"A Nixonian Reflex Steeped In Toxic Gender Bias"

Camille Paglia, writing in Salon, says she will vote for Hillary Clinton if she is the Democratic nominee. However, here are some paragraphs from the piece that I selected, because I think they are important observations.

"But Hillary herself, with her thin, spotty record, tangled psychological baggage, and maundering blowhard of a husband, is also a mighty big roll of the dice. She is a brittle, relentless manipulator with few stable core values who shuffles through useful personalities like a card shark (”Cue the tears!”). Forget all her little gold crosses: Hillary’s real god is political expediency. Do Americans truly want this hard-bitten Machiavellian back in the White House? Day one will just be more of the same."

"Hillary's feckless, loutish brothers (who are kept at arm's length by her operation) took the brunt of Hugh Rodham's abuse in their genteel but claustrophobic home. Hillary is the barracuda who fought for dominance at their expense. Flashes of that ruthless old family drama have come out repeatedly in this campaign, as when Hillary could barely conceal her sneers at her fellow debaters onstage -- the wimpy, cringing brothers at the dinner table."

"Hillary's willingness to tolerate Bill's compulsive philandering is a function of her general contempt for men. She distrusts them and feels morally superior to them. Following the pattern of her long-suffering mother, she thinks it is her mission to endure every insult and personal degradation for a higher cause -- which, unlike her self-sacrificing mother, she identifies with her near-messianic personal ambition."

"Hillary's disdain for masculinity fits right into the classic feminazi package, which is why Hillary acts on Gloria Steinem like catnip. Steinem's fawning, gaseous New York Times op-ed about her pal Hillary this week speaks volumes about the snobby clubbiness and reactionary sentimentality of the fossilized feminist establishment, which has blessedly fallen off the cultural map in the 21st century. History will judge Steinem and company very severely for their ethically obtuse indifference to the stream of working-class women and female subordinates whom Bill Clinton sexually harassed and abused, enabled by look-the-other-way and trash-the-victims Hillary."

"Contemptuous condescension seems to be Hillary's default mode with any male who criticizes her or stands in her way. It's a Nixonian reflex steeped in toxic gender bias. How will that play in the Muslim world?"

Via BLOGS OF WAR

Moron

What would you call a man who drove at an excessive speed into a mailbox, then into a house, and had twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system?
Via Sense of Events

Priorities in The War Against the Islamofascists

What should be our priority in the war against Islamic fascists? This piece suggests it should be Pakistan, not Iraq or Afghanistan or Iran.

The Bush administration's nightmare scenario -- the convergence of terrorism and nuclear weapons -- is happening right now, and in Pakistan, not in Iraq or Iran. Yet as recently as Dec. 11, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, speaking to the House Armed Services Committee with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, hardly mentioned Pakistan, and characterized Afghanistan as second in priority to Iraq.

It is critical that the Bush administration put Pakistan and Afghanistan where they should have been for the past six years: at the top of this country's security agenda. The most fitting memorial to Bhutto would be to recognize that the battle for a democratic Pakistan is the centerpiece of the global fight against terrorism.

Via The Right Coast

This Guy Is Lucky Still To Be Alive!

Go here for some hilarious laughter!
Via The Right Coast

This Morning's Sunrise

Grumpy Old Men

Today a man was coming out to give us a bid on cleaning our carpets. Despite his fancy GPS system, he got very lost. He called me several times. Each time I patiently gave him directions. I could tell he was getting very frustrated. Then, he said something that just cracked me up. He said, "I can tell that you are not used to talking to people who are not very intelligent!" I was completely taken aback. I assured him that I was not in the least bit upset with him, and apologized if I came across that way.

He accepted my apology, then went on and on about this durn GPS system being a waste of money. When he got to our house, I saw that he was a very large man, who looked like he was in his late seventies. When he left I told him that I hoped he would be able to enjoy the scenery on the way back to the city. However, he told me that would not be possible, because he still had seven more houses to visit, and he was now two hours late, due to that durn GPS.

My guess is that he tried retirement, but the wife made him get the heck back out of the house, because of his grumpiness.

Fiscal Responsibility?

I just heard on the "news" that some of Rudi Giuliani's staff are going to be working without pay for the next month. I guess that means he is practicing fiscal responsibility. Somehow, though, I like better the fact that Romney is dipping into his own multi-million dollar fortune to pay his staff. Giuliani has also made multi-millions since 9-11-2001. Why can't he dip into that fortune for a month until the Florida primary?

Update:FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog summarizes the fiscal situation of GOP candidates:

All of the GOP campaigns, except for Ron Paul (recently), have lagged behind the Democrats this year and have struggled financially.

On the GOP side, McCain is broke and floated a $3 million loan to keep his campaign going. Romney has contributed over $17 million (not counting the last quarter 2007) in his own wealth to fund the campaign and has gone dark (pulled campaign ads) every where except Michigan. Thompson is broke. Huckabee has never been prolific in his fundraising.

Good news is not on the horizon for any of the GOP candidates regarding campaign coffers.

But, what does this mean for the Giuliani campaign?

Probably not much since Florida and Super Tuesday are bunched so close together in the campaign calendar. If Rudy wins, he is flush with new cash. If he loses

Who Is Kidding Whom?

Hillary Clinton refuses to debate on Fox News. Fox News is accused of being part of the vast right wing conspiracy. Fox News is owned by Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp. Guess who Rupert Murdoch is supporting for President? Yep, Hillary Clinton. Here's Thomas Edsell in the Huffington Post last July:

In her most recent filing at the FEC, Hillary Clinton reported two large donations from the very top of the Fox corporate structure.

On June 5, Rupert Murdoch, chairman of the News Corporation, gave her presidential bid $2,300. A few weeks later, his son, James R. Murdoch, chief executive of British Sky Broadcasting in London, gave $3,400. Altogether, NewsCorp/Fox executives gave at least $40,000 to the Clinton campaign.

In July 2006, the elder Murdoch hosted a fundraiser for Clinton's Senate re-election campaign, raising many eyebrows among Democrats. The Financial Times, which first disclosed the event, noted that Murdoch was a part of the "vast right wing conspiracy" named by Hillary Clinton as determined to destroy her husband's presidency.

She explained her willingness then to accept Murdoch's support to the FT: "He's my constituent and I'm very gratified that he thinks I'm doing a good job."

Asked about the Murdoch contributions to Clinton's presidential bid, Howard Wolfson, director of communications, said he had no comment.

Might As Well Try It

I think I will invite Denver Broncos' Coach Mike Shanahan over to watch our goats. The four white/brown boar goats have developed an incredibly effective defense against the sweet little brown boar goat named Gigi. The three females form a "v," and then the big old male, Lightning, backs it up. The "v" moves as Gigi moves toward the food.

This morning, however, while that was happening, a flock of birds came in behind Lightning, and while all the goats were selfishly trying to keep newcomer Gigi from getting her breakfast, the birds swooped in and ate the grain. Gigi saw this, and moved around the end. When the other goats turned to keep the birds away from the grain, Gigi moved in to the perimeter of the hay, and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast, with only the butts of the other goats facing her.

