Here's To 2010...

In the ranking of my years spent kicking around the planet, I'm going to have to put 2009 right near the bottom as we wrap up things tonight, and I do just a little reflecting. I'm not going to justify it here in this post. It just was.

Don't misunderstand. I am blessed in many, many ways, and I really do make every effort to remember that. So in the big picture of things, I know that what I consider to be my worst years are likely better than 3/4 of the population's best year. That's some humbling stuff. So why even judge it? I don't know. I guess we all do it. Call it grading on a curve. No matter what we have, or what occurs, we all want to do better, right? Most times, we hope for a New Year at least as good as the last, don't we?

All I'm saying, is that compared to 2009, there's definitely some room for improvement for me. The important thing for me to remember...for us all to remember, is that much of that is up to us, as long as we allow God's help.

So here's to all of us making this next year better, for ourselves and for our neighbors. Throw another year (and a decade) on the fire tonight, and in the warmth and light of those memories, let us ask God to strengthen and guide us to making next year one for the top of our lists!

Happy New Year.

Christmas 2009

The Christmas message from The Dominican Sisters of Mary:

God has always been with us, but the Incarnation radically changed His manner of being “with us.” The most sacred item for the people of the Old Testament was the Ark of the Covenant, which contained several holy objects: the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, God’s word inscribed by God Himself; a jar of the manna with which God fed them in the desert; and Aaron’s rod, the symbol of his priesthood (Heb. 9:4). From the moment of the Incarnation, when the Holy Spirit overshadowed the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is called the Ark of the New Covenant, she held within her womb the Word of God in the flesh, who is the true manna in the Most Holy Eucharist, and who is the Eternal High Priest. Emmanuel, “God with us,” loves us with an intensity that is beyond our human comprehension, but we can begin to grasp it when we approach Him in the Blessed Sacrament, and receive Him into ourselves. Wherever the sanctuary light burns, He is there with us, but He is even closer to us when we receive Him, so that He can begin to transform us in Himself. He is not a God who remains distant, but one who enters into our lives, and into our very beings, bringing His infinite mercy and forgiveness. We long to be loved, and He longs for our love. As we approach the great mystery of Christmas, may He grant us the grace of deep, unwavering devotion to His presence in the Eucharist. O come, o come Emmanuel!

May the Peace of the Christ-child be God’s gift to us this Christmas time, and His blessings be upon us always!

More Chicago Thuggery

In a desperate move to save face, Obama is "inviting" all democratic senators to the White House today to brow beat and threaten them that something must be done on health care before the end of the year. One gets the distinct impression that it doesn't matter what it contains, as long as Obama can protect his image.

Make no mistake; this is Chicago-style politics at it's worst. If it had been an invitation, Republicans would have received one. No, he's calling in the people that he knows he can intimidate.

So what we have here is a president with 44% approval rating, directing a senate with a 28% approval rating, to pass a bill that only 34% of Americans want. Now that's representation. That's the Chicago way.

Think About It

"Treasury pay czar limits pay at automakers, banks."

This simple AP headline says a lot. An awful lot. Have you thought about it?

How sweeping these powers are for an official, who:

• was not elected by the people
• in a position unconfirmed by the other two branches of government
• in an action unauthorized by the Constitution
• controlling funds as if they were his own
• to manage a couple dozen companies funded and even partially owned by the government
• determining the pay grade for individuals of which he has no direct assessment of
• under a title that is defined as, "...an autocrat; an absolute ruler..."

File this under more "Hope and Change", but stop and think about it first. After all, this is happening right under your nose in what is supposed to be a Republic.

Happy Thanksgiving -2009

What follows is a wonderful reminder of the origin of the legal holiday we celebrate today, and also a testimony to the religious foundation upon which our country was built. A fact too often forgotten, and sometimes even dismissed by some today.

May we forever be a grateful nation, under God.

By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor–and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
”Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be–That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us, and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions–to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington

You Think??

Funny how this statement of the obvious came out of our brilliant commander from his current location in China. The Chi-coms must have given him a "teachable moment" of their own. I guess as our landlords, they might have a right to do so.
Note the words, "tax breaks". Can you believe that? Oh well, just as long as the advice comes from the communists and not some Reagan-conservative.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091118/ap_on_re_as/as_obama_economy

If Given a Choice...

Two high profile terrorist trials are about to begin. They will occur in two very different venues. Barack Hussein and Eric Holder have set up two different processes for them.

The group that bombed the USS Cole will go in front of a military court and face proceedings that are meant to deal with enemy combatants. These proceedings are typically sure and swift as the "defendants" are defined as an enemy force intending deliberate harm to the United States.

Then there is the group that masterminded and/or participated in the attacks of 9/11. (See my recent post, "What if?", Mr. President) This group will be tried under civil proceedings which will afford these "defendants" (with their confessions already in place) all of the Bill of Rights benefits that you or I would have guaranteed to us as U.S. citizens. There are so many principles being trampled in this process that it deserves a separate, future post.

But here is the bottom line to this, and a clear and disturbing message to terrorists world-wide:

If you are caught in an attempt to attack a U.S. military target, even with all of it's preparedness and ability to defend itself, you will face fast and sure justice at the hands of that same military. But if you are caught attacking an undefended civilian target, full of innocent victims, you will be given all of the rights and benefits that have been earned and defended with U.S. blood for over 200 years. Take your pick.

Thank you Mr. President for helping set the proper objectives for those who want to destroy us.

"What if", Mr. President?

In this op-ed piece from Ed Morrissey on Obama's criminal trials for admitted terrorists, he asks some very legitimate questions that have the potential for some disastrous outcomes:

"What happens if the judge throws out key evidence over nitpicky technicalities? What happens if KSM and others get found not guilty because of gaps in the evidence chain resulting from national-security issues or “evidentiary issues”? Will Obama let them walk away? If that happens, look for a massive amount of anger to overwhelm the naive Commander in Chief. And if Obama isn’t prepared to let them walk after a potential acquittal, then it makes a mockery of the criminal trial, and of the justice system itself. These terrorists belong at a military tribunal, not the justice system employed for Americans to judge other Americans for civil criminal conduct. Instead of giving these men the oblivion they deserve, we’re incentivizing further attacks on the US by giving them the biggest possible PR platform. We may as well put them on TV and call it Dancing With the Terrorists, or So You Want To Be A Jihadist Martyr."

Someone might say that there's absolutely no possibility that our "commander" in chief hasn't already thought about these things, and it's scary if he hasn't. Even scarier is the thought that he has.

11/11 at 11:00

"Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have grown not only gray, but almost blind in the service of my country." --George Washington, upon fumbling for his glasses before delivering the Newburgh Address, 1783

To all those veterans and current military in the service of the U.S.A.: Thank you.

One Small Step onto Very Thin Ice

So it is done. Or is it?

Well, if you listen to Nancy it is. "As big as Social Security and Medicare", as she put it. It's her version of nationalized medicine, but it is far from done.

