Those they can't drive out, they will put out. Nowadays, it appears this is what happens in The Episcopal Church (tm) when clergy dare vocally question the leadership's "prophetic gift". It failed this time, but I'm sure the Presiding Bishop will keep after Bishop Duncan - he is too big a threat to the "prophetic gift" to be ignored. And the "prophetic gift", with all of the "theology" that goes along with it, must be advanced at all costs.
Bishop Iker in Fort Worth, another of the most vocal dissidents, is being set up as the next one purged. Read the Presiding Bishop's whole letter, and Greg's commentary after. Very telling.
16 January 2008
15 January 2008
We Not Only Let 'Em Drive, We Let 'Em Deliver JDAM's.
Remember when they used to put pin-up girls on the sides of warplanes? Well, now they put them in the cockpit. And give them lots of ordinance. Just like the boys.
Oooh, those 12th-century folks must hate that, getting sent to meet their maker by...... a girl.
Oooh, those 12th-century folks must hate that, getting sent to meet their maker by...... a girl.
Richard Baker Quits.
My Congressman, Republican Rep. Richard Baker, is resigning from the House to take a position with a money management trade association. His district covers Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes.
Baker has been very interested in banking and finance issues, and is the ranking member of the House Financial Services Capital Markets Subcommittee. He is also on several other committees and sub-committees, including the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
I imagine the wanna-be-congressmen are busy announcing as you read this. But the district is solidly GOP, so there is little chance the seat could change hands.
UPDATE: Geez Louise! Not 12 hours after Baker announces, and we get two (yes, two) computerized opinion poll calls at the house tonight. Though, since they asked pretty much the same questions, I think we got "double polled" (ouch!). They wanted to know my biggest issue nationally (Iraq, killing lots of terrorists), and who out of a field of three I could support: my current state representative, Hunter Greene (absolutely); Baton Rouge City Councilman David Boneno (outside chance, but probably not); or former state represetative and run-for-everything, Woody Jenkins (you've got to be eff'n kidding!! No!!! Hell, no!!!!).
Baker has been very interested in banking and finance issues, and is the ranking member of the House Financial Services Capital Markets Subcommittee. He is also on several other committees and sub-committees, including the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
I imagine the wanna-be-congressmen are busy announcing as you read this. But the district is solidly GOP, so there is little chance the seat could change hands.
UPDATE: Geez Louise! Not 12 hours after Baker announces, and we get two (yes, two) computerized opinion poll calls at the house tonight. Though, since they asked pretty much the same questions, I think we got "double polled" (ouch!). They wanted to know my biggest issue nationally (Iraq, killing lots of terrorists), and who out of a field of three I could support: my current state representative, Hunter Greene (absolutely); Baton Rouge City Councilman David Boneno (outside chance, but probably not); or former state represetative and run-for-everything, Woody Jenkins (you've got to be eff'n kidding!! No!!! Hell, no!!!!).
Paula Jones Was Right.
Via Instapundit, this stunning revelation from a New York Times contributor:
"...but it seems to me that the most dangerous place to be in the rest of the country is between the Clintons and an elected office."
Ironic. Remember the Times reaction when folks were saying that about the Clintons back in, oh, 1992?
UPDATE: Even more ironic: The Monica Lewinsky scandal broke 10 years ago, on 17 January 1998. The Times of London has an, um, "oral" history. (Love that headline!)
"...but it seems to me that the most dangerous place to be in the rest of the country is between the Clintons and an elected office."
Ironic. Remember the Times reaction when folks were saying that about the Clintons back in, oh, 1992?
UPDATE: Even more ironic: The Monica Lewinsky scandal broke 10 years ago, on 17 January 1998. The Times of London has an, um, "oral" history. (Love that headline!)
14 January 2008
Rappin' Brahmins.
First Massachusetts Senator John Kerry endorses Barak Obama. And now, this.
I'm more embarrassed these days by my adopted home state than I am by my real one. And since Louisiana is the latter, that takes some doing!
I'm more embarrassed these days by my adopted home state than I am by my real one. And since Louisiana is the latter, that takes some doing!
The Wind Beneath My Tires.
A new concept car that runs off compressed air. My only question: If you put a Congressman in the back seat, would it run forever?
Noonday Time Waster.
For your lunchtime consideration; Bent Objects.
Some examples:
"Sometimes, being special isn't so special."
"Hardware nightmare."
Some examples:
"Sometimes, being special isn't so special."
"Hardware nightmare."
13 January 2008
Our Long State Road Home Is Over.
Tomorrow, competence returns to the Governor's Office in Louisiana. Thanks be to God.
School Boy Fantasy.
Ick. Just....... ick. Scroll through the whole collection if you can - it doesn't get much better. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
John Spong, The Movie.
An government-backed Iranian filmmaker has put together a bit of celluloid examining Jesus Christ from the Islamic point of view:
"...Islam sees Jesus as a prophet, not the son of God, and does not believe he was crucified."
And this is different from the view embraced by the leadership of The Episcopal Church (tm) how? Anyone?.... Anyone?....
"...Islam sees Jesus as a prophet, not the son of God, and does not believe he was crucified."
And this is different from the view embraced by the leadership of The Episcopal Church (tm) how? Anyone?.... Anyone?....
When Life (Sadly) Imitates Monty Python.
When I read yesterday about the British government wanting to take organs from the dead without prior consent, I wondered how long it woud take for someone to interject this scene from Monty Python's Meaning of Life into the debate.