So, the best way to beat a "v" defense is to come around the end, and wait for the defense to get distracted by a flock of birds. But really, what are the chances of that happening? The Broncos are desperate. What does Coach Shanahan have to lose? I guarantee the "v," unless of course, Al Davis, owner of the Oakland Raiders, figures out that thing about the birds.

Thomas Sewell on Demagoguery

"By far the best presentation as a candidate, among all the candidates in both parties, is that of Barack Obama. But if he actually believes even half of the irresponsible nonsense he talks, he would be an utter disaster in the White House.

Among the Democrats, the choice between John Edwards and Barack Obama depends on whether you prefer glib demagoguery in its plain vanilla form or spiced with a little style and color.

The choice between both of them and Hillary Clinton depends on whether you prefer male or female demagoguery."
Thomas Sewell quoted in the Sisu blog.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama continues to do very well. He is certainly an eloquent speaker. He claims to want to do something about genocide, but brags that he has always opposed the war in Iraq, and has consistently voted not to fund our troops there. How many million people would Saddam Hussein have had to kill before Obama would have considered it to be genocide?

I would love it if this nation could be united under the leadership of a man who happens to have had a black father. What does this man believe? What would be the principles upon which he takes a stand? Will those principles make America stronger, or weaker?

Gun Control

Butte, Montana, November 5, 2007

"Two illegal aliens, Ralphel Resindez, 23 and Enrico Garza, 26, probably believed they would easily overpower home-alone 11-year-old Patricia Harrington after her father had left their two-story home. It seems the two crooks never learned two things: they were in Montana, and Patricia had been a clayshooting champion since she was nine.

Patricia was in her upstairs room when the two men broke through the front door of the house. She quickly ran to her father's room and grabbed his 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun.

Resindez was the first to get up to the second floor, only to be the first to catch a near point blank blast of buckshot from the 11-year-old's knee crouch aim. He suffered fatal wounds to his abdomen and genitals.

When Garza ran to the foot of the stairs, he took a blast to the left shoulder and staggered out into the street, where he bled to death before medical help could arrive.

It was found out later that Resindez was armed with a stolen 45 caliber handgun he took from another home-invasion robbery. That victim, 50-year-old David Burien, was not so lucky. He died from stab wounds to the chest."

From the High Plains Rider January 2008.
Update! Julie at A Work in Progress checked out this story, and found that it is false. I should have checked it, too, because I read it in a local newspaper that is quite popular out here on the high plains, but as far as I know, it is not known for Pulitzer Prize winning journalism.

Hope

Instapundit reader Jody Green emails to Instapundit: "The start of this election is a little scary and has started with two populist, eloquent demagogues. They talk about hope when half the world hopes to be in America."

Amnesty

Fred and Rudy on amnesty for illegals:

Via Maggie's Farm

An Extremely Stupid and Unfortunate Analogy

In the Washington Post:
“The natural reminder here is O.J. [Simpson] — how does an African American candidate attack a white woman?” said Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), a fellow Chicagoan whose father ran for president twice in the 1980s but was never as close as Obama is now to securing the Democratic nomination.
Via Extreme Mortman

Albatross

If this guy is not a jackass, then I've never seen one. He is just an albatross around Hillary's neck. It seems that every time he opens his mouth, she drops another five percentage points.

She Prefers To Be With Her Own Kind

"Everywhere I go, this little ass follows me. Doesn't she know I am a horse?"

Gigi

This is our new goat, Gigi. she is a pretty, brown boar goat, and already being admired by her new lady friends. One of her offspring is being shown in the National Western Stock Show this month in Denver, so we are hopeful that Jon or Greg can show one of her babies in a year or two at the county fair as a 4H project.

Huckabee, one hundred pounds ago, begging the Arkansas legislature for a tax increase.

Via Colorado Conservative Project

Change

In this short video you will hear Shrillary Clinton use and misuse the word "change" ten times. Roger Simon of Pajamas Media suggests that the word change be banned from the English language, at least until the end of this campaign.

A Whole Roll Of Toilet Paper!

This is not a pleasant story. Via The Doctor Is In

The Northern Lights

Via The Splatter Zone

Via Disgruntled Truck Driver

Via Disgruntled Truck Driver

Potty Mouth

Here is a list of quotes that have been uttered straight from the mouth of Hillary Clinton.

Are You Primarily Right-Brained or Left-Brained?

Are you primarily left-brained or right-brained? Here are some characteristics of each:
LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
“big picture” oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can “get it” (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking


Ready to take a test to see which one you are? Go here.

"I Will See You Again, In The Place Where No Shadows Fall."

From Sigmund, Carl, and Alfred: "A real hero, Andrew Olmstead was killed yesterday in Iraq. He was the ideal soldier of a free nation- he hated war and he hated tyranny.

He entrusted a friend to post a final message posthumously, were he to be killed.

Here are his last words:"

“I am leaving this message for you because it appears I must leave sooner than I intended. I would have preferred to say this in person, but since I cannot, let me say it here.”
G’Kar, Babylon 5

“Only the dead have seen the end of war.”
Plato*

This is an entry I would have preferred not to have published, but there are limits to what we can control in life, and apparently I have passed one of those limits. And so, like G’Kar, I must say here what I would much prefer to say in person. I want to thank hilzoy for putting it up for me. It’s not easy asking anyone to do something for you in the event of your death, and it is a testament to her quality that she didn’t hesitate to accept the charge. As with many bloggers, I have a disgustingly large ego, and so I just couldn’t bear the thought of not being able to have the last word if the need arose. Perhaps I take that further than most, I don’t know. I hope so. It’s frightening to think there are many people as neurotic as I am in the world. In any case, since I won’t get another chance to say what I think, I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. Such as it is.

“When some people die, it’s time to be sad. But when other people die, like really evil people, or the Irish, it’s time to celebrate.”
Jimmy Bender, “Greg the Bunny”

“And maybe now it’s your turn
To die kicking some ass.”
Freedom Isn’t Free, Team America

What I don’t want this to be is a chance for me, or anyone else, to be maudlin. I’m dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends. But all the tears in the world aren’t going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss. (If it turns out a specific number of tears will, in fact, bring me back to life, then by all means, break out the onions.) I had a pretty good life, as I noted above. Sure, all things being equal I would have preferred to have more time, but I have no business complaining with all the good fortune I’ve enjoyed in my life. So if you’re up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw ‘Freedom Isn’t Free’ from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can’t laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I’m dead, but if you’re reading this, you’re not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.

