.
44. "Dig Me Out" Sleater-Kinne (1997)
45. "I Saw Her Standing There" The Beatles (1963)
46. "Miserlou" Dick Dale and the Del-Tones (1962)
47. "Panama" Van Halen (1984)
48. "London Calling" The Clash (1980) -- "Safe European Home" would have been a good choice instead of no. 43.
49. "Machine Gun" Jimi Hendrix (1970)
50. "Debaser" Pixies (1989)
51. "Crazy Train" Ozzy Osbourne (1981) -- Sweet.
52. "My Iron Lung" Radiohead (1995)
53. "Born on the Bayou" Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
54. "Little Wing" Stevie Ray Vaughan (1991)
55. "White Room" Cream (1968)
56. "Eight Miles High" The Byrds (1966)
57. "Dark Star" Grateful Dead (1969)
58. "Rumble" Link Wray (1958)
59. "Freeway Jam" Jeff Beck (1975)
60. "Maggot Brain" Funkadelic (1971)
61. "Soul Man" Sam and Dave (1967)
62. "Born Under a Bad Sign" Albert King (1967)
63. "Sweet Child O' Mine" Guns n' Roses (1987)
64. "Freebird" Lyrnyrd Skynyrd (1973) -- 64? This song is only worth 64?
65. "Message in a Bottle" The Police (1979)
66. "Texas Flood" Stevie Ray Vaughan (1983)
67. "Adam Raised a Cain" Bruce Springsteen (1978)
68. "The Thrill is Gone" B.B. King (1969)
69. "Money" Pink Floyd (1973)
70. "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" Smashing Pumpkins (1995) -- Cherub Rock more influential...
71. "Take It or Leave It" The Strokes (2001)
72. "Say It Ain't So" Weezer (1994) -- I like Weezer, but this is a joke. They don't belong anywhere near this list.
73. "Summertime Blues" Blue Cheer (1968)
74. "La Grange" ZZ Top (1973) -- After Weezer. Sheesh.
75. "Willie the Pimp" Frank Zappa (1969)
76. "American Girl" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976)
77. "Even Flow" Pearl Jam (1991) -- After Weezer. Sheesh. Sheesh.
78. "Stone Crazy" Buddy Guy (1970)
79. "Silver Rocket" Sonic Youth (1988)
80. "Kid Charlemagne" Steely Dan (1976)
81. "Beat It" Michael Jackson (1982)
82. "Walk — Don't Run" The Ventures (1960)
83. "What I Got" Sublime (1996)
84. "Gravity" John Mayer (2006)
85. "You Enjoy Myself" Phish (1988)
86. "I Ain't Superstitious" Jeff Beck (1968)
87. "Red" King Crimson (1974)
88. "Mona" Quicksilver Messenger Service (1969)
89. "I Love Rock N Roll" Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (1981)
90. "How Soon Is Now?" The Smiths (1985) -- Excellent. Belongs, albeit down here. Bought a tremelo just so I could play this song.
91. "Drunkship of Lanterns" The Mars Volta (2003)
92. "Memo from Turner" Mick Jagger (1970)
93. "Only Shallow" My Bloody Valentine (1991)
94. "Money for Nothing" Dire Straits (1984) -- Should be higher. That opening riff will live forever.
95. "Omaha" Moby Grape (1967)
96. "New Day Rising" Husker Du (1985)
97. "No One Knows" Queens of the Stone Age (2002)
98. "Under the Bridge" Red Hot Chili Peppers (1991)
99. "Run Thru" My Morning Jacket (2003)
100. "Vicarious" Tool (2006)
It seems that RS was attempting to be a wee bit eclectic in order to avoid the usual "old fart" label that haunts them. It's silly that My Morning Jacket (like them though I do) is on this list when, for example, Boston is not.
Well, THAT was embarassing...
So we're at the neighbor's annual all day/all night cook out, and there's Kareoke, and my lovely bride is badgering me to participate, and I locate D'yer Mak'er on the song list, and they dial it up, and whaddaya know, it's actually Over The Hills And Far Away. My mind is awhirr attempting to recall lyrics not known by heart since I was seventeen years old (which was 20 years ago) as I bring the mic to my lips. I remembered about three lines.