Aparrently, not long.
Aparrently, not long.
12 January 2008
I Wonder How Many Ron Paul Signs We'll See There....
Swell. A "march" in Jena, Louisiana, will be allowed to go forward. Much as I don't want these people doing this, it is a free country, and I think the Judge made the right call.
(Side note to Episcopal/Anglican readers: If the name of the Judge sounds familiar, it should - he's related to this guy.)
(Side note to Episcopal/Anglican readers: If the name of the Judge sounds familiar, it should - he's related to this guy.)
Different Grievance, Same Theology.
No wonder openly gay Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson supports Barak Obama. Obama's church is darn near Episcopalian!
If You Thought Talking And Driving Was Dangerous....
From here:
"The iPhone is definitely a sexy phone. It's also the perfect vehicle for bringing mobile porn to Americans, according to adult content producers at the annual AVN convention in Las Vegas."
That's a pretty strong claim, one that must be thoroughly investigated by someone who owns an iPhone. (The things I have to endure to keep you people informed.....)
"The iPhone is definitely a sexy phone. It's also the perfect vehicle for bringing mobile porn to Americans, according to adult content producers at the annual AVN convention in Las Vegas."
That's a pretty strong claim, one that must be thoroughly investigated by someone who owns an iPhone. (The things I have to endure to keep you people informed.....)
So Many Choices. So Little Time.
The Naked Emperor is running a contest right now for the worst song tune that's gotten stuck in your head. Drop by and give the good Doctor your entry.
Just Close Your Eyes And Think Of The Nomination, Dear.
11 January 2008
Dennis Kucinich Seeks Recount.
Really. I am not making this up. Kucinich (D-Mars), who got a whopping 2 percent of the vote cast in the New Hampshire Primary, is seeking a recount.
And I thought Ron Paul was a few fries short of a Happy Meal......
And I thought Ron Paul was a few fries short of a Happy Meal......
It's About Time.
Fred Thompson finds his voice at the South Carolina GOP debate last night.
Let's see if he can keep it.
Let's see if he can keep it.
10 January 2008
He Back!!
The Naked Emperor has resurfaced, and is putting his two cents in on the Presidential race. Of course, it's today's required reading.
Glad you're back, bro.
Glad you're back, bro.
09 January 2008
House Of Tomorrow Today's Idea Of Tomorrow.
Glenn Reynolds links to this Amazon article about a "next-gen house" demo at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Before you get too wowed, remember that futurists are often spectacularly wrong about, well, the future. Got your video phone or your jet car yet? Compare this 1950's "kitchen of tomorrow" to your kitchen. Any resemblence? Didn't think so.
I know, I know, the "next-gen house" is dealing with convergence - the ability to control - not with the components themselves. Software versus hardware. I got all that. But do you really think Joe or Sally Homeowner want to program all that and keep up with all of the software integration and upgrades? They already have enough problems getting the damn VCR to stop flashing 12:00. What's next - Residential IT services?
Yeah, I'm a curmudgeon.
Before you get too wowed, remember that futurists are often spectacularly wrong about, well, the future. Got your video phone or your jet car yet? Compare this 1950's "kitchen of tomorrow" to your kitchen. Any resemblence? Didn't think so.
I know, I know, the "next-gen house" is dealing with convergence - the ability to control - not with the components themselves. Software versus hardware. I got all that. But do you really think Joe or Sally Homeowner want to program all that and keep up with all of the software integration and upgrades? They already have enough problems getting the damn VCR to stop flashing 12:00. What's next - Residential IT services?
Yeah, I'm a curmudgeon.
My Favorite Martians.
Remember that mission to land two robotic rovers on Mars back in 2004? Did you know the rovers were still operating on Mars nearly four years after they were projected to die off? Here is a link.
Damn.
Damn.
I'm Going To Miss You, Louie.
(But not yet. Updates below)
I haven’t posted on the Current Unpleasantness in The Episcopal Church™ in a while because, well, I wanted to enjoy my Christmas without having to wade through all of the sanctimonious moral relativism from the folks who keep trying to shove their “prophetic gift” down my throat. It’s the holidays. Please. So for several weeks I have been happily deleting posts from The House of Bishops and Deputies Listserv as fast as they hit my email inbox, and feeling great about it. I was planning on unsubscribing this week when an entertaining firestorm of posts broke out over this little phrase:
Love the Sinner; Hate the Sin.
Most Christians, myself included, would give you a “well, yeah." We separate the sinner, our neighbor who was made by God, from their sinful actions, which are governed by mortal influences and desires. We must love our neighbor and ask for forgiveness for their sinful actions, just as we must ask for forgiveness for our own sinful actions. We are all sinners. But we must be honest about what actions are sinful and fall short of the teachings and Glory of God. Honest with ourselves; and honest with others. That is a high calling with high standards, which has great reward (like, eternity). To me, and to many (I’d say most) Christians, that little phrase encapsulates the essence of Christian Love toward one another.
Unless you’re a Lefty Episcopalian. To the majority of the thinkers and leaders at The House of Bishops and Deputies Listserv, the very phrase “love the sinner; hate the sin” sends them into a lather. It is a “ cop-out”. It's "crap." It’s soooo Ozzie and Harriet. It is “judgmental” and it “demonizes”. At best, it is ignorance; at worst, it is outright homophobic bigotry and hate. In their line of reasoning sin and sinners are inseparable, so if one must love the sinner, one must love the sin. And besides, Christ never uttered that specific phrase, and who are we to judge, anyway? Since the Laws were fulfilled/wiped away by Christ’s Great Commandment, the only the Sin nowadays is “broken relationships”. And all who disagree are just taking the Bible too literally and without “context”, which only the illiterate, the paranoid, and the bigoted do these days. QED.