“Our thoughts form the universe. They always matter.”
Citizen G’Kar, Babylon 5

Believe it or not, one of the things I will miss most is not being able to blog any longer. The ability to put my thoughts on (virtual) paper and put them where people can read and respond to them has been marvelous, even if most people who have read my writings haven’t agreed with them. If there is any hope for the long term success of democracy, it will be if people agree to listen to and try to understand their political opponents rather than simply seeking to crush them. While the blogosphere has its share of partisans, there are some awfully smart people making excellent arguments out there as well, and I know I have learned quite a bit since I began blogging. I flatter myself I may have made a good argument or two as well; if I didn’t, please don’t tell me. It has been a great five-plus years. I got to meet a lot of people who are way smarter than me, including such luminaries as Virginia Postrel and her husband Stephen (speaking strictly from a ‘improving the species’ perspective, it’s tragic those two don’t have kids, because they’re both scary smart.), the estimable hilzoy and Sebastian of Obsidian Wings, Jeff Goldstein and Stephen Green, the men who consistently frustrated me with their mix of wit and wisdom I could never match, and I’ve no doubt left out a number of people to whom I apologize. Bottom line: if I got the chance to meet you through blogging, I enjoyed it. I’m only sorry I couldn’t meet more of you. In particular I’d like to thank Jim Henley, who while we’ve never met has been a true comrade, whose words have taught me and whose support has been of great personal value to me. I would very much have enjoyed meeting Jim.

Blogging put me in touch with an inordinate number of smart people, an exhilarating if humbling experience. When I was young, I was smart, but the older I got, the more I realized just how dumb I was in comparison to truly smart people. But, to my credit, I think, I was at least smart enough to pay attention to the people with real brains and even occasionally learn something from them. It has been joy and a pleasure having the opportunity to do this.

“It’s not fair.”
“No. It’s not. Death never is.”
Captain John Sheridan and Dr. Stephen Franklin, Babylon 5

“They didn’t even dig him a decent grave.”
“Well, it’s not how you’re buried. It’s how you’re remembered.”
Cimarron and Wil Andersen, The Cowboys

I suppose I should speak to the circumstances of my death. It would be nice to believe that I died leading men in battle, preferably saving their lives at the cost of my own. More likely I was caught by a marksman or an IED. But if there is an afterlife, I’m telling anyone who asks that I went down surrounded by hundreds of insurgents defending a village composed solely of innocent women and children. It’ll be our little secret, ok?

I do ask (not that I’m in a position to enforce this) that no one try to use my death to further their political purposes. I went to Iraq and did what I did for my reasons, not yours. My life isn’t a chit to be used to bludgeon people to silence on either side. If you think the U.S. should stay in Iraq, don’t drag me into it by claiming that somehow my death demands us staying in Iraq. If you think the U.S. ought to get out tomorrow, don’t cite my name as an example of someone’s life who was wasted by our mission in Iraq. I have my own opinions about what we should do about Iraq, but since I’m not around to expound on them I’d prefer others not try and use me as some kind of moral capital to support a position I probably didn’t support. Further, this is tough enough on my family without their having to see my picture being used in some rally or my name being cited for some political purpose. You can fight political battles without hurting my family, and I’d prefer that you did so.

On a similar note, while you’re free to think whatever you like about my life and death, if you think I wasted my life, I’ll tell you you’re wrong. We’re all going to die of something. I died doing a job I loved. When your time comes, I hope you are as fortunate as I was.

“What an idiot! What a loser!”
Chaz Reingold, Wedding Crashers

“Oh and I don’t want to die for you, but if dying’s asked of me;
I’ll bear that cross with honor, ’cause freedom don’t come free.”
American Soldier, Toby Keith

Those who know me through my writings on the Internet over the past five-plus years probably have wondered at times about my chosen profession. While I am not a Libertarian, I certainly hold strongly individualistic beliefs. Yet I have spent my life in a profession that is not generally known for rugged individualism. Worse, I volunteered to return to active duty knowing that the choice would almost certainly lead me to Iraq. The simple explanation might be that I was simply stupid, and certainly I make no bones about having done some dumb things in my life, but I don’t think this can be chalked up to stupidity. Maybe I was inconsistent in my beliefs; there are few people who adhere religiously to the doctrines of their chosen philosophy, whatever that may be. But I don’t think that was the case in this instance either.

As passionate as I am about personal freedom, I don’t buy the claims of anarchists that humanity would be just fine without any government at all. There are too many people in the world who believe that they know best how people should live their lives, and many of them are more than willing to use force to impose those beliefs on others. A world without government simply wouldn’t last very long; as soon as it was established, strongmen would immediately spring up to establish their fiefdoms. So there is a need for government to protect the people’s rights. And one of the fundamental tools to do that is an army that can prevent outside agencies from imposing their rules on a society. A lot of people will protest that argument by noting that the people we are fighting in Iraq are unlikely to threaten the rights of the average American. That’s certainly true; while our enemies would certainly like to wreak great levels of havoc on our society, the fact is they’re not likely to succeed. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a need for an army (setting aside debates regarding whether ours is the right size at the moment). Americans are fortunate that we don’t have to worry too much about people coming to try and overthrow us, but part of the reason we don’t have to worry about that is because we have an army that is stopping anyone who would try.

Soldiers cannot have the option of opting out of missions because they don’t agree with them: that violates the social contract. The duly-elected American government decided to go to war in Iraq. (Even if you maintain President Bush was not properly elected, Congress voted for war as well.) As a soldier, I have a duty to obey the orders of the President of the United States as long as they are Constitutional. I can no more opt out of missions I disagree with than I can ignore laws I think are improper. I do not consider it a violation of my individual rights to have gone to Iraq on orders because I raised my right hand and volunteered to join the army. Whether or not this mission was a good one, my participation in it was an affirmation of something I consider quite necessary to society. So if nothing else, I gave my life for a pretty important principle; I can (if you’ll pardon the pun) live with that.

“It’s all so brief, isn’t it? A typical human lifespan is almost a hundred years. But it’s barely a second compared to what’s out there. It wouldn’t be so bad if life didn’t take so long to figure out. Seems you just start to get it right, and then…it’s over.”
Dr. Stephen Franklin, Babylon 5

I wish I could say I’d at least started to get it right. Although, in my defense, I think I batted a solid .250 or so. Not a superstar, but at least able to play in the big leagues. I’m afraid I can’t really offer any deep secrets or wisdom. I lived my life better than some, worse than others, and I like to think that the world was a little better off for my having been here. Not very much, but then, few of us are destined to make more than a tiny dent in history’s Green Monster. I would be lying if I didn’t admit I would have liked to have done more, but it’s a bit too late for that now, eh? The bottom line, for me, is that I think I can look back at my life and at least see a few areas where I may have made a tiny difference, and massive ego aside, that’s probably not too bad.

“The flame also reminds us that life is precious. As each flame is unique; when it goes out, it’s gone forever. There will never be another quite like it.”
Ambassador Delenn, Babylon 5

I write this in part, admittedly, because I would like to think that there’s at least a little something out there to remember me by. Granted, this site will eventually vanish, being ephemeral in a very real sense of the word, but at least for a time it can serve as a tiny record of my contributions to the world. But on a larger scale, for those who knew me well enough to be saddened by my death, especially for those who haven’t known anyone else lost to this war, perhaps my death can serve as a small reminder of the costs of war. Regardless of the merits of this war, or of any war, I think that many of us in America have forgotten that war means death and suffering in wholesale lots. A decision that for most of us in America was academic, whether or not to go to war in Iraq, had very real consequences for hundreds of thousands of people. Yet I was as guilty as anyone of minimizing those very real consequences in lieu of a cold discussion of theoretical merits of war and peace. Now I’m facing some very real consequences of that decision; who says life doesn’t have a sense of humor?