All you really have to do is look at the vote. The dems control absolutely everything, and yet after all of Nancy's celebrating, her House got this done with a whopping 50.6% of the vote. And that's supposed to be the mandate that NancyHarryBarry want us to believe exists for this? What I saw was that she had to bribe, wrangle, beg and threaten just to get that much done. And that's why she's going to have to rethink this on many more long nights and weekends, and perhaps before then, she might have to finally listen to the voice of the people too. If not, 2010 Election Day is less than a year away. She'll hear it then.

A Loser Without a Winner?

Tuesday's vote up in Maine which overturned same-sex marriage legislation has had some interesting press coverage.

Every article I've read starts out by describing it as a loss for gay marriage proponents. Some, but very few, might elude to it as a win for somebody far down in the text.

Now as I understand it, this was a referendum sponsored by opponents of the law, to overturn it. Seems to me that a fair and accurate reporting of it would have labeled the result as a victory, first and foremost.

Why does this keep happening with all of those unbiased news organizations out there?

One Year Later

It is often said that "a man is known by the company he keeps". That was evoked often, and appropriately, when our current president was only a candidate. Not so much anymore. All of those radical old friends that he "barely knew" didn't seem to matter to the voters anyway, and now Ayers and Wright and the like are pretty much off the radar.

But it might be even more appropriate now to examine who he consults with as president. The old adage still applies, even more importantly. We're talking about those outside of his immediate circle whom he decides to invite into the White House. Remember, you do need to be invited; walking up and ringing the doorbell without one is almost guaranteed to be instantly fatal.

This question really came to mind when it was revealed how little time he had spent since his inauguration in discussion with his commander on the ground in Afghanistan. To this day, General McCrystal has only been called to the White House twice.

So out of all the diplomats, ambassadors, advisers, royalty, celebrities, statesmen, dignitaries, businessmen and women, etc., etc., that have been invited in, who tops the visitors list? The answer: Andy Stern, President of the SEIU, the Service Employee's International Union. One of Obama's best buddies, his power base, and his chief fundraiser. 20 times to be exact.

General McCrystal, fighting a war on global terror and commanding 25,000 of our troops in the deadliest land in the world: 2 times.

Andy Stern, fighting in the streets of our cities to organize labor and spread social activism in a war on capitalism: 20 times.

Sort of defines this president's priorities doesn't it?

This president has never been a commander. He still isn't. He's always been a community organizer. He still is.

The Pendulum Swings

The people have spoken. Yesterday's gubernatorial wins for the Republican party were very, very telling, and don't let the mainstream media tell you any different. It was amazing how the downplaying of these races began with about 1% of the voting counted!

All summer, the discontent with the administration's nationalist/socialist policies were being protested and rejected in the form of negative polls and tea parties everywhere, yet these were summarily dismissed by the dems and press, as meaningless actions by a few "angry mobs".

But now, those protests have materialized into something real; maybe not in a big way, but in a small, yet very significant first step. And those first steps are always the hardest. The pendulum, which is never motionless in U.S. politics, is starting to swing the other way. What Obama, and the democrats in Congress must now realize, and they will, is that with every vote they cast which moves us in such dramatic fashion away from our historical "centrist" government, is a nail in their political coffins. Our liberty is being hijacked and the great majority are now realizing it. Shame on them though, that they couldn't see it in the candidate Obama, but it's not too late.

Like in most elections, most registered voters went to the polls last year having put no more thought into who they were choosing, than they do when they decide what movie to see next. That's the way it is when we live in a country so comfortable, so stable and so predictable. We take so much for granted. We think to ourselves that democrats and republicans are really only inches apart on the spectrum of politics that's a mile wide, and that's probably accurate 98% of the time. And heck, "...that Obama guy looks pretty good. At least he's not another Bush!"

But by now, we can all see that this president is far from center. Way too far. And the signs were there, but only in little bites, thanks to his entire career being only months long, and no mainstream press willing to examine it.

Now Americans are going to have to use the only tool they have to erase and correct a mistake. And yesterday they began the proven process. I'm tempted to say that for the first time, I'm really proud of my country, but that would be a cheap shot wouldn't it? More than that, it would be absolutely untrue.

Play or Pay

The Obama White House decided last week that they were going to freeze out Fox News. This is the very first presidency ever to pick out a specific news source and decide that they were not worthy. Obama's timing comes right on the heels of Fox's airing of the ACORN scandal; an event that during the last administration, would have been lauded by Time and Newsweek as great, hard-core investigative journalism. But not now.

God knows, had George Bush decided to take the same action against news sources that were challenging his actions at every turn, he would have locked the doors on MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS and probably a couple of others. But I know, these media outlets NEVER showed any bias. Right.

There is a new emphasis over at the Politico this morning on so many more examples of the disparity in the media's treatment of the two administrations. (Oh...except on Fox). Check it out:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20091027/pl_politico/28764

I don't know if the Politico has any kind of access to the White House currently, but if they do, they can probably kiss it goodbye after this post. That's just the way it with this president who promised a new era of transparency, cooperation and conciliation.

R.I.P. Soupy Sales

My gosh, it's been a tough year on our iconic names from the 60's. And now Soupy at age 83.

Pies....big bow ties.....and more pies. Goofy slapstick that has not stood the test of time, but so what? That's today's problem. I enjoyed him.

R.I.P. Soupy.

Benedict's Bold Move

So what does it mean, this move by the Pope to cast a lifeline to conservative Anglican's? Well, I'm no authority on all of the idiosyncrasies of the Roman Catholic doctrine to be applied here, just one man trying to fathom Christ's plan for it all. Just one middle-aged (yes, middle!) Episcopalian who asks questions and often wonders, like many Episcopalians these days, if I'm where God wants me to be in His Church. So with that, and with a day's reflection on the announcement, I'll offer these modest opinions:

1. It was a very timely move by the Pope to cast his net. Was it in his mind, and within the Vatican's finest theological minds, more prayerful or more pragmatic to move now? I would judge it to be the latter. A sense that this was the perfect time for a not-so-new idea, for there are restless souls out there.

2. A blow to the Anglican Church for sure. 90% of the Church's growth in the last decade is coming from the conservative side of it's communion. A side that has been most displeased with the "progressive" ideas from the more liberal branches of the communion, and an Archbishop who has spent the last decade doing nothing but waffling on the most divisive issues.

3. Another hit to the issue of harmony within the many Roman Catholic clergy who may look with much envy upon the "benefits" that Anglican clergy get to keep when they join. Harmony is hard to maintain when the rules aren't applied equally.

4. At some level, it was a bit of an insult to the Anglican Church. Almost as if the Pope is saying that after 450 years, it's still not a legitimate Church until it's comes back to the fold.

5. It definitely leapfrogs some of the ecumenical groundwork that both Churches were laying over the last several years, and certainly will make some aspects tougher and some moot.