But why all the fuss over this phrase? Simple. Since “love the sinner; hate the sin” is a commonly held theological belief among most Christians, including most Episcopalians, the Lefty leadership of the The Episcopal Church™ are hell-bent (literally, IMHO) to change that belief. It directly flies in the face of the “prophetic gift” they insist we all accept, which requires ignoring Scripture and 2,000 years of Christian teaching, and celebrating what was once sinful behavior as not sinful anymore. Most Christians, including many Episcopalians, are not willing to do that. But to the Lefties now in control of the The Episcopal Church™, advancing their “prophetic gift” is, in the end, all that matters - and they really bristle when that agenda gets challenged. Even by a little phrase. They haven’t worked for 30-plus years advancing it to be questioned now.
Once this theological hissy-fit plays itself out I will likely unsubscribe from this Listserv. But it is, in an ironic way, entertaining to watch those who claim to champion diversity, tolerance, and understanding, being so singularly rigid, hostile, condescending, and absolutist. I have little in common theologically with the majority of those who post on the Listserv, and their posts just clog up my inbox anymore. I will, however, continue to pray for you Louie, Elizabeth, Tom, Nigel, Liv, Susan, Dan, Mark and the others, and I ask you do the same for me.
UPDATE: Now they are saying that "love the sinner, hate the sin", is only used to demonize gay and lesbians and keep them out of the church. Really? I first heard the phrase in Sunday School when I was, oh, about 7. That would be 1966. Before the Gay Rights movement started. Note to Boomers: not everything is about you, you know.
UPDATE: This thread over at the HOB/D never ends! What fun! Goodwin's Law has been achieved already, now someone introduced poetry into the mix. Ugh. What is it with Lefties and poetry? Does rhyming make for a more substantive argument or something?
UPDATE: Oops. Someone just said that anyone who does not agree with the Lefty agenda is a "homophobe", and deserves to be called that. Some of the nicer Lefties even called foul on that. So I think a new rule is in order, which I'll call, for lack of a better name, "Clifford's Rule":
"As an online discussion about The Episcopal Church grows longer, the probability of an accusation of theft, bigotry, or homophobia approaches one."
UPDATE: Throw "heresy" into the terms for "Clifford's Rule". The mud-slinging isn't all one sided, you know.
UPDATE: (Revised. I read the last post wrong) Five days on and the thread is still alive! The name calling calling has subsided, and they're mostly trading recipes. Really. Someone is trying to have the last word and saying that even if the "prophetic gift" is wrong, is it a sin to be wrong? Hmmm. I say, stick to recipes.
UPDATE: Calling Phil Ochs... The "anyone who doesn't agree with me is a homophobe" poster is back, and saying Jesus didn't seperate sinners from others, so we shouldn't either; except when it comes to "homophobes" - The Episcopal Church would be a lot better off if all the "homophobes" were gone. How logical. How Christian. But even some of her "allies" are saying that is going a little too far.
I haven’t posted on the Current Unpleasantness in The Episcopal Church™ in a while because, well, I wanted to enjoy my Christmas without having to wade through all of the sanctimonious moral relativism from the folks who keep trying to shove their “prophetic gift” down my throat. It’s the holidays. Please. So for several weeks I have been happily deleting posts from The House of Bishops and Deputies Listserv as fast as they hit my email inbox, and feeling great about it. I was planning on unsubscribing this week when an entertaining firestorm of posts broke out over this little phrase:
Love the Sinner; Hate the Sin.
Most Christians, myself included, would give you a “well, yeah." We separate the sinner, our neighbor who was made by God, from their sinful actions, which are governed by mortal influences and desires. We must love our neighbor and ask for forgiveness for their sinful actions, just as we must ask for forgiveness for our own sinful actions. We are all sinners. But we must be honest about what actions are sinful and fall short of the teachings and Glory of God. Honest with ourselves; and honest with others. That is a high calling with high standards, which has great reward (like, eternity). To me, and to many (I’d say most) Christians, that little phrase encapsulates the essence of Christian Love toward one another.
Unless you’re a Lefty Episcopalian. To the majority of the thinkers and leaders at The House of Bishops and Deputies Listserv, the very phrase “love the sinner; hate the sin” sends them into a lather. It is a “ cop-out”. It's "crap." It’s soooo Ozzie and Harriet. It is “judgmental” and it “demonizes”. At best, it is ignorance; at worst, it is outright homophobic bigotry and hate. In their line of reasoning sin and sinners are inseparable, so if one must love the sinner, one must love the sin. And besides, Christ never uttered that specific phrase, and who are we to judge, anyway? Since the Laws were fulfilled/wiped away by Christ’s Great Commandment, the only the Sin nowadays is “broken relationships”. And all who disagree are just taking the Bible too literally and without “context”, which only the illiterate, the paranoid, and the bigoted do these days. QED.