But for those who knew me and feel this pain, I think it’s a good thing to realize that this pain has been felt by thousands and thousands (probably millions, actually) of other people all over the world. That is part of the cost of war, any war, no matter how justified. If everyone who feels this pain keeps that in mind the next time we have to decide whether or not war is a good idea, perhaps it will help us to make a more informed decision. Because it is pretty clear that the average American would not have supported the Iraq War had they known the costs going in. I am far too cynical to believe that any future debate over war will be any less vitriolic or emotional, but perhaps a few more people will realize just what those costs can be the next time.

This may be a contradiction of my above call to keep politics out of my death, but I hope not. Sometimes going to war is the right idea. I think we’ve drawn that line too far in the direction of war rather than peace, but I’m a soldier and I know that sometimes you have to fight if you’re to hold onto what you hold dear. But in making that decision, I believe we understate the costs of war; when we make the decision to fight, we make the decision to kill, and that means lives and families destroyed. Mine now falls into that category; the next time the question of war or peace comes up, if you knew me at least you can understand a bit more just what it is you’re deciding to do, and whether or not those costs are worth it.

“This is true love. You think this happens every day?”
Westley, The Princess Bride

“Good night, my love, the brightest star in my sky.”
John Sheridan, Babylon 5

This is the hardest part. While I certainly have no desire to die, at this point I no longer have any worries. That is not true of the woman who made my life something to enjoy rather than something merely to survive. She put up with all of my faults, and they are myriad, she endured separations again and again…I cannot imagine being more fortunate in love than I have been with Amanda. Now she has to go on without me, and while a cynic might observe she’s better off, I know that this is a terrible burden I have placed on her, and I would give almost anything if she would not have to bear it. It seems that is not an option. I cannot imagine anything more painful than that, and if there is an afterlife, this is a pain I’ll bear forever.

I wasn’t the greatest husband. I could have done so much more, a realization that, as it so often does, comes too late to matter. But I cherished every day I was married to Amanda. When everything else in my life seemed dark, she was always there to light the darkness. It is difficult to imagine my life being worth living without her having been in it. I hope and pray that she goes on without me and enjoys her life as much as she deserves. I can think of no one more deserving of happiness than her.

“I will see you again, in the place where no shadows fall.”
Ambassador Delenn, Babylon 5

I don’t know if there is an afterlife; I tend to doubt it, to be perfectly honest. But if there is any way possible, Amanda, then I will live up to Delenn’s words, somehow, some way. I love you.

This Morning's Sunrise

Surviving a Terrorist Attack...And Quite A Fall

"Vesna Vulovic, a stewardess, in the winter of 1972, fell 33,330 feet from an airplane over the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia) after a terrorist bomb ripped it to pieces, earning her a place in the Guinness Book: “Highest Fall Survived Without a Parachute.” She was the sole survivor — 27 others died — and was found on a snowy mountainside by a German hiker, a serving cart pinned against her spine.
Putting her back together again: She never walked again, but aside from that, Vesna made a full recovery. She even went back to work for the airline (though she took a desk job), and claims to have suffered no psychological trauma as a result of the accident, because a month-long amnesia erased it from her memory."

Via mental_floss

World Record Motorcycle Jump On New Year's Eve in Australia

My fifteen-year-old would "like to be this person."

Via Neatorama

Don't Let Your Teens See This

Via Neatorama

The Ten Most Magnificent Trees in the World

Want to see some cool trees? The Neatorama blog features photos of the ten most magnificent trees in the world. Yes, our aspen trees made the list.

Is This 2008...Or 1776?

There is a blogger who lives in the area of England where Al Qaeda's war against England is being fomented by Islamic Jihadists. The blogger's name is Lionheart. he has just been informed that he is going to be arrested. Here is what he writes:

I live in the area of Luton which was the start of point of the July 7th bombings and which was home to the biggest bombing campaign ever planned against the British homeland which was called the 'fertiliser plot' that was smashed up by the British security services under the name 'operation crevice'.Where I live is the frontline in Al Qaeda's war against Great Britain, and my blog exposes that for the British people to read so that they can understand the seriousness of the threat that they now face.

Here's more:

I am currently out of the Country and on my return home to England I am going to be arrested by British detectives on suspicion of Stirring up Racial Hatred by displaying written material" contrary to sections 18(1) and 27(3) of the Public Order Act 1986.This charge if found guilty carries a lengthy prison sentence, more than what most paedophiles and rapists receive, and all for writing words of truth about the barbarity that is living in the midst of our children, which threatens the very future of our Country.The cultural weapon in the hands of the modern Jihad within Great Britain, silencing the opposition using our own laws against us - The Dumb Filthy Kaffir's as the Moslem would say to his children behind closed doors.What has become of my homeland, the land my forefathers fought and died for on the battlefields of the world when one of their children is forced into the position of facing years in prison for standing up for what is right and just within British society.At least my words of truth have obviously now reached people's eyes and ears, with the powers that be now intent on silencing me - Third World Tyranny in a supposed 21st Century democracy!..."

The police have sent him a note, explaining why they are going to arrest him:

The offence that I need to arrest you for is “Stir up Racial Hatred by displaying written material” contrary to sections 18(1) and 27(3) of the Public Order Act 1986.You will be arrested on SUSPICION of the offence. You would only be charged following a full investigation based on all the relevant facts and CPS consent.Paul I will see you on the 19/02/08 when I will tell you everything that you need to know. Due to being out of the office for six weeks I will not have access to my email as of tomorrow 04/01/08. Ian

Now I know why our forefathers declared Independence from such a country.

Tonight's Sunset

The snow is melting this week, but there will be more soon.

Snowfields and Mountains

If I would have zoomed in a little bit more, you would not have to squint to see the mountains. Please do click on the images, though, to enlarge the view.

Fred Thompson: Political Reporters Lack Fire In The Belly!

(2008-01-02) — Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson today questioned whether political reporters covering the race for the White House have enough ambition for the job.

“Most of these journalists seem to lack what you might call fire in the belly,” said the former Tennessee senator. “When’s the last time you read an in-depth story about what the presidential hopefuls actually believe, or have accomplished? How often have you seen a reporter place a candidate’s views in the context of the Constitution, the sweep of American history, the intricacies of global geopolitics, economic theory or even basic political philosophy?”

Mr. Thompson said most reporting on the race fits one of three categories:
1) Results of the latest opinion poll.
2) Embarrassing gaffes and nasty remarks.
3) Reaction to one of the above.

“I’m not sure if it’s laziness, lack of ambition, or just apathy,” said Mr. Thompson, “But the American people need to know that the reporters whom they entrust with this solemn responsibility have a burning desire to fulfill the obligations of the Fourth Estate. That means you need to hustle, do your homework, ask tough questions about significant issues, put quotations in context, filter out your own natural bias, and place more value on accuracy than on speed, more on integrity than on your own petty celebrity.”