Lastly, I've concluded fairly easily that this does nothing for me personally. I'm an ex-Roman and have no interest in returning. It may yet mean something to me, depending on it's long term effects on TEC. So therefore, despite all of the excitement, I am still left wondering what will happen to the orthodox Episcopalians like myself, who are beginning to feel marginalized. There are many of us wondering, and some wandering. More to pray on...always.

Unabashed Self-Promotion Posting

On my list of "Check These" sites in the left margin, you'll notice a new link to my photo blog, Artifacts of Light. The name came to me as I thought about what a photograph is, in the purist sense: Color, reflection and shadow, all a result of light's interaction with our world and our perception of it, preserved by the camera.

I hope you'll visit now, and check it often. I'll constantly be adding images that I like and give a little information on each. Feel free to comment too!

Thanks for looking.

Time to Flush the Bowls

Are you kidding me? Now, we need to have Barack Hussein launch an investigation into the structure and fairness of the NCAA football playoff structure known as the B.C.S. (Bowl Championship Series)?!!

Folks, I don't make this stuff up. We have a president that has chosen, as in any good socialist system, to stick his nose into every aspect of our lives. This guy is on TV 24/7, he pries into a resisting arrest charge in Massachusetts, he joins the U.S. Olympic committee, he takes over entire chunks of private industry, he does TV promos for his Hollywood buddies, he beams himself into our school classrooms, and on, and on, and on. (Everything except being Commander in Chief). And now this, the college bowl game system??

What makes this bowl "issue" even worse, is that it's a Republican, Orrin Hatch, who is asking Obama to do this because , and I start to wonder if there is any capable and responsible mind left in Washington these days. Can they possibly think of any other ways to p*** our money away? It's just beyond words.

So Barry will look into this I'm sure, and the federal government will end up owning all bowl games. Under that takeover:

• Schools with more than 50 % minority enrollment will be allowed five "downs" per possession, versus four for schools like Utah (bet Orrin didn't figure on that!)
• Chicago will host the National Championship game in the first ever "Oprah Bowl".
• The Fox Network is shut out from bidding for any game.
• All ticket sales will be conducted by ACORN.
• All halftime shows will carry a taped message on health care reform.
• The Goodyear and Met Life blimps will be grounded in favor of fly-bys by Air Force One.
• And not surprisingly, the cancellation of The Liberty Bowl.

Special thanks to Orrin Hatch. You serve us well.

The Trouble With Joe

Oh-oh. Joe "Bucket Mouth" Biden is at it again. Every time he does it, I can picture Obama running to some far-flung room at the White House and screaming as loud as he can, "Why the **** did I pick this crazy, senile white guy?!!!"

Compounding the problem for Obama is when Crazy Joe is actually right, and is "talking out of school" as they say. You know, when he lacks the savvy to lie as smoothly as Obama can.

Today, he said that the "economy is in a depression, at least for those still not working". Yikes. That would seem to fly directly in the face of Barry's statements and those of all his handlers who insist that not only is it a recession (not depression), but that it's actually over! Thanks to that stimulus package and a resurgence of Casino Wall Street, I'm hearing that all is well.

Because he's such a thorn in Obama's side, I have to admit that sometimes I can actually stand the guy. Today is one of those days.

Say It Ain't So, Mate

Britian continues to lose. Their very culture is disappearing under an onslaught of unrestricted immigration. Their honor is tossed aside in favor of Libyan oil deals. And now you can't even walk into a pub and get fish and chips?!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_on_re_eu/eu_eu_threatened_fish

Now it's serious.

More Dead-End Diplomacy

Missile defense systems are removed from Poland to appease the Russians. A meeting with the Dalai Lama is cancelled to appease the Chinese. And these are just a couple of the more recent steps taken by Barack Hussein to gain favor with the two most dangerous "friends" we have in the world. Dangerous for many reasons, but the most recent being that neither one will support any tightening of sanctions against Iran.

Obama sent Hillary and the rest of his diplomacy brain-trust over to Russia to specifically negotiate a deal to punish Iran. We gave them Poland's security and in return they sent her packing with absolutely nothing. And China? Well, today they announced that not only would they not punish Iran, they are actually planning an immediate increase in trade and other assistance. Nice.

To me, what we have here is what Obama would call a "teachable moment". The problem is, teachable moments are only for others apparently; not for him. This guy just doesn't get it. Doesn't read history. Doesn't understand. So as his powerful friends continue to support the radicals in Iran and we continue to bargain our security away, an extremely dangerous Middle East will grow more so. And when it eventually erupts, which it will, Barack better ignore any phone calls coming from Norway. Somebody might want their prize back.

A Prized President

Affirmative Action has even reached the Nobel Committee. It's the only plausible explanation to their award of the Peace Prize to Barack Hussein before he's accomplished anything. Apparently lofty speeches, expressed intentions and campaign promises are all that is required.

Well, there is another possibility.

I think that what we are really seeing here is a very leftist and opportunistic European consortium who understands (correctly) that they have a U.S. president who they can actually influence. Actually, the word steer might be more accurate. Can you blame them for wanting to promote their pacifist, socialist agenda with a U.S. president who actually gives a rats-behind about their world view?

And steerable he is. A citizen of the world; not interested in always placing the U.S. first. Overly concerned with what others think of him. Needy of constant approval and praise, like the adoration he received during his global apology tour. And he isn't George Bush.

Now another man, a better man, might have recognized the motive when no other explanation made sense. But not Obama. And he knows that he hasn't done anything. Yet his ego is so huge that he could never see this as anything but worship. To him, it just makes sense.

On Losing The Games

The International Olympics Committee has just sent Chicago packing in the first round of voting for 2016. That's last place. Hmmm? Quite a swing from what everyone, including yours truly, thought would be first place. What happened?

Very simply, Chicago itself was not up to the task in the opinions of the committee, and any help that "the first couple", plus Oprah, thought they were going to bring was overreaching, misdirected and arrogant.

I listened to both speeches by our king and queen, and having spent my entire career in sales, I can tell you that they totally missed the mark. They blew it folks. The first thing that you learn when you're trying to sell something to a potential customer, is that you talk to them about what they want, and how you're going to deliver it. But in this case, their own arrogance led them to give speeches about their families, their dreams, their city and their wants. And guess what, the IOC didn't give a damn about that. Surprise, surprise. It's got to be shocking to the "dream team" that went over there, and every Barack Hussein supporter, who thinks that the world is ready to fall at his feet.

As far as my prediction, I was clearly fooled. I thought that there was probably some backroom deal ahead of time, that basically guaranteed a win for Chicago, because I could not imagine Obama going over there with any risk of possibly losing. And yet he did. And that only tells me that his ego and arrogance is far larger than even I imagined, and because of that, Obama had convinced himself ahead of time, that he couldn't lose.

He's learning a lot these days. The problem is, that it's always at our expense.