But why all the fuss over this phrase? Simple. Since “love the sinner; hate the sin” is a commonly held theological belief among most Christians, including most Episcopalians, the Lefty leadership of the The Episcopal Church™ are hell-bent (literally, IMHO) to change that belief. It directly flies in the face of the “prophetic gift” they insist we all accept, which requires ignoring Scripture and 2,000 years of Christian teaching, and celebrating what was once sinful behavior as not sinful anymore. Most Christians, including many Episcopalians, are not willing to do that. But to the Lefties now in control of the The Episcopal Church™, advancing their “prophetic gift” is, in the end, all that matters - and they really bristle when that agenda gets challenged. Even by a little phrase. They haven’t worked for 30-plus years advancing it to be questioned now.
Once this theological hissy-fit plays itself out I will likely unsubscribe from this Listserv. But it is, in an ironic way, entertaining to watch those who claim to champion diversity, tolerance, and understanding, being so singularly rigid, hostile, condescending, and absolutist. I have little in common theologically with the majority of those who post on the Listserv, and their posts just clog up my inbox anymore. I will, however, continue to pray for you Louie, Elizabeth, Tom, Nigel, Liv, Susan, Dan, Mark and the others, and I ask you do the same for me.
UPDATE: Now they are saying that "love the sinner, hate the sin", is only used to demonize gay and lesbians and keep them out of the church. Really? I first heard the phrase in Sunday School when I was, oh, about 7. That would be 1966. Before the Gay Rights movement started. Note to Boomers: not everything is about you, you know.
UPDATE: This thread over at the HOB/D never ends! What fun! Goodwin's Law has been achieved already, now someone introduced poetry into the mix. Ugh. What is it with Lefties and poetry? Does rhyming make for a more substantive argument or something?
UPDATE: Oops. Someone just said that anyone who does not agree with the Lefty agenda is a "homophobe", and deserves to be called that. Some of the nicer Lefties even called foul on that. So I think a new rule is in order, which I'll call, for lack of a better name, "Clifford's Rule":
"As an online discussion about The Episcopal Church grows longer, the probability of an accusation of theft, bigotry, or homophobia approaches one."
UPDATE: Throw "heresy" into the terms for "Clifford's Rule". The mud-slinging isn't all one sided, you know.
UPDATE: (Revised. I read the last post wrong) Five days on and the thread is still alive! The name calling calling has subsided, and they're mostly trading recipes. Really. Someone is trying to have the last word and saying that even if the "prophetic gift" is wrong, is it a sin to be wrong? Hmmm. I say, stick to recipes.
UPDATE: Calling Phil Ochs... The "anyone who doesn't agree with me is a homophobe" poster is back, and saying Jesus didn't seperate sinners from others, so we shouldn't either; except when it comes to "homophobes" - The Episcopal Church would be a lot better off if all the "homophobes" were gone. How logical. How Christian. But even some of her "allies" are saying that is going a little too far.
08 January 2008
Exit Profiling.
Wizbang tries to improve the exit poll by working in some shamelessly accurate stereotyping.
( Note: This was moved up from an earlier post because it's about more then New Hampshire, and it's just damn funny. - ed.)
( Note: This was moved up from an earlier post because it's about more then New Hampshire, and it's just damn funny. - ed.)
"You Will Explode..."
A video from the Persian Gulf. Watch the whole thing, and realize how close this came to being filed under "Don't Bring An RPG To A Harpoon Missile Fight" (click on the link in the DefenseLINK window for the video.)
Waiting For Poppins.
Today's Reqired Reading: This new blog on the Democratic Party's New America growth of the Nanny State. Read it all.
Hattip: Matthew
Hattip: Matthew
Live Free Or Die. Finally.
The herds of presidential contenders thundering across the Granite State comes to a close today. (They will, alas, reappear shortly in the Palmetto State.) Here's my prediction for tonight's results: Dems - Obama, Edwards, Hillary. GOP - McCain, Huckabee, Romney, Thompson.
Anyone who declares the Clinton dynasty dead if she looses badly here, does so at their peril. Hillary ain't done yet. The Clintons are masters of 'situational ethics', media theatre, and the comeback. They have a track record of doing whatever it takes to get what they want. And the junior Senator from New York wants the Oval Office.
I do not think Ron Paul will do at all well in this, the most Libertarian of states. Partly because of all the Democrats from Massachusetts and Connecticut who have moved in in the past few years, and partly because I think Ron Paul creeps out more New Englanders than he excites. He ain't no Harry Browne.
UPDATE:
OK, so I got it sort of right. Sort of. Like most pundits, I suppose. Well, here's the results of my stunning 20/20 hindsight, which, once again, is worth exactly what you paid for it:
Big winners: John McCain and Barak Obama. McCain was history only a week ago, and Obama did well in a state that is not his home region.
Big Loosers: Hillary Clinton, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, and Rudi Guliani. Hillary has been working the Granite State since November 6th, 2004; she should have stomped everyone, and didn't. Big advantage for Obama. Rudy had also been working the Granite State hard, and only barely edged out Ron Paul. Time to call it a day, Rudy. Romney should have won in a state bordering his home state, but only pulled second. Not a good sign. And Fred..... What the hell happened to my main man?? Beaten by the write-in vote???? If he doesn's turn it around big in South Carolina, I'm looking for another dance partner.
Even: Mike Huckabee. Third place for a southern evangelist in a New England state. Not bad. Not bad at all. I guess the Letterman bit paid off.