After making the remarks at a news conference, the candidate, who’s running third or fourth among Republicans in most polls, refused to answer reporters’ questions about his reaction to Mike Huckabee’s attacks on Mitt RomneyMitt-Romney-MBA Sep-07 .
By Scott Ott for Scrappleface

Hallelujah!

Who says praising God can't be fun!

Via Scribal Terror

Water Horse

Colleen and I cannot remember the last time we went to the movies. We know it was some time before our oldest son left home last April. Today Mau had a four hour visit with her grandmother, whom we hope the courts will allow to adopt her. We loaded up all the rest of the kids and a stray teen, and headed over to the theater to watch a movie called Water Horse. We enjoyed it. It tells the "true" story of the Loch Ness Monster, and shows how it was really Scotland, not the U.S., who was mainly responsible for winning World War II!

How Sharp Are You On This New Year's Day?

Whats wrong here:

AAA
BBB
CCC
DDD
EEE
FFF
GGG
HHH
III
JJJ
KKK
LLL
MMM
NNN
OOO
PPP
QQQ
RRR
SSS
TTT
UUU
VVV
WWW
XXX
YYY
ZZZ

I copied this post from a blog called A little accountability. She got me, but I know my readers will figure it out. Have fun!

Via Bloviating Zeppelin

Billions, Taxes, and Us

Geckofeeder found this on the comments section at the LGF blog.

------ Forwarded Message
From: Gecko <>
Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:29:35 -0800 (PST)
To:
Subject: [Geckofeeder] 12/28/2007 06:27:00 PM

>This was posted by GT in the comment section of LGF.
>
> The next time you hear a politician use the
>
> word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about
>
> whether you want the 'politicians' spending
>
> YOUR tax money.
>
> A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
>
> but one advertising agency did a good job of
>
> putting that figure into some perspective in
>
> one of its releases.
>
> * * * * *
>
>
>
> A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
>
> B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
>
> C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were
>
> living in the Stone Age.
>
> D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
>
> E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and
>
> 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.
>
>
> While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New
> Orleans It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division . .
>
> Louisiana Democratic Senator, Mary Landrieu , is presently asking the Congress
> for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number, what does it
> mean?
>
> A. Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of
>
> New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you
>
> each get $516,528.
>
> B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in
>
> New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.
>
> C. Or, if you are a family of four, your family
>
> gets $2,066,012.
>
> Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! ... Are all your calculators broken??
>
>
> Tax his land,
> Tax his wage,
> Tax his bed in which he lays.
> Tax his tractor,
> Tax his mule,
> Teach him taxes is the rule.
> Tax his cow,
> Tax his goat,
> Tax his pants,
> Tax his coat.
>
> Tax his ties,
> Tax his shirts,
> Tax his work,
> Tax his dirt.
>
> Tax his tobacco,
> Tax his drink,
> Tax him if he tries to think.
>
> Tax his booze,
> Tax his beers,
> If he cries,
> Tax his tears.
>
> Tax his bills,
> Tax his gas,
> Tax his notes,
> Tax his cash.
>
> Tax him good and let him know
> That after taxes, he has no dough.
>
> If he hollers,
> Tax him more,
> Tax hi m until he's good and sore.
>
> Tax his coffin,
> Tax his grave,
> Tax the sod in which he lays.
> Put these words upon his tomb,
> 'Taxes drove me to my doom!'
>
> And when he's gone,
> We won't relax,
> We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!
>
> Accounts Receivable Tax
> Building Permit Tax
> CDL License Tax
> Cigarette Tax
> Corporate Income Tax
> Dog License Tax
> Federal Income Tax
> Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
> Fishing License Tax
> Food License Tax
> Fuel Perm it Tax
> Gasoline Tax
> Hunting License Tax
> Inheritance Tax
> Inventory Tax
> IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
> IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
> Liquor Tax,
> Luxury Tax,
> Marriage License Tax,
> Medicare Tax,
> Property Tax,
> Real Estate Tax,
> Service charge taxes,
> Social Security Tax,
> Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
> Sales Taxes,
> Recreational Vehicle Tax,
> School Tax,
> State Income Tax,
> State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
> Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
> Telephone Federal Universal Service Fe e Tax,
> Telephone Federal, State and Local Su rcharge Tax,
> Telephone Minimum Usage Su rcharge Tax,
> Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
> Telephone State and Local Tax,
> Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
> Utility Tax,
> Vehicle License Registration Tax,
> Vehicle Sales Tax,
> Watercraft Registration Tax,
> Well Permit Tax,
> Workers Compens ation Tax.
>
>
>
> STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
> Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
> and our nation was the most prosperous in t he world.
> We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world,
> and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
>
> What happened? Can you spell 'politicians!'
>
> And I still have to 'press
>
> 1' for English.
>
>
>
--
Posted By Gecko to Geckofeeder at 12/28/2007 06:27:00 PM

------ End of Forwarded Message

Fred Thompson for President

Here is the man I believe would make a great leader for America.

They Are At It Again

Cliff Kincaid of Accuracy in Media has written an excellent offering here about how CNN and Hillary Clinton are coordinating efforts to exploit the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in order to destabilize a U.S. ally, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Now, with Hillary Clinton appearing on Blitzer’s show one day later, to complain about a “blank check” for Musharraf and the “failed policies” of the Bush Administration, the Democratic Party agenda is out in the open―overthrow the government of Pakistan, no matter what comes after it. This is the recipe that brought the Mullahs to power in Iran under Democrat Jimmy Carter’s Administration. It could bring al Qaeda to power in Pakistan, with control over dozens of nuclear weapons, if President Bush doesn’t get control of his State Department and the CIA.

Changing Perceptions

During my second year in graduate school at The University of Kansas, I worked as a social worker in an elementary school in southeast Topeka, Kansas. The principal referred to me all of the boys in the fifth and sixth grades who were seen by their teachers as incorrigible behavioral problems, and headed toward becoming school dropouts. I was given complete freedom, under supervision from a faculty member at K.U., to do what I wanted with the boys.

Each week we did things together as a group, going places like the state capitol building. We put on a play for the school in honor of Abe Lincoln's birthday. The boy with the reputation as the worst behavior problem in the school played the part of President Lincoln. At the end of the year, our toughest and biggest group member, a black kid, beat out a little blonde girl to win the school spelling bee! Needless to say, I enjoyed this experience immensely, and we changed the way these boys were perceived by their teachers, parents, and classmates.

Bucking The Odds

There is a math teacher in Aurora, Colorado, who is making a big difference by telling a group of black high schoolers the truth, and challenging them to buck the odds. The truth? Black kids, if current numbers continue, will score 13 percent lower than white students on their ACTs, earn $20,000 a year less after graduation, and, one in three will serve time in prison!

The teacher has challenged the kids to come to school early and stay late, to "kill the gap" and "blow up the statistics" against them. A group of students have accepted the challenge. They call themselves The Brotherhood. The group now numbers sixty members. One student, Mike Seals, has seen his GPA rise from 2.3 to 3.5. About the teacher, Bill Richardson, Seals says, "He's our biggest brother. We don't even notice any more that he is white!"