Season's Fleetings

I'm here at the northern compound tonight, just arriving this afternoon, and it's that time of year again: closing time. Sigh! What a nice season we had this year. (I'm pretty sure I say that every year)

I hate it. I mean I love this time of year, autumn is actually my favorite season I think. I just hate having to put away the camp for 7+ months. That's a long stretch. The 5 months we have here go sooo quickly. But that is the way of all things in life that we relish, isn't it? They fly by. Truth is, once you're old enough to have your AARP card, ALL segments of life seem to fly by: those you like and those you don't like as much. Doesn't matter. Every month is running me over it seems.

Tonight is a starry sky with a waxing 3/4 moon. It's a gorgeous sky, with the kind of clear that sucks the day's heat from the earth very quickly. There are frost and freeze warnings throughout northern Michigan tonight and that's a little early. But since we had no real heat this summer, it seems to be fitting.

All summer, there is a non-stop din of activity around here. Kids everywhere. Non-stop fun. Fairs, food, fireworks and festivals. Late nights, every night, because everyone's vacationing and the sun doesn't set until 10:30. Such a contrast to October. The natural solitude of the area just reclaims the camp at this time, and that's not all a bad thing, just a very different feeling. I'd like to explore it more, but we will have a daughter in school for many years yet, and that whisks us away every September. So for now, our vacation weeks are all taken in the summer. I would love having a few weeks up here, starting about October 1st. Some day we'll do it.

Over the next few days, I'll be winterizing the boat and the RV, storing bikes, kayaks and lawn chairs, cleaning out the larder, and thinking about next May. The good thing is, that it will be here before you know it. The bad thing is, that it will be here before you know it! Such is life.

Wise people say that the time away is exactly why we appreciate it so much. I'll have to accept that as I point the car south with the memories packed away.

Artistic License?

Is there, or should there be, a statute of limitations on the rape or first degree sexual abuse of a 13 year old girl? That appears to be the question on many minds after the arrest of Roman Polanski in Switzerland, and the U.S. request for extradition to trial.

It's been 32 years, and the guy has spent that time working throughout Europe and for what it's worth, living a clean, productive life apparently.

I'm asking the question here, just because I think it probably deserves some thought. Personally, my mind is not made up tonight, but I'm probably leaning towards "no".

But the point of this post is to call out some of the sickening comments defending Polanski (who plead guilty to this) which can be summed up with the statement by the French Cultural Minister who said that this guy should not be arrested because of his "immense talent and artistry". I do have a problem with those words.

How in anybody's mind, can someone's artistic talent, which in Polanski's case is questionable anyway, excuse this type of behavior? These people are just warped. Most of them are from the artistic communities found in France and, "shockingly", Hollywood. They really do live in a different world; one with very few rules, unless perhaps, this victim had been their daughter.

If there is any consideration given to Polanski here, it should come only from the amount of time elapsed. I suppose that if he had spent the last 32 years feeding the poor, then his vocation might be used to his credit, but certainly not in the case of an industry that at times glorifies the repulsive behavior he's displayed in the real world.

The Church of St. Sanitoria

I just found out that our old Church back in Michigan has laid out a list of restrictions on personal contact during worship. They are not the first to do it, but this is just another ridiculous example of the paranoia that I've seen happening around the country in reaction to the grossly overrated Swine Flu "epidemic".

So for now, there will be no handshakes, no hugs, and no kisses (well, they were rare anyway!) during the offering of the Peace. Also, there will no drinking from the communion chalice; intinction only please.

The whole idea is really absurd.

How many of the parishioners are going to head out right after Church on Sunday to their favorite restaurant, grocery store or shopping mall and expose themselves to every bit, if not more germs than they'd ever see at Church? Maybe a shopping cart handle instead of a handshake. Maybe a $5.00 bill received as change at brunch. How about the door handle at Starbucks?

The Vicar at our Church here in Chicagoland preached on this subject last spring in response to some of the very same "precautions" being taken at some other parishes in our diocese. She was totally against such an overreaction. Her view was a wider one too, concerning how few real dangerous bugs Americans come into contact with in comparison to those less fortunate living in truly horrendous conditions throughout the world. Her excellent sermon that day also pointed out that there are things like risk and trust, that God asks us to do every day with our brothers and sisters. Something to think about; WWJD?

I would like to witness the Peace at the old place, if it can even deserve to be called that under these circumstances. And if some very brave soul or just a lunatic with a death wish hugs the old friend sharing his pew, what's going to happen? Will he be "ushered" out by Ushers wearing latex gloves? What next: face masks on the choir?

Better just stay at home and watch Robert Schuller.

One Down....

Three weeks ago, Scottish authorities sickened most thoughtful, reasonable and good people with their "mercy" release of the Lockerbie bomber. Today, Susan Atkins, one of Charles Manson's cult members, died in prison from cancer. She received no similar mercy from our law, in her conviction (admission) of killing Sharon Tate 40 years ago.

Both claim (or claimed) to have a relationship with God. For one, that relationship is being tested tonight. For the other, it will be soon (we are told). I imagine there are many different opinions on what God will decide for both of them. Only they will know.

What I know, is that we mere mortals handled Atkins correctly. The decision in Scotland was an abomination however. But it doesn't matter I guess, as both cases are "coming due" with the ultimate authority. I'm happy to leave it with Him.

Obama's Nuts

As you could have guessed, I absolutely loved the "sting" operation pulled off successfully on ACORN, or "Obama's Nuts" as I call them.

As a result of this action by a couple of rank amateurs and their website, ACORN is in a death spiral, which is exactly where they should be. Thanks also to Fox News, the only mainstream media outlet who would show it, of course. Heck, if it weren't for these two kids, Barack Hussein would have never even heard that ACORN was partially funded by taxpayers! Did you catch that on Sunday? The moment he said that, why couldn't Joe Wilson have been there to shout "You Lie"?!!

Anyway, just like a cornered animal, they are lashing out and have announced that they will sue the kids and the website. What a joke. Trust me, the thing will never go to court. Some conservative group or groups, will see to it that these kids have some great legal minds to defend them, and just the discovery phase of evidence gathering alone will be enough to send ACORN running.

As I think about this, I wonder how this documentary is any different than say, something Michael Moore has done in the past? How many offices did he walk into with cameras? I wish someone would ask him about that. I'd love to hear his answer.

UNamerican

Our "leader" has spoken. His first speech to the U.N. General Assembly convention was today. My observations:

• It was a continuation of his world-wide apology tour which he hasn't been off-script since taking the oath of office.
• He got more applause than any president probably ever has. What does it mean to us when our stated enemies approve of him? Think about it. What does it mean when a radical leader of an avowed terrorist-state refers to him as "one of our son's"?
• He promised an end to any kind of unilateral action or thinking by the U.S., except in the process of disarmament.
• He threw the state of Israel to the dogs.
• He committed our standard of living to a new world economy which will assure that we have a bright future of never having more than an average share.
• He used the words "I" and "my" probably 30 times. You didn't have to be listening for it. It was that obvious.
• He labeled us as a country who tortured.
• There was no mention of U.S. greatness. Nada.