Loosers Before, Loosers After: John Edwards, Ron Paul, and all the rest. Whatever John Edawars' message is, it ain't working. John, go back to your (approximatelly) 500,000 square foot house and count your money. Ron Paul did not even break double didgits - and if he can't do that in New Hampshire, I can's see how he will do it anywhere else. He will continue to be an asteresk in the GOP primaries because he doesn't know when to quit beliving his own propaganda (a common Libertarian mistake). And did you know Joe BIden was running in New Hampshire? Aparrently, neither did anybody else.
Anyone who declares the Clinton dynasty dead if she looses badly here, does so at their peril. Hillary ain't done yet. The Clintons are masters of 'situational ethics', media theatre, and the comeback. They have a track record of doing whatever it takes to get what they want. And the junior Senator from New York wants the Oval Office.
I do not think Ron Paul will do at all well in this, the most Libertarian of states. Partly because of all the Democrats from Massachusetts and Connecticut who have moved in in the past few years, and partly because I think Ron Paul creeps out more New Englanders than he excites. He ain't no Harry Browne.
UPDATE:
OK, so I got it sort of right. Sort of. Like most pundits, I suppose. Well, here's the results of my stunning 20/20 hindsight, which, once again, is worth exactly what you paid for it:
Big winners: John McCain and Barak Obama. McCain was history only a week ago, and Obama did well in a state that is not his home region.
Big Loosers: Hillary Clinton, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, and Rudi Guliani. Hillary has been working the Granite State since November 6th, 2004; she should have stomped everyone, and didn't. Big advantage for Obama. Rudy had also been working the Granite State hard, and only barely edged out Ron Paul. Time to call it a day, Rudy. Romney should have won in a state bordering his home state, but only pulled second. Not a good sign. And Fred..... What the hell happened to my main man?? Beaten by the write-in vote???? If he doesn's turn it around big in South Carolina, I'm looking for another dance partner.
Even: Mike Huckabee. Third place for a southern evangelist in a New England state. Not bad. Not bad at all. I guess the Letterman bit paid off.
Loosers Before, Loosers After: John Edwards, Ron Paul, and all the rest. Whatever John Edawars' message is, it ain't working. John, go back to your (approximatelly) 500,000 square foot house and count your money. Ron Paul did not even break double didgits - and if he can't do that in New Hampshire, I can's see how he will do it anywhere else. He will continue to be an asteresk in the GOP primaries because he doesn't know when to quit beliving his own propaganda (a common Libertarian mistake). And did you know Joe BIden was running in New Hampshire? Aparrently, neither did anybody else.
07 January 2008
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
38-24. LSU did it! Thanks guys, that was a great birthday present.
While the Tigers are now the best of the best, let's not forget some other folks from Louisiana who are the best of the best.
While the Tigers are now the best of the best, let's not forget some other folks from Louisiana who are the best of the best.
Another Right Angle.
Just so you don't think we're all a bunch of tweedy, out-of-touch, artsy-fartsy types, here is another Louisiana architectural colleague with a blog that has absolutely nothing to do with architecture: Uncommon Acumen.
Check it out. Some good rants, IMHO.
Check it out. Some good rants, IMHO.
769th Says, "Geaux Tigers!"
A friend emailed this image of a Baton Rouge engineering unit from the Louisiana National Guard currently stationed in Iraq. Say no more.
(Note: The CSM is a fellow architect, friend and colleague.)
(Note: The CSM is a fellow architect, friend and colleague.)
Outsitting In Their Field.
If you think I'm harsh on political types, well, Matthew has me beat. Ouch!
The Blogfaddah In Vegas.
Glenn Reynolds is currently in Las Vegas blogging from the Consumer Electronics Show. Lots of interesting stuff, so just scroll around. And talk about your personal service - his hotel room came complete with a blender!
06 January 2008
Pha-leeeeese.
This bit of legacy-spin from our soon to be ex-Governor about Hurricane Katrina:
"I felt like I was victimized in a way, just like the people who lost their homes were victimized."
No madame, you were not victimized. Not at all. To even try to equate what you experienced with the experiences of those in New Orleans shows more clearly than ever why you could not lead this State during a time of crisis. If you are a victim at all, then you are a victim of your own indecisiveness and bad judgements (as were we all).
I know victims of Katrina. Victims of Katrina are my parents, my inlaws, and many friends. And you, Ms. Blanco, are no victim of Katrina.
"I felt like I was victimized in a way, just like the people who lost their homes were victimized."
No madame, you were not victimized. Not at all. To even try to equate what you experienced with the experiences of those in New Orleans shows more clearly than ever why you could not lead this State during a time of crisis. If you are a victim at all, then you are a victim of your own indecisiveness and bad judgements (as were we all).
I know victims of Katrina. Victims of Katrina are my parents, my inlaws, and many friends. And you, Ms. Blanco, are no victim of Katrina.
Milblogging 'Over There'.
A very interesting premise for a "milblog" - posting the letters of a British soldier in World War One exactly 90 years to the day after he wrote them. Follow along, and see that the more things change for soldiers, the more they truly stay the same.
05 January 2008
On The Way To 220.....
New Orleans' Mayor Ray Nagin's "brand" is still going strong in 2008:
Number One.
Number Two.
And it's only January 5th. He must be so proud.
Number One.
Number Two.
And it's only January 5th. He must be so proud.
04 January 2008
Michael Yon.