What is the response of the school distict administration? They are leary. They prefer to train the teachers to be attuned to the different cultures represented in the district. "A new approach might distract from what we're doing," says district spokeswoman Tustin Amole. "The Brotherhood kind of sets us back." "Telling young kids that most of you will fail, the worry is we're sending a message, however unconsciously, that we expect them to fail," Amole said.

So far, the group members have raised their GPAs an average of a half a letter grade in the year since the group was formed. The teacher does not plan to stop, even if they have to go "underground."

Is this a cool story, or what? All of the quotes and facts in this post come from a new Denver Post columnist named Susan Greene. You can read her whole column here.

This Afternoon's View From the Back Porch

"The Fred Astaire of Politics?"

Barack Obama has successfully charted a path that is befuddling many of the nation's pundits. George Will, in this piece, describes him as the "Fred Astair of politics." Here is how Will describes Obama.

So far, Obama is the Fred Astaire of politics -- graceful and elegant, with a surface so pleasing to the eye that it seems mistaken, even greedy, to demand depth. No one, however, would have given Astaire control of nuclear weapons, so attention must be paid to Obama's political as well as aesthetic qualities.

If, as I hope, Obama defeats Hillary and Silky in Iowa and New Hampshire, a great deal more attention will soon be paid to what he actually would do if elected President.

Yes, We Are Confused!

This ad makes me want to order a pizza. Kucinich supporters, though, aren't happy with Pizza Hut. The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez believes it will be a successful ad.

Experience Under His Belt

Scott Ott reports from the campaign trail in Iowa, following Bill Clinton.

“A lot of people who have met her, worked with her and even seen her on TV believe that she’s cold and mean-spirited,” said Mr. Clinton. “But they don’t know how kind, generous and warm Hillary can be when she’s behind in the polls.”

"Obama just doesn’t have the experience under his belt that I had when I sat down at that Oval Office desk.”

Why I Like Fred Thompson

Via Hot Air

One of the Most Dangerous Places in the World

Do the words "President" and "democracy" mean the same thing to Pakistanis as they do to Americans? Is the Pakistani army similar to the U.S. Army? If you answered "no" to those questions, you may not need to read Andrew Walden's brief history of Pakistan in The American Thinker.

Is It Safe To Be Real?

The best combination of political humor and Christmas good cheer in one piece this year? Hands down it has to be this one by Mark Steyn.

Ten Most Wanted

The non-profit, non-partisan group, Judicial Watch, has released its list of the ten most corrupt politicians of 2007. Four Republicans and six Democrats made the list. Four of them are still in the running for their party's nomination for President of the United States. One of them holds the highest offfice in the United States Senate, and one holds the highest office in the United States Congress! Thanks to Webutante for the link.

Sociopathic Hypocrites

Did you know that the Clintons have money parked in three different funds in the Cayman Islands? Have you heard Bill complain about the fact that he is just not being taxed enough to support the troops like he would want to? Have you heard Hillary talk about how she wants to close the loopholes of the rich? Did you know that when they left office the humble Arkansas family was worth one million dollars, but had over two million dollars in legal bills to help Bill, after he lied in federal court and had no consequences except the loss of his law license? Well, don't fret, they are now worth "up to" $53.7 million!

Times Have Changed

Sunday the University of Colorado will play the University of Alabama in the Liberty Bowl. Columnist Woody Paige has written an excellent piece here about the first time Colorado played Alabama, which was in the 1969 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. The seven black players on Colorado's team faced hideous taunting before and during the game. There were several interesting twists to the story, which Paige does a very good job of outlining.

Cold, But Pretty!

To enhance your sensual enjoyment, please remember to click on each image!

Tonight's Sunset

I had an appointment at the hospital this afternoon, and when I came out, this is what I saw. The sunset was actually reflecting off the mountains!

Looking More at Home

I was terribly allergic to the Christmas tree this year, so I moved it out on the porch just in time for yesterday's blizzard. It actually looks better on the back porch than it did in the living room!

A White Christmas

We got more than we bargained for in the way of a White Christmas today. We are in the midst of an all-day-long blizzard! Thankfully, we struck a deal with my strapping fifteen-year-old stepson, who has been clearing the three foot drifts from the driveway. What inspired me to write this post? I was visiting a blog called American Power, which featured this clip from Bing Crosby and a fully dressed friend.

Rocking the Boat

Reading Ambulance Driver's blog today brought back some memories. In the early 1970s I was Director of Social Services in two counties in southwest Colorado, La Plata and San Juan. La Plata is where Durango is located, and also the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. San Juan is where Silverton is located. Together they provide some of the most majestic and beautiful scenery in the United States.

This was just after Watergate. I was impressed with what the media had uncovered, so I made a promise to myself to run the departments as openly as possible. Each week I met with two radio station newspeople, a televison station newsperson, and reporters from two newspapers.

The local CBS-affiliated radio station asked me to do a radio program. I called it "Senior Saturday." Each week I interviewed a senior citizen, about whom my caseworkers had told me something interesting about their life.

One Saturday I was interviewing a remarkable 99-year-old woman who had come over Wolf Creek Pass in a covered wagon to settle in the Durango area. The old man across the hall walked into her room at the nursing home so he could hear the interview. The very tall and husky woman who was the director of nursing, told him to go back to his room. He did not want to, so she pushed him across the hall in a way that I thought was abusive.

The following Monday I filed an abuse report with the state, and met with my caseworkers who had patients in that nursing home, whom the taxpayers were paying for through our department. The caseworkers followed up with ten more specific grievances. The state investigated and decided to pull their Medicaid funding, which was millions of dollars.

Did I stir up a hornets nest? Oh, yes! The local medical society wanted me fired. Many doctors were making lots of money drugging these patients into submission. I learned that the corporation that owned the nursing home mainly operated vending machines in Pennsylvania, and had Mafia ties! Hearings went on for many months. Lawyers in three-piece suits descended on our little town.

The nursing home was cleaned up. Someone finally decided it would be cheaper to just make it a good facility than to pay the suits month after month. I brought my own mother there after she suffered a series of strokes in Iowa. They gave her good care!

Christmas Day Political Humor

You can watch a short video and take a multiple choice test to rate the performance of the Democrat majority in Congress here.

Yummy!

In honor of all of the angels we have encountered this week, the kids made this angelfood cake with vanilla ice cream mixed with crunched up candy canes for the icing. I'll start the heart healthy diet Wednesday.

High Plains Christmas Eve Sunset

Merry Christmas!

Before and After

Colleen thought some of you might be interested in viewing the before and after pictures given to us by Cardiologist Susie Kim. The first picture is the "before," showing the artery "99%" blocked (looks like 100% to me)! The second picture shows the artery after the surgery, flowing like the Mississippi River, compared to the first one, which is like a mountain stream in late September! You think I might be one grateful guy to be home with my family for Christmas? Please thank God for Susie Kim and her band of angels!

Great Political Humor!

If you appreciate great political humor, even at Christmas time, then rush over to Crunch Time for a Universal Christmas Greeting! It is an absolute classic!

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." "And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them."

"And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy."