In summary, there was no substance, and no courage, but a whole lot of apology, appeasement and arrogance (the personal kind). So here's an idea: let's pass a copy of his speech out to every grade school student in the country, and ask them to write an answer to "What did the president say today that makes you proud to be an American?".

No Fair

I know that I'm late on the news coming out of our old home in Michigan, but I just got the word that this recently concluded Michigan State Fair will likely be the last. At least if it's going to rely on corporate and state funding.

I understand the economics of it. The state budget has been devastated by the crash of the auto industry and it's tax base, and there aren't enough healthy corporations there, auto related or otherwise, to plunk down sponsorship money. But I don't think that's the biggest issue.

For many, many years, I've questioned why the state fair was left to fewer and fewer visitors down at the old crusty fairgrounds lot. What a dismal place for a state fair. Oh, it wasn't always that way, I'm sure. Maybe 50 or 60 years ago it was safe, clean and one could even imagine a smidgen of agriculture that may have existed in the area. But why it remained there in decline for so long I'll never understand.

Why is the Ohio State Fair not in Cleveland? Why is the Illinois State Fair not in Chicago?

Detroit, of all places, is not the right venue for the state fair. It has nothing to offer. Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Lansing, or even Traverse City all make more sense. Take the fair back closer to it's roots as an agricultural exposition. Make it a destination.

All throughout the summer there are a hundred Michigan towns that offer the same cheesy carnival attractions and smelly carnival workers, and most of those in much nicer venues if you really need it. No need to come to Detroit.

I've heard all the PR talk about the importance of taking some of these farming and husbandry lessons to the city kids, trying to give them an appreciation and a little knowledge about it, but the fact is that the big city kids and their families don't want it. The attendance numbers prove it, and that's why this fair will be no more. That's another thing the sponsors understand, even if they had the money to give.

It's too bad really; after 160 years. That's a long time. But the time for this fair, in this place, is long past.

R.I.P. - Mary and Henry

I came across a couple of interesting and diverse obituaries today. Mary Travers and Henry Gibson were both way past their status as celebrities and so the announcements that I found were totally accidental. At most websites or newspapers, you'd have to go very deep, if they were even there at all. Once, back in the 60's, they were household names. Now, their deaths don't rate much more news than yours and mine might.

Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary. - A wonderful voice, and songs on 45's that we played over and over: Puff the Magic Dragon, Leavin' On a Jet Plane, Blowin' in the Wind and Where Have All the Flowers Gone, just to name the biggies.

Henry Gibson - A funny guy. Those characters from Laugh In, where he got 99% of his fame and glory were the best. Remember The Poet? Or how about the priest he always played in those cocktail party scenes? "My congregation supports all denominations, but our favorites are twenties and fifties." Funny stuff in those days. And he's still good. See him on Boston Legal.

So I just thought I'd put these two out there. Neither person having any huge influence on me, but just big enough in my younger years to make me stop and think how those things are beginning to disappear, and sad that they have passed. Both 73 years old. May they rest in peace.

Leakproof

Oh, oh. ABC, the state-run All Barack Channel, is really flogging itself over this one. It appears that they are at fault in the release of the off-the-record comments Barack Hussein made regarding rapper Kanye West's reprehensible actions at the M-TV video awards.

Of course, anything that happens with the media these days regarding the president is guaranteed to be directly polar-opposite of the Bush days. Remember when the media couldn't wait to get some open-mike misstep by Bush and then plaster it all over their networks? The glee was palpable.

Before the president of ABC throws himself out of his 18th-floor office window over this, maybe he should consider that what he "leaked" is actually complementary to the president. Barry called this rap-idiot a "jackass", and he's exactly right. This is even a little tame considering the action. So this whole "controversy" is a little hard to figure out.

But since were into conspiracy theories these days, you know, like Bush planning 9/11, I actually have my own theory that this "leak" may have been staged by ABC and Obama.

First of all, there isn't one employee at ABC who isn't head-over-heels infatuated with Barry. No one there is going to smuggle out some recording that's a potential embarrassment to him.

Second, Barry might just be thinking that he has some race relations patching-up to do, especially after the "stupid" white cop comment, and the "teachable moment", and the Van Jones, Black Panther, Green Jobs czar debacle. This "leak" of him dissing the black Kanye West after his verbal assault on poor little white, Taylor Swift, might just be the thing to recover some Caucasian respect out there. Because if it's one thing Barry can't stand, it's to not be adored by all of mankind. And since the comments were supposedly off the record, maybe he can slide it by most blacks without too much damage.

Now there's some conspiracy that "we can believe in"!

PRAVDA Resurrected

One of Chicagoland's highest rated radio programs is WLS's "Don Wade and Roma". This morning they had one of the state run media's largest "irrelevant" on: Charlie Gibson. They must have needed to fill a time slot, because this guy is next to worthless within his chosen field.

Example:

Don Wade asked him about the Senate vote to defund ACORN, and why there was no mention of that on any of the national media. And not just regarding yesterday's vote, but on any of the recent independent undercover work that has exposed the criminal enterprise that this organization really is. All he could do is giggle kind of nervously and say "Oh, I really haven't heard about that."

This is more than head in the sand. This is object servitude. This is today's ABC.

No Excuse

Two days after the eighth anniversary. The first Sunday after the eighth anniversary. It's the sabbath and a day for prayer in Church.

We pray for many things at my Episcopal Church and it's all good.

But I'm afraid that my little parish is a little too close to the liberal "irrelevants" (my word) that currently run most dioceses and the national office. Because we NEVER pray for our military service folk. And today, there were no prayers offered for the victims of 9/11 and those they left behind. Not one word. Shameful.

The liberal arm of our Church would never pray for a soldier in Afghanistan, as if that soldier ordered himself over there. As if he made U.S. military policy. As if he wanted to kill. As if praying for him or her, somehow puts the Church into a position which promotes violence. It's truly absurd.

And now, if we can't pray for 3000 innocent victims of terrorism, what is the excuse?

I offered my own petition as is permitted in most forms of prayer in our worship. But it is not the same as the Church community doing it. For there is power in prayer and power in numbers.

Anymore, I feel like I'm on my own in so many things involving my Church. Like a little island of conservative orthodoxy. That feeling is awful, and it's counter to the very reason one attends Church. It is supposed to be a community. Of one mind in the core beliefs, at least. Isn't it?

Another Radical Denial - 2nd Update

OK, let's all buy into the White House's version of Van Jones departure as a "resignation". If that's true, then let's see how the state-run media handles that.

Remember a lady named Sarah Palin, and how the media chewed her up after her resignation? All kinds of negative comments, mainly calling her a wimp and a "quitter when the going started to get rough" for her with investigations and allegations. So now, this Van Jones radical has done the exact same thing; at least that's what we're told.