I hadn't received any emails from Michael Yon recently, so I assumed he was taking off for the holidays. A reasonable assumtion, but a wrong one. (Our IT folks fiddled with our mail system recently and I guess they tweaked the spam filter. Again.) Anyway, here two of Michael's recent dispatches I missed:
28 Dec 07: News Flash for Osama bin Laden.
04 Jan 08: News Flash: The Battle Over Body Armor.
28 Dec 07: News Flash for Osama bin Laden.
04 Jan 08: News Flash: The Battle Over Body Armor.
Mmmmm.... Features.
The much publicized rumors about the iPhone firmware 1.1.3 release back in December were, well, just rumors. (They originated in France, for goodness sake!) But these posts here and here seem to confirm that 1.1.3 is coming, and with a lot of cool features, too. We're getting close to that Alberti nexus I talked about in an earlier iPhone post.
Big Brother Big Nanny Is Watching You.
Before you jump on the "health care is a human right" / government-funded health care bandwagon, take a look at that kind of system in practice. If you want government paid services, you must first make "medically-correct" lifestyle choices - and the government will decide what those will be.
So ask yourself this question: what liberties are you willing to give up in order to get free doctor visits?
Hattip: Matthew
So ask yourself this question: what liberties are you willing to give up in order to get free doctor visits?
Hattip: Matthew
03 January 2008
Iowa Spinning.
The "Thrilla In Des Moines" is over. Before anyone makes too much of a stink over it, remember two things: first, Iowa does not have a great track record of picking the next President, or even the nominees; and second, it's a looooong way to November.
That being said, here is my take - which is worth exactly what you paid for it:
If you didn't finish in the top three, go home. (Yes, that means you, Rudy. And you, too, Ron.) Part of the importance of Iowa is to see if you can convince the party faithful in Middle America to trudge out in the dead of winter to support you.
The two candidates anointed by the Legacy Media, John McCain and Hillary Clinton, did poorly. Both will do better in New Hampshire, but I think the die is cast. Both have an uphill battle.
Obama is, I think, the one to beat on the Dems side, as he comes out of ths with momentum with the Democratic faithful. Hillary has a fight on her hands, as the Party faithful are not in a mood to cotton to anything that smacks of more center than Left. And the Breck girl, John Edwards, has no national appeal outside of a very select audience.
On the GOP side, the reoprts of the demise of the Evangelical vote are much in error, as the showing of Huckabee and Romney confirm. Thompson's third place, just barely beating McCain, shows that there is dissatisfaction with the GOP front-runners. Ron Paul's showing seems to indicate that, too.
Am I right? We'll see.
UPDATE: While getting ready for work I caught a bit of whatever that morning program is over on CBS. And they were fawning all over John McCain and Mike Huckabee, which tells me who the Legacy Media thinks are the GOP candidates most beatable by a Democrat. They were putting up some positive spin for Hillary, too, but not as much as I expected. (Are the dukes and duchesses of the Fourth Estate looking elsewhere now that their heroine came in third? Hmmm.) And Stephen Green asks a very relevant post-caucus question about the Iowa GOP.
That being said, here is my take - which is worth exactly what you paid for it:
If you didn't finish in the top three, go home. (Yes, that means you, Rudy. And you, too, Ron.) Part of the importance of Iowa is to see if you can convince the party faithful in Middle America to trudge out in the dead of winter to support you.
The two candidates anointed by the Legacy Media, John McCain and Hillary Clinton, did poorly. Both will do better in New Hampshire, but I think the die is cast. Both have an uphill battle.
Obama is, I think, the one to beat on the Dems side, as he comes out of ths with momentum with the Democratic faithful. Hillary has a fight on her hands, as the Party faithful are not in a mood to cotton to anything that smacks of more center than Left. And the Breck girl, John Edwards, has no national appeal outside of a very select audience.
On the GOP side, the reoprts of the demise of the Evangelical vote are much in error, as the showing of Huckabee and Romney confirm. Thompson's third place, just barely beating McCain, shows that there is dissatisfaction with the GOP front-runners. Ron Paul's showing seems to indicate that, too.
Am I right? We'll see.
UPDATE: While getting ready for work I caught a bit of whatever that morning program is over on CBS. And they were fawning all over John McCain and Mike Huckabee, which tells me who the Legacy Media thinks are the GOP candidates most beatable by a Democrat. They were putting up some positive spin for Hillary, too, but not as much as I expected. (Are the dukes and duchesses of the Fourth Estate looking elsewhere now that their heroine came in third? Hmmm.) And Stephen Green asks a very relevant post-caucus question about the Iowa GOP.
iPhone, Six Months On.
Well, dear readers, it’s been six months since your humble blogger sat for hours in line, surrounded every 25-year-old male virgin in Baton Rouge (“Man, you’ve never played ‘Halo 4’?? Dude, it SO rocks!!”), just to possess an iPhone. Madness, you say? Perhaps. But I’m not saying that today. And neither is my wife, who now has one, too. Half a year later and the excitement that drove me to sit in that line has not diminished. I. Love. My. iPhone.
What I said about the iPhone earlier still stands (scroll down a bit), so I’m not going to repeat myself. Is it perfect? No. But nothing is. As a designer, I know that all design involves tradeoffs. The trick to a great design is to get the balance just right. And Steve Jobs and his bunch have done that. The iPhone is functional. The iPhone is intuitive. The iPhone is integrated. The iPhone is elegant. (Man, is it ever!) Renaissance Italian artist and architect Leon Battista Alberti defined beauty as ”the adjustment of all parts proportionately so that one cannot add or subtract or change without impairing the harmony of the whole”. And by that standard the iPhone comes pretty darn close to the mark.