"The glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened." And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

The Mexican Government Begins to Own Up

thisainthell alerts us to an amazing story in which the Mexican government actually admits the following facts, based on the results of recent studies.1.) 68 percent of Mexicans who migrate or try to migrate to the United States do so without documents and 55 percent of them hire immigrant smugglers.
2.) The Mexican-born population living in the United States increased from about 800,000 in 1970 to more than 11 million in 2006. 3.) The majority of Mexicans now living in the United States — 6.2 million — are undocumented, according to the report, which was based on surveys of migrants and information from the government's National Population Council. 4.)Almost 30 million people in the United States are direct descendants of Mexico migrants.
(source)

Dancing to Manheim Steamroller

Not A Creature Was Stirring...

Not even a precious puppy and a very sweet little girl.

Merry!

I want you to meet Merry, our new standard poodle, who came to live with us today. She is a gift from a friend. The friend is someone whom we helped a little bit earlier this year when he lost his job. Now, fittingly, he is making more money driving a truck than I ever made as a social services director. We will give him pick of the litter when Merry becomes a momma. Colleen would like to show people how poodles are actually very good livestock protectors, in addition to being very good with children and adults.

Competition and Choice Versus Governmental Bureaucracy Making Our Choices For Us

A few minutes ago one of the guys from the local fire department dropped by. I showed him the before and after photos that our cardiologist gave us after the surgery. He told me the reason why they took me to the hospital that is 45 minutes away, instead of the one that is 25 minutes. The one that is further away has a cardiac catheterization unit that is fully staffed all day long every day (they do six of these per day)! The other hospital has to call in staff and doctors. The American system of competition worked again!

Do we want to continue to have a system like that, or do we want the health care providers to be strangled in bureaucratic governmental red tape? I know which system saved my life, and I will vote accordingly. I can just see it now: "You must take the patient to the hospital nearest to the patient's home, or you will lose your federal funding for the next 90 days."

Angels We Have Heard On High (And Seen In Person Flying Around Ambulances and Hospitals)

I always have had a hard time relating to literal translations of angels flying around in the Bible. I think I have it figured out now, though. God uses flawed people like you and me, if we are willing. I have seen so many in the last few days, I cannot even begin to count them.

First, of course, is my wife, Colleen. She called 911 and got the first batch of angels to arrive on the scene, the local fire department. It soon became obvious, though, that none of them were trained by Ambulance Driver. But, they were doing God's work, were willing and humble, and He used them.

Then there arrived an angel named Brian, who was an EMT affiliated with a fire department in a more populated area. Brian reminded me of Ambulance Driver, as he did all the things he was supposed to do at my house, then in the ambulance, keeping me alive so I could have the Big One in the hospital!

At the hospital I realized that God has been blessing us with many scientific advances for His people to use while they are doing His work. Except for six instances of severe chest pain, I had a blast watching these angels add God's love and purpose to those scientific advances. First were the numerous nurses and technicians. Then came the marvelous cardiologist and her team of angels. They took away the pain, just as God takes away our sin. From far across the Denver metro area three times came my stepson who is in college. He was by my side at all of the crucial moments, and I will not forget it.

Oh, there was one who did not seem very angelic. I calmly suggested to her that since sick people make her angry, perhaps she should leave the room. I was having too much fun to be upset by one nurse who did not seem to understand what God was doing in those halls of mercy. A.D., I thought of you many times, but that was one time especially that I felt your spirit. The next morning I thought I caught a glimpse of her walking toward the room, then thinking better of it and going home at the end of her shift. Please pray for her, that she finds a career where God can use her talents.

Then I come home in a snow storm to a house filled with rambunctious little people, whose joy is so infectious. I turn on the computer and read the many kind wishes in the comments section, from the chorus of angels who form such a magnificent support group on the web.

I am glad God wants me to stay here a while longer to try to figure out more of His mysteries. My spirit is definitely renewed, and my thankful heart overflows to all of you and to Him, who holds the keys to all of the things that science, for all its wonders, will never fathom.

Oh, and if you are wondering about the fuzzy question marks in the above photo, let me explain. The question marks were on the monitor above my bed, supposedly representing my blood pressure, pulse rate, and breaths per minute. It just struck me as funny, so I took my first picture with my new camera cell phone. I don't know what the 36 in parenthesis is. Maybe I should have a caption contest!

Pray for Bob

My husband, Bob, had a heart attack yesterday. He called me in town when I was taking the kids to school and told me to stay by the phone, he wasn't feeling well. Then he called right back and said that he was having chest pains, labored breathing and was sweating. I hung up and called 911. We live 25 minutes from town, so, the paramedics got there before I did. They were working on him when I arrived and quickly moved him by ambulance to a hospital nearby.The doctors found blood clots in both lungs (Bob is not a smoker, never has been). Last night , he was moved to ICU and by noon he was in cardiac arrest. They went in and put shunts in a 99% ecluded artery. He is on blood thinners for the clots, which are small and will hopefully just dissolve. His prognosis is good, as there are no other badly ecluded arteries.
Thanks be to God, who brought him into the hospital with blood clots so we could save him during a heart attack. They say if it had happened at home, we probably wouldn't have been able to save him.
He is in good spirits, but, exhausted.
He just wanted his blog friends to know where he is and why he isn't posting.

I love you, honey.NO more Good Times burgers for you!!!!!
(There may be some spelling errors, like, maybe "ecluded" has 2 Cs, I'm just too spent to fix them)
Colleen

God and the New Atheism

There is an article over at Slate that I found interesting. The writer, Steve Paulson, is the executive producer of Wisconsin Public Radio's nationally syndicated program "To the Best Of Our Knowledge." In the Slate article Paulson interviews John Haught, who is the author of a forthcoming book entitled God and the New Atheism.

Here are some Haught quotes from the interview.

From the beginning of the modern world, science decided quite rightly that it wasn't going to tackle such questions as purpose, value, meaning, importance, God, or even talk about intelligence or subjectivity. It was going to look for purely natural, causal, mechanical explanations of things.

After Darwin, after Einstein -- just as after Galileo and Copernicus -- we can't have the same theological ideas about God as we did before.

Darwin's thought seems to be more important intellectually and culturally than it's ever been. My view is that theology, instead of ignoring or closing its eyes to it, should look it squarely in the face. It has everything to gain and nothing to lose by doing so. In my view, Darwin's thought is a gift to theology.

Why does the universe not stand still? there's a restlessness, a tendency of the cosmos to go beyond itself.

Science is simply not equipped to deal with the dimensions of purposefulness, love, compassion, forgiveness -- all the feelings and experiences that accompanied the early community's belief that Jesus is still alive.

Read the whole thing here.

Is Hillary Doomed?

Has Hillary Clinton's candidacy for the Democrats' nomination gone from "inevitable" to "doomed" in the space of a few weeks? That is the question asked by Thomas Lifson, editor and publisher of American Thinker blog. Kifson is a very good writer. Read the whole thing here.

Anybody Surprised?