Sarah was a quitter. How will they portray Van Jones? Take a guess. How about a victim of racists, right-wing wackos, conservative bloggers and talk radio. But not a quitter. Not a wimp.

Who needs a comics section anymore? Read the front page.

Another Radical Denial - Update

The ink is still wet on my post written on Barack Hussein's ultra-leftist pal Van Jones, and he is gone! I think the word that I used was "poof" when I predicted his departure, and boy is that the perfect word.

Of course, this was announced this morning as a "resignation" from his job as "Green Czar". OK, whatever. It's just that guys like him don't resign. Nope, he got the big phone call from Barry, but Barry will never discuss it. Like I said, Obama will deny any knowledge of anything about this guy.

Another community organizer bites the dust. How many more to go?

I Remember Summer

I don't know much about the anatomy of the brain, but I seem to recall reading that the olfactory sensing mechanisms are located right smack in the middle of the memory production site. (See how well I use all of that technical terminology!) This would explain why the sense of smell, more so than any other, can elicit those deep memories from way back in time. My grandpa's pipe tobacco or that musty summer cabin or moist fall leaves. We all have our favorites.

Today I was able to resurrect one of those.

We are well past the dog days now and summer is fading fast. But this weekend at the northern compound, we are being treated to some of the nicest weather we've seen all year. And it provoked me into a long soak in the lake. Actually a float on my dollar-store beach mattress. It did just fine.

But floating on the gentle ripples coming in from the lake, put me into a kind of a prolonged meditative state. Feeling the cool water beneath me, the warm sun above me, the warmish breeze, the sound of the birds, and kids, all just made for a perfect atmosphere to let the mind wander.

And then, a funny smell. Not one that would typically jump to the top of everyone's "favorites" list. This was the smell of a two-stroke marine motor. Like an outboard motor, except this was from a Jet-Ski, the scourge of the quiet northern lake. They burn the same oil evidently.

Now I have to tell you that I hate these things. The drivers are inconsiderate 95% of the time. They're noisy. They scare the fish. They are not boats. They don't rank with boats. Their riders don't rank with boat captains, motor or sail. Just a nuisance.

But the one that buzzed past me today, I appreciated. Because the smell of his little trail of blue smoke took me back to the memory of a favorite place: my aunt and uncle's cottage on Mullet Lake, in northern Michigan.

That scent, along with the water, sun and sounds of today took me back forty years to when I spent a good part of every summer at my uncle's cottage. My two cousins and I wringing every drop of fun we could get out of each long, crazy summer day in the north. It was the best.

That smell connected me back to all of the small boats, including a couple of my uncle's, that used to tool around the lake. Each day started and ended with fisherman heading out from shore to their secret holes, but the vast middle of each day was filled with water-skiers and joy riders, all powered by various size outboard motors that all smelled the same. My love of water and boats made that quite an intoxicating perfume after awhile. Our long days, would equate to short nights, and so very often we'd find some place on the wooden dock to take a little siesta. And so just like today, I would lay in the sun and feel the breeze with resting eyes closed, and quite often, there would be the buzz of a little outboard motor and it's smell running down the lake.

One day, I'm sure not too long from now, these little two-stoke motors will disappear. Polluters, all of them. No environmentalist worth his salt finds any redeeming quality in this century-old technology running across a lake. And their probably right in their opinions. But for me, the smell and sound reminds me of a time when there were no Jet-Skis, and any kid lucky enough to be next to a Michigan lake was very happy to make do with a stinky little 6-horse Johnson motor, and a top speed of 8 or 10 knots. That meant fishing, exploring, and fun. To me, that was summer. Today, that was summer too. A nice way to say goodbye for this year.

Another Radical Denial

If you haven't read much about Barack Hussein's "Green Jobs" Czar, Van Jones, then get on the stick. Seems that Barry has yet another socialist, radical, community organizer skeleton in his closet that he'll be dumping very shortly.

The pattern is familiar. Barry keeps these sleazeballs close, even gives them jobs, hoping to keep them hidden, and then suddenly some ray of daylight truth shines on them and immediately it's duck and run time for our furious leader. I wonder how much these guys love being betrayed by Obama once they're ratted out? I'm sure he pulls them aside and gives them some pep talk about the pain of having to separate now, and then asking them to be patient; that one day, when he controls all, they will be welcomed back. I can easily imagine him having this little chat with Bill Ayers or Jeremiah Wright. Van Jones is about to get the same call.

We owe so much to the conservative sleuths out there following the stench of these guys and lifting the lid on them. God knows that none of the state-run media is going to do it.

Bill Ayers and Rev. Wright have nothing on this guy though. This guy is the real deal. Hard-core radical, revolutionary activist and pure racist. I'll guarantee you that this guy is high up on the Black Panther's mailing list. What makes this guy worse though, is that Barry handed him one of his bogus Czar jobs, bypassing any critical confirmation process. He's currently managing an $80 billion budget!

And worst of all, he's an avowed 9/11 conspirist loony. In other words, he's publicly stated and wrote that the Bush administration staged the attacked.

Read up on this guy if you can, before he goes "poof" and becomes just another shadow of someone Barrack didn't know, didn't listen to, and "in no way" agrees with.

Who Needs It?

Now that the city of Englewood, N.J. has rightly denied a spot to Moammar Gaddafi to pitch his tent, I wonder where he'll go?

Zooming out on the whole U.N. thing, I wonder if it's time for us to rethink hosting the U.N. in our country? How is it that we benefit from that anyway? Every time there's a big meeting, we have to allow all kinds of thugs, punks and outright enemies into the country. Most of the time, these guys are here to accuse, insult and otherwise thumb their nose at us anyway. This Gaddafi visit just happens to be fresh on the heels of his welcome home victory party for the Lockerbie bomber, but here he comes.

Maybe, it used to be prestigious for us to have the world come to New York. But that was back when the U.N. meant something, even to us.

Wouldn't it be fun for someone like Iran to host? Then, every time there was a big meeting, the free and decadent West would have all manner of diplomats, ambassadors and staff descending on their city with diplomatic immunity and causing them all kinds of social headaches. We could insult their leadership right in the midst of their citizenry. The world press could run all over town, exposing all sorts government abuses. This would be neat to do in North Korea and Libya too.

Yup. Time to party somewhere else, and let "whomever" deal with the cleanup every time.

And as far as Gaddafi and his tent for this meeting, well I think that the Scottish embassy lawn probably has more than enough room. Let him go there.

Want of Wisdom

"These are all fabrications that have been put out there in order to discourage people from meeting what I consider to be a core ethical and moral obligation: that is, that we look out for one another; that is, I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper. And in the wealthiest nation in the world right now, we are neglecting to live up to that call."
--Barack Hussein Obama

Someone call the White House and remind Barry that he has a brother living in a hut in Kenya, existing on $12 per year. How much were Michelle's sneakers? Oh yeah; $430. Hmm?

Words of Wisdom

Back when Scots were proud and upright:

"Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent." --Scottish philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790)

No more.