But there are a few things that can be added to truly meet Sr. Alberti’s mark. So, Mister Jobs, if you are listening here is Clifford’s “iWant” list:
1. EDGE. Cripes. What’s the point of owning a Porchse when the engine maxes out at 150 RPM? I know this is an ATT problem, but c’mon Steve; you got some clout with the suits. Lean on ‘em.
2. Data access. The ability to carry files, like Word, Excel and Powerpoint, and open and edit them.
3. Copy and Paste. The usefulness of this core(!) Apple function cannot be overstated.
4. Calendar. Allow the use of label colors and the ability to set “private” entries like Outlook does. (My calendar is networked, so others in the office see it. They do not need to know about the romantic dinner for my wife.)
5. Maps. Only complaint is the speed. It needs to be faster.
6. Calculator. A ‘clear entry’ button. (It could be the current ‘clear’ button; press once for ‘clear entry’, twice for ‘clear all’. Because of what I do, a ‘square root’ function would also be nice.
7. Portrait to Landscape Mode. This needs to be available to more functions, like mail. Not just for the Web, CoverFlow, and mail attachments.
8. File Recognation. The iPhone needs the ability to open more attachments, like .WAV files amd FLASH files.
9. Games. First-person-time-wasting is critical to the success of any phone nowadays. While the web-based stuff is nice, if I’m sitting in a waiting room with bad reception, I got nothing to do. No web access, no games. Grrr. So please, Steve, let them be native. Please. There could be a single ‘games’ button, like the ‘calendar’ or ‘clock’ button, and the games one uploads to the phone would be listed there. That would keep the home screen tidy.
10. Headphone jack. A decent adapter to allow the use of other headphones. My wife wants to use her older (Bose) headphones, but that semi-rigid post the Apple Store used to sell is useless.
What I said about the iPhone earlier still stands (scroll down a bit), so I’m not going to repeat myself. Is it perfect? No. But nothing is. As a designer, I know that all design involves tradeoffs. The trick to a great design is to get the balance just right. And Steve Jobs and his bunch have done that. The iPhone is functional. The iPhone is intuitive. The iPhone is integrated. The iPhone is elegant. (Man, is it ever!) Renaissance Italian artist and architect Leon Battista Alberti defined beauty as ”the adjustment of all parts proportionately so that one cannot add or subtract or change without impairing the harmony of the whole”. And by that standard the iPhone comes pretty darn close to the mark.
But there are a few things that can be added to truly meet Sr. Alberti’s mark. So, Mister Jobs, if you are listening here is Clifford’s “iWant” list:
1. EDGE. Cripes. What’s the point of owning a Porchse when the engine maxes out at 150 RPM? I know this is an ATT problem, but c’mon Steve; you got some clout with the suits. Lean on ‘em.
2. Data access. The ability to carry files, like Word, Excel and Powerpoint, and open and edit them.
3. Copy and Paste. The usefulness of this core(!) Apple function cannot be overstated.
4. Calendar. Allow the use of label colors and the ability to set “private” entries like Outlook does. (My calendar is networked, so others in the office see it. They do not need to know about the romantic dinner for my wife.)
5. Maps. Only complaint is the speed. It needs to be faster.
6. Calculator. A ‘clear entry’ button. (It could be the current ‘clear’ button; press once for ‘clear entry’, twice for ‘clear all’. Because of what I do, a ‘square root’ function would also be nice.
7. Portrait to Landscape Mode. This needs to be available to more functions, like mail. Not just for the Web, CoverFlow, and mail attachments.
8. File Recognation. The iPhone needs the ability to open more attachments, like .WAV files amd FLASH files.
9. Games. First-person-time-wasting is critical to the success of any phone nowadays. While the web-based stuff is nice, if I’m sitting in a waiting room with bad reception, I got nothing to do. No web access, no games. Grrr. So please, Steve, let them be native. Please. There could be a single ‘games’ button, like the ‘calendar’ or ‘clock’ button, and the games one uploads to the phone would be listed there. That would keep the home screen tidy.
10. Headphone jack. A decent adapter to allow the use of other headphones. My wife wants to use her older (Bose) headphones, but that semi-rigid post the Apple Store used to sell is useless.
An Army Of Nesses.
Elliot Nesses, that is. Your friendly neighborhood FBI is reviving the famous "D. B. Cooper" case, and they are asking for your help. They even posted case information and evidence images online.
Pretty cool.
Pretty cool.
'Poodleville' Gets A Krewe!
According to this article in New Orleans CityBusiness, Lakeview will have it's own Mardi Gras Parade this year. And an all woman krewe, too.
Prayers, Please.
If you notice, I keep a prayer list over on the right (scroll down a bit) as I believe in the power of prayer. The people on the list are the people I pray for daily, who for one reason or another need God's presence and strength in their lives. Several of the people listed are in great need of that right now, so I ask that you keep them in your prayers, too.
Supremus Lex Versus Semper Fidelis.
Having grown up with a father that was both a lawyer and a US Marine, this story is just pathetic. And it begs a good question: who do you trust more to uphold the Law - a lawyer, or a Leatherneck? (Matthew, Brad, and John excepted, of course.)
Whittle Connects.
Bill Whittle gets in touch with his inner James Burke and makes makes some interesting connections about a man named John Boyd, the OODA loop, and why we are winning. So here is today's required reading:
Forty Second Boyd and the Big Picture (Part 1)
Forty Second Boyd and the Big Picture (Part 2)
Forty Second Boyd and the Big Picture (Part 1)
Forty Second Boyd and the Big Picture (Part 2)
02 January 2008
Presidential Predictions.