Iowa Republican Steve King noticed that the Congress unanimously passed resolutions honoring the sacred holidays of Hinduism and Islam, so he decided to offer the same resolutions, substituting the words Christmas and the Christian faith. Nine Congress people voted no, all Democrats. Who were they? Stop The ACLU provides the names:

The nine Members voting NO were Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) (FL), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). None of the nine voted against resolutions honoring the Islamic holiday of Ramadan and the Hindu holiday of Diwali.

A Craving for Bananas?

Iran is making inroads in South America. Using emabassies in Venezuela, Equador, Nicaragua and Bolivia as cover, they smuggle in weapons and terrorists, who then illegally cross the border into the United States from Mexico. Iran orchestrated two Hezbollah bombings of Israeli and Jewish community targets in Buenos Aires in the early 1990s. The Powerline blog links to this article by esteemed journalist Todd Bensman.

Pro-Environment, Anti-Humans?

The anti-human movement in Europe is gathering steam. Mark Steyn notes that the "pro-choice" mantra of "Every child should be wanted" has subtly evolved into "Every child should be unwanted." Nativity Scenes will be banned not for anti-Christian reasons, Steyn says, but because "it sets a bad example" (the bad example is having a baby)!

Al Gore in Bali said, "My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here."

The American Thinker website proves otherwise.

In the seven years between the signing of Kyoto in 1997 and 2004, here's what happened:

•Emissions worldwide increased 18.0 percent;

•Emissions from countries that signed the treaty increased 21.1 percent;

•Emissions from nonsigners increased 10.0 percent; and

•Emissions from the United States increased 6.6 percent.

The Best Reporter In Iraq

Stereotypes about racist and psychotic Marines, as well as fanatical and psychotic Iraqis, can't survive a lengthy trip to Fallujah, at least not to the Fallujah of late 2007.

So writes Michael J. Totten in his latest dispatch from Iraq.

contempt for Iraqi culture specifically, and Arabs and Islam more generally, is far more prevalent in the American civilian population, even in liberal coastal cities, than it is among American soldiers and Marines who interact with Iraqis every day, forge sometimes intense personal bonds with Iraqis, eat Iraqi food,

In his interview with a Marine, we learn that fighting the insurgents has been good in a way for the U.S. Marines. It is forcing the Marines to be more flexible and adaptable in their fighting. It reminds me of the book 1776, which reveals how much more adaptable Washington's army was, compared with the British, who kept to their traditional methods of warfare.

Apparently Fallujah isn't such a bad place these days. To quote from the Marine:

don't think people really know what to expect from any of this,” he continued. “It's like people say: you only get the bad news on TV. They don't get to hear about how Fallujah is doing good now. I'm sure they'd hear about it if something bad happened. But these people are doing better, the schools are open, businesses are open, people are cleaning up their own city. They're starting their own neighborhood watch. They have their own police force now, their own government. People don't get to hear about that. I think that's important for people to know. You shouldn't focus so much on people who mess up. I mean, people have messed up. Bad stuff has happened. But you should focus on the percentage of people who are doing good as opposed to the percentage who are doing bad. There's a lot of good going on over here. And there's a lot of good people in this city.”

Totten's reporting is superb. If you have not read him, go here. You will not be disappointed.

He Was A Victim!

It took a few days, but it has happened. The killer of Christians attending Colorado churches has officially been declared a victim! Writing in today's Denver Post, Psychiatrist Rhonda Hackett writes about this killer and the Omaha mall killer:

It does not take a professional to figure out that these two young men were experiencing incredible emotion pain and severe mental anguish. Indeed, in both cases, friends, family, or others reported having been aware that each man suffered from brutal psychological pain. Based only on what has been revealed to the media thus far, professionals will tell you that there is a great possibility that Murray suffered emotional or even physical abuse as a child. His online writings are nearly textbook-perfect indicators.

Balderdash! We know no such thing! There is a "great possibility" that "professionals" like Ms. Hackett will do just what she did: assume that the killers must have been abused as children! The only way people can turn out to be killers, rapists, etc., is that they must have been abused as children! We have been hearing this from the mental health professionals for forty to fifty years.

Isn't it just as easy to speculate that maybe the parents coddled him and pampered him? How did he get the money to purchase a couple thousand dollars worth of guns? He was in his mid-twenties, still living at home. Not just any home; a beautiful home with a spectacular view of the front range of the Rocky Mountains. His father is a Neurologist dedicated to researching for a cure to MS. He treated MS patients even long after their insurance had expired. His mother quit her career as a physical therapist to stay home and homeschool him. Does this sound like a profile of abusive parents?

Winter Wonderland

The sun sets behind Pike's Peak.

The poor man's tractor.

I know you said it was cold outside, but, did you mean this cold?

Some News About The Killer of Colorado Christians

Bad news for Romney: The killer at two Colorado churches was baptised into the Mormon church.

"He engages first in behaviors that cause him to be rejected. Then he uses this rejection to reinforce his perceived injustice." That is the opinion about the killer given by psychologist John Nicoletti. (Source)

Anyone recognize what he is talking about? If you see this behavior in your kids, be all over it to bring it to an end. It can only lead to no good. Even if it doesn't go any further than a failed attempt at manipulation, the pattern needs to be broken at the earliest age possible. Don't let the pattern become entrenched.

Insufficient Fuel On Board

"U.S. Senator Unhurt in Air Crash:

The Associated Press reports that New York junior Senator Hillary Clinton, narrowly escaped injury in the aircraft she was piloting when she was forced to make an emergency landing in Southern New Jersey because of bad weather.

National Transportation Safety Board officials have issued a preliminary determination pilot error contributed to the accident, and the senator was flying a single engine aircraft in IFR [instrument flight rating] conditions while only having obtained a VFR (visual flight rating) rating.

The absence of a post-crash fire was likely due to insufficient fuel on board. No one on the ground was injured.

Photographs below were taken at the scene show the extent of damage to Senator Clinton's aircraft.

She was very lucky." Go here to see a photo of the plane.

"Allah Told Him to Cooperate!"

"A leader of the CIA team that captured the first major al Qaeda figure, Abu Zubaydah, says subjecting him to waterboarding was torture but necessary. In the first public comment by any CIA officer involved in handling high-value al Qaeda targets, John Kiriakou, now retired, said the technique broke Zubaydah in less than 35 seconds."

"The next day, he told his interrogator that Allah had visited him in his cell during the night and told him to cooperate," said Kiriakou in an interview to be broadcast tonight on ABC News' "World News With Charles Gibson" and "Nightline."

"From that day on, he answered every question," Kiriakou said. "The threat information he provided disrupted a number of attacks, maybe dozens of attacks."

Read the whole thing here.

Should We Vote For The One Who Is Most Naieve?

It is interesting that the two candidates who seem to be emerging as favorites are Huckabee and Obama. What is it about each of them that appeals to so many people? Maybe Americans are looking forward, and want to leave behind all of the political battles of the last few years. Both of these men seem to be nice guys who talk differently than the other candidates. They both want to make our government more benevolent.

Problem is, we need government to keep us safe from bad guys. We don't need government to love thy neighbor as thyself. Our "neighbors" (people in other countries) are often people who would do our country harm.

Remember when Bush said that he looked Putin in the eyes and found him to be a "good man?" That is the naievety I am talking about.