Dead Man Hawking

Overheard at the Kennedy funeral today: a couple of his little grandsons with special intercessions for nationalized health care, in order that grandpa's dreams could become reality.

Sickening. Absolutely sickening.

One thing is for certain, when is comes to exploitation, misrepresentation, smear and outright lies, you just can't beat at liberal fighting for a cause.

If you can't even stop politicizing at a funeral, well then I guess that's a positive sign for the good guys. The desperation has reached it's lowest point. Maybe.

Mercy, Mercy

Unbelievable!

Apparently, the authorities in Iraq have taken an important cue from the boundless charity demonstrated by the Scots last week when they released the Lockerbie bomber. Because today, they granted early release to the infamous shoe thrower!

But before you fly into a rage about this, realize that this was only done because the thrower is actually suffering from terminal athlete's foot! It was the humane thing to do.

California Dreamin'

I'm reading about some hopping-mad libs today and so naturally I want to write about it. Especially because this involves the most vitriolic libs, those of California, and their UAW pals.

Toyota has announced that it will be closing it's Fremont, CA assembly plant, putting 4,500 UAW members out of work, and eliminating a huge chuck of tax revenue from the state that can least afford it right now. But as most of the state-run media is reporting on the evil actions of the Japanese car-maker, and talking to a bunch of libs and union mouthpieces, why don't we look at a couple of things from another prospective:

Toyota actually brought this plant back to life in 1984, by entering into a joint venture with the old General Motors. GM had actually closed it in 1982, because the UAW would not negotiate to reduce labor cost. The JV between the two companies, called NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing) was able to negotiate some concessions with the UAW because it required a new contract to be set up. This led to 25 years of very stable employment for the UAW, because of Toyota.

After the old GM was taken over by Barack Hussein, the new Government Motors was led into quick bankruptcy where it was decided that it needed to pull out of the Fremont NUMMI relationship.

So where should the blame go? GM pulled out of the deal, and Toyota was left holding the bag, and so they decided to abandon it.

This morning, the ever-delusional Sen. Diane Feinstein and UAW boss Ron Gettelfinger are teaming up to blast Toyota. Predictably off-base. Way off-base.

First, dip Diane should call her president and find out why the location was no longer good business for Government Motors. He can fill her in. After all, no one understands the car biz better than Barry. Did she not support every single move he made when he was nationalizing the U.S. auto industry? Sure she did. And why does she expect Toyota to hang in alone? Toyota is no Barry, but I would say they know a couple of things about building cars competitively.

Then there's Gettlefinger. Of course, none of this problem has anything to do with the UAW according to him. Except that they blew up GM back in 1982 at this plant to start with. Except that they stood by to collect their wages year after year of GM/Toyota losing money at this facility, with no willingness to help share the pain. Except that they, along with their elected messiah are now the largest shareholders by far of the company that pulled out first. No, it's all Toyota's fault. Right. Some things never change.

Finally, Ms. Feinstein had the gall to chastise Toyota about making the announcement right at the end of the "Cash for Clunkers" program, because it turns out that they have made more money off it than any other car-maker! Einstein, er, I mean Feinstein, apparently needs a reminder about who's idea the cash for clunkers was? Another inconvenient truth for the libs.

Inclusion = Contraction (Again)

The link below takes you to an interesting article. It's about a community of Episcopal nuns and their loss of faith in the liberal "reformation" of their Church. It is significant and sad. Another rare piece of Anglican tradition that is about to get rarer, thanks to TEC.

http://www.catholicreview.org/subpages/storyworldnew-new.aspx?action=6750

I found the quote from Mother Christina to be especially telling: “People who did not know us looked at us as if we were in agreement with what had been going on (in the Episcopal Church),” she said. “By staying put and not doing anything, we were sending a message which was not correct.”

That certainly speaks to me, and I continue to pray to find out what God wants for me in my own relationship with this Church, but if seven years of prayer and a devotion far beyond mine have led these sisters to this conclusion, perhaps they have an important message for many orthodox Episcopalians.

R.I.P. Ted Kennedy

What is one to say (or write) about the death of a foe? Or not even that - let's say, not an adversary, but one whom you can draw little respect from and no real fondness?

Well, ultimately there's the human side to which we must all have compassion. And let's face it, half the country perceived him politically as one of theirs. Actually they thought much more than that. A hero for the liberal cause. A politician for the common man, even though he lived the most uncommon life and could have no real clue about life in upper-middle America, or below. (Actually, this applies to probably 80% of Congress!)

His death is already being politicized by those libs and the state-owned media that see this as an opportunity. Sort of akin to the "don't waste a crisis" attitude by the current ruling party who's wish for a socialist state could start with Kennedy's health care initiative. Sickening. Yet these are Kennedy's people.

As a conservative, I could find virtually no common ground with his political viewpoints. The legacy he leaves behind, with a 50-year trail to his father and brothers, is nothing but big and bigger government, and less and less liberty for Americans. A career politician of the worst kind, something the media always likes to play up. You know, the "service to his country" bit. As if "laboring" under a quarter-million dollar salary with the finest perks and benefits, and a staff of dozens to do your bidding.....as if 40 years of doing that deserves any more credit than doing 40 years at any other job.

And let's not forget that he was a man guilty of negligent homicide who never paid his due. No small thing is that.

So what to say? A man who will be missed by those that loved him. Gee, that's easy.

A man of importance? Yes.

A friend to America? No.

A sinner? Yup. (About the only thing he and I had in common.)

Bottom line though, a human being. R.I.P. Ted Kennedy.

Justice Denied

I am beside myself this morning. I just read the headline about the release of the Lockerbie bomber, and my head spins trying to comprehend that kind of thinking.

The man blows an airliner out of the sky killing 270 people, and now some Scottish judge wants to show him mercy because he is terminally ill. It's beyond reason.

What is happening to the UK, and for that matter, the whole of Europe, that is turning brains into jelly? I swear that every day, I am reading about decisions akin to this one. Decisions where backbone, pride and justice have utterly vanished over there. Where more and more liberal thought is overcoming any sense of who and what it was that created some of the greatest thinkers and powers on the earth. Now it's being pissed away. I'm sorry; that's the word that comes to my mind. It's just so sad to watch it happen. We must never let that kind of culture destroy the U.S.A..

The judge uses the word compassion. Where does he think this guy earned that, and what gives a judge, any judge, the right to hand out that most precious gift in the face of the horrendous brutality of killing 270 innocents? If Almighty God wants to show this guy compassion, then it will be shown to him upon his death. But as civilized people, there must be penalties in society, severe ones, for acts against humanity like this.

I do not support the penalty of death, not even in a case like this. That is simply not my belief. But the just penalty for this man, at the very least, was to spend the rest of his life in solitary confinement, a minimum of food and water and a cold, slat bed to lie down on. No contact with any other human being, ever. And he would live that way until the day of his natural death.