Not fair. Not fair at all.
Not fair. Not fair at all.
Friday, June 6, 2008
HM Magazine
A very cool magazine, to which, for some reason now forgotten, I, years ago, stopped subscribing (alright, enough fun with commas)...
Is HM. Once upon a time Heaven's Metal, later repackaged as HM as they expanded their scope to include genres other than, say, these guys:
Yeesh.
Anyway, HM covers a lot of very cool indie Christian bands who will by no means ever be heard on Klove. Not that I've got anything against Klove. I listen to it all the time.
It was through HM that I first heard of awesome bands like Scatterd Few, Savior Machine, and Stavesacre, just to name the ones that start with S.
HM does a semi-monthly podcast. They throw in all kinds of music including deathmetal/grindcore/itallsoundslikethesamecraptome that doesn't jive with my tastes necessarily, but there's also lots of rock/alt/goth/pop/whatever in there that does. Give a listen:
Is HM. Once upon a time Heaven's Metal, later repackaged as HM as they expanded their scope to include genres other than, say, these guys:
Yeesh.
Anyway, HM covers a lot of very cool indie Christian bands who will by no means ever be heard on Klove. Not that I've got anything against Klove. I listen to it all the time.
It was through HM that I first heard of awesome bands like Scatterd Few, Savior Machine, and Stavesacre, just to name the ones that start with S.
HM does a semi-monthly podcast. They throw in all kinds of music including deathmetal/grindcore/itallsoundslikethesamecraptome that doesn't jive with my tastes necessarily, but there's also lots of rock/alt/goth/pop/whatever in there that does. Give a listen:
Well Do Ya, Punk?
I have always admired Clint Eastwood. I will watch anything he does, even if it involves a travelling Wild West show or lower primates. When I was a kid, the four strongest men in the world as far as I was concerned were Superman, Lou Ferrigno, my dad, and Clint. This interview is a fresh reminder why I like the guy so much.
The steely-eyed one ain't getting soft in his old age.
The steely-eyed one ain't getting soft in his old age.
The Ladies Man
Yeh, Big Daddy Mac is chillin' with Leon Phelps, and he's got his Couversier...
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NjQ1OTUzMTA1NGIyNDllN2VjZWM1MGM0ZmI5YmQwMGI=
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NjQ1OTUzMTA1NGIyNDllN2VjZWM1MGM0ZmI5YmQwMGI=
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Don't Stop The Music
Cubbies come from behind to tie it 3-3 against the Pads in the 5th. Why not 9 in a row, guys? You deserve it. Keep right on dancing.
Well, that settles that , then
The Dems choose Obama.
I was born in 1971. Obama was born in 1961. I am no spring chicken, but at 37, something just seems wrong to me about electing someone who is only 10 years older than me (even if that someone weren't as problematic as Obama). Maybe I'm just in denial, but it seems that the presidential candidates should all be more than 10 years my senior for at least the next two elections.
My back hurts.
Seriously, the democrats have said that between a kid who hasn't even served a full term in the Senate (the indictment against Edwards last time around, BTW), and someone who could make a quasi-credible argument that she's had at least SOME political experience in the last two decades, they've chosen the former. There is no logical reason why McCain shouldn't pick this guy apart. Although in recent years, Republicans have shown an uncanny ability to sabotage their own success (Mark Foley, George Allen, Jack Abramoff)...
I was born in 1971. Obama was born in 1961. I am no spring chicken, but at 37, something just seems wrong to me about electing someone who is only 10 years older than me (even if that someone weren't as problematic as Obama). Maybe I'm just in denial, but it seems that the presidential candidates should all be more than 10 years my senior for at least the next two elections.
My back hurts.
Seriously, the democrats have said that between a kid who hasn't even served a full term in the Senate (the indictment against Edwards last time around, BTW), and someone who could make a quasi-credible argument that she's had at least SOME political experience in the last two decades, they've chosen the former. There is no logical reason why McCain shouldn't pick this guy apart. Although in recent years, Republicans have shown an uncanny ability to sabotage their own success (Mark Foley, George Allen, Jack Abramoff)...
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