He likely lived a bit better than this. And he's served only 8 years!

Now he's very sick, with terminal something. So now it's time for a higher power to deal with him, with no interference on our part. We will be rid of it.

I see things everyday that I can take issue with, and yet almost always, there is one little corner of my brain where I can usually find a grain of empathy for the other opinion. In this case, there is absolutely none. Nothing.

It just so happens that I was in London when the bombing occurred. For me, it certainly put a damper on a Christmas celebration. What a pitiful little bit of discomfort it gave to me, as compared to those victims and their families. I won't ever forget it. This "judge" in Scotland apparently already has.

Charlie Gibson's War

Nutcase peacenik Cindy Sheehan is on her way to Martha's Vineyard, stalking Barack Hussein and family, with the intent to disrupt their vacation with more anti-Iraq/Afghanistan demonstrations.

There is nothing new about her strategy. Her annoyance could be heard throughout the Bush administration's period, where she would turn up everywhere form Crawford, Texas to D.C. and beyond, and ALWAYS with the mainstream media in tow.

Of course, now she can only turn to the new commander, who now owns the Afghan war, and continue her lunacy. Funny thing is, you don't really hear or see her anymore.

This morning, one of our local radio talk guys, who's somewhat conservative, had a chance to ask Charlie Gibson from ABC (the All Barack Channel) why we don't see much of Cindy anymore? A nicely loaded question for ole' Charlie.

His response was so lib-predictable: "Well, of course, Cindy's story is a sad one. She lost a son in Iraq, and she's committed to the cause of ending all conflict over there. But I think we've all seen enough of her, haven't we? We need to move on."

Charlie; what a piece of work!

Bottom line: When it was Bush's war, the media wanted this. Now they won't give her the time of day. I wish I could recall who I heard this from, but it was something to the effect of "There is no war without Bush!" Great quote, and such an accurate condemnation of our media.

Missed Opportunity

Police officers in Long Branch, New Jersey were called to a scene where an older, disheveled man was acting mysteriously; walking down a street looking into old houses. A 24-year old officer stopped the man at the scene to find out who he was and what business he had in the neighborhood.

Apparently, all went well from there. The man produced his I.D., explained that he was taking a break from work and was simply checking out the old neighborhood. The matter was settled and everyone went their separate ways.

And now the rest of the story:

The man was no other than Bob Dylan! He has been on tour, and was set to play in Lakewood, N.J. that evening. The fact that the responding officer was so young, failed him in recognizing the aging music man, even after he saw his name.

If you ask me, Dylan wasted an outstanding opportunity.

All he had to do was "get big" with that young cop. You know, resist a little. Remind the pushy cop about who he was! Call him some names. Maybe protest that he was being pushed around simply because he was older. Wasn't he a big part of that early counter-culture movement that tried to fight "the man", the "pigs", the "fuzz", anyway?

Dylan's career hasn't exactly been on fire lately. He could have used some publicity.

Maybe best of all, some high-profile person would have accused that cop of acting stupidly. And then maybe invited Dylan and the bigoted cop over to share a beer together.

I think this could have been a teachable moment. Some elitist using this event as a stage to demonstrate that old and young can sit down together over a beer and learn to respect one another. That rap and folk-rock can indeed coexist.

There's only one man who could have pulled it off. Only one man with the vision and the gift to bring people of so vastly different backgrounds together in a simple act of enjoying a beer together.

Yeah. I think you blew it Bob.

Debbie Does Dumb

Debbie Stabenow is an idiot. There's no other explanation:

"Climate change is very real," she confessed as she embraced cap and trade's massive tax increase on Michigan industry - at the same time claiming, against all the evidence, that it would not lead to an increase in manufacturing costs or energy prices. "Global warming creates volatility. I feel it when I'm flying. The storms are more volatile. We are paying the price in more hurricanes and tornadoes."

I would suggest she start taking a bus and stay out of those "volatile" skies. Had she done that earlier, she might not have missed the coldest July on record that we just completed down here at ground level.

One of Obama's Angels.

What's in a Sticker?

Still at the northern compound this morning, and I took one of my most favorite bike rides up the lake shore to the little 'burg of Lake Leelanau. Just a perfect morning for it too. Temp around 70, little wind and not a cloud in the sky.

Once there, I made my way around the village. I got off the seat for awhile to take a rest at the "Narrows", where the north and south lake meet. Nice spot. My "cheeks" really appreciate it!

Continuing on, I made my way past the small coffee shop on the main drag. Several cars were lined up in front. There were some interesting bumper stickers there this morning. I tend to notice those.

I actually laughed out loud at one car. It had several stickers on the back, but two right next to each other were what I found delightfully humorous and 'apropos. The first one said, "Obama/Biden 2008". The one next to it said, "Caution - Blonde Thinking". Well, doesn't that say it all!!

Two cars down, I saw the "Coexist" sticker. Have you seen this one? They are not uncommon up here in Traverse City. Typically applied to Beetles, Civics, Hybrids and other little "gen-Y" type vehicles, I've yet to see one on a pickup truck. Go ahead and apply whatever implications that might make. More about that in a minute.

One of the really nice things I enjoy on a long bike ride, is that it gives my brain some thought-time. Understanding that you do need to be alert, I still find that my mind works very well as I pedal. This doesn't seem to work in the middle of the winter when I'm on my stationary bike in the basement, so sun, wind, insects and birds do have a very positive effect on the thought process.

So on the ride back, that "Coexist" sticker pops back into my mind, and now my thoughts on it:

If you haven't seen one, the word coexist on the sticker takes each letter of the word and makes it into a religious or political symbol. The "c" becomes a Muslim crescent, the "t" a crucifix, and so on. See the picture here.

What would the owner of this sticker want us to think? First, it would seem that he or she would like us to think of them as being very enlightened. Full of brotherly love. The message being, "can't we all just get along", "live and let live", etc.. It certainly suggests to me an elitist type liberal and/or an "inclusionist" if that's a word. Everyone just doing there own thing. Nobody's "right". There is no absolute truth.

It could be that the owner belongs to one of these symbols, and just wants to be left alone.

Be careful of literal translations here. Lions and hyenas have coexisted for eons, but there's no love there, and that's really my thought on this sticker. It means to say "everyone just do their own thing" and leave each other in peace. But is that caring, or not caring? Think about it.

I can only speak to the letter to which I belong. The "t". And that symbol belongs to Christ. He didn't teach us to coexist. Far from it. He taught us the truth, and then gave us the mission to spread that truth and pray for the conversion of others. The owner of the sticker doesn't belong to the "t", at least. Not really. I don't mean to be judgemental. They may very well be one of the nicest people you'd ever meet, and very easy to coexist with. But that is not enough.

Wow! All of that thought can't possibly be done safely when your pedaling along down a highway. In fact, I was sort of drifting over when an SUV passed me with a sticker that said.......

Aw, never mind. Bicycles and cars do not coexist very well.