A bit of Presidential election humor is up at Louisiana Conservative. And no, I have no idea where I get these from, either.
A Ray Nagin Success Story.
Really. Mayor Ray Nagin's "two-edged sword" approach appears to be on track, as 2007 was a banner year for his New Orleans "brand".
Happy New Year, N'Awlns.
UPDATE: C. B. Forgotston has more here.
Happy New Year, N'Awlns.
UPDATE: C. B. Forgotston has more here.
31 December 2007
Required New Year's Reading.
I'm a bit late catching this post by Bill Whittle; but with Bill's posts it's always a case of better late than never. I don't know about you, but after I read Bill I always feel better about America, and about being an American.
Which is a great way to start the New Year.
Which is a great way to start the New Year.
Fred Thompson Talks To Iowa Voters.
This is why I support Fred Thompson. It's long, but worth watching.
A Happy New Year to all from RSR.
29 December 2007
Blogging Isn't Everything, Y'know.
I've been busy the past few days taking care of some personal business and attempting to relax a bit. (Moderately successful on the former; not so much on the latter.) If you must have your RSR fix, dear readers, my Ron Paul piece is up over at Louisiana Conservative.
And if that isn't enough, Matthew has some interesting posts at his site for your reading enjoyment.
More later. Promise.
And if that isn't enough, Matthew has some interesting posts at his site for your reading enjoyment.
More later. Promise.
25 December 2007
O Little Town Of Murder Rate.
Six shot in New Orleans on Christmas Day. At least two dead.
Mayor Nagin, yellow crime tape should not be a holiday decoration, no matter how much it helps your "brand".
For God's sake, man, DO SOMETHING.
Mayor Nagin, yellow crime tape should not be a holiday decoration, no matter how much it helps your "brand".
For God's sake, man, DO SOMETHING.
Global Warming Is Caused By The Little People.
You know all those entertainment folks who praise Al Gore and lecture us about global warming? Well, here are some of them on holiday. I'm sure they all flew commercial or took mass transit to reduce global warming. Oh, wait........
(Side observation: Elle sure has aged rather well. Oh my, very well. Not so Michael Douglas.)
(Side observation: Elle sure has aged rather well. Oh my, very well. Not so Michael Douglas.)
Christmas In Iraq.
A Christmas day Iraq news roundup from Gateway Pundit. If this what John Murtha and Nancy Pelosi call a "failure", we need more of them.
24 December 2007
It Takes A Village....
....To kill a Terrorist. The simplest - and most accurate - explanation of counter-insurgency / counter-terrorism warfare to date.
Hattip: Instapundit.
Hattip: Instapundit.
Da Things Ya Finds On Da YouTube, Dawlin.
A documentary on 'Seafood City'. Really. If this makes you
wax nostalgic, you really do know what it means to
miss New Orleans.
22 December 2007
'Tis The (Political) Season.
We at Red Stick Rant have had enough of this demolition controversy. It's so un-Christmas. So let's switch gears a bit, dear readers, and look out on the national political landscape for some Holiday cheer:
Fred Thompson’s Christmas message. My. Thoughts. Exactly.
Compare it to Hillary’s “I’m-bringing-presents” message. For extra points, guess who’s money Hillary will be using to buy all those “presents” she’s got for you. (Hint: look in your wallet.) And, dare I ask (dare! dare!) - where’s Bill?
Here's Obama's entry. Calm, traditional, upbeat. Pegs on the cute kids scale, too. No wonder Hillary is scared.
Rudy weighs in. Complete with sweater vest, and lame fruit cake joke.
Mike Huckabee's is here. Or, maybe not.
Ron Paul’s message. Family, carols, grandma cooking, trimming the tree; it’s darn near Republican. And just in time for the Holidays, the Paulists got themselves a blimp. (It must be a Ron Paul blimp – it hasn’t been down to earth in years. [rimshot!]) It’s got a catchy Ron Paul = John Galt slogan that will really energize the .00001% of the electorate who get all excited about such things.
And so, from all of us at RSR: May each and every one of you have a Blessed Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Propserous New Year!
Fred Thompson’s Christmas message. My. Thoughts. Exactly.
Compare it to Hillary’s “I’m-bringing-presents” message. For extra points, guess who’s money Hillary will be using to buy all those “presents” she’s got for you. (Hint: look in your wallet.) And, dare I ask (dare! dare!) - where’s Bill?
Here's Obama's entry. Calm, traditional, upbeat. Pegs on the cute kids scale, too. No wonder Hillary is scared.
Rudy weighs in. Complete with sweater vest, and lame fruit cake joke.
Mike Huckabee's is here. Or, maybe not.
Ron Paul’s message. Family, carols, grandma cooking, trimming the tree; it’s darn near Republican. And just in time for the Holidays, the Paulists got themselves a blimp. (It must be a Ron Paul blimp – it hasn’t been down to earth in years. [rimshot!]) It’s got a catchy Ron Paul = John Galt slogan that will really energize the .00001% of the electorate who get all excited about such things.
And so, from all of us at RSR: May each and every one of you have a Blessed Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Propserous New Year!
21 December 2007
"Ain't Nobody Gonna Do Anything In Here..."
That's a quote from this video taken inside the New Orleans City Council chambers prior to yesterday's 7-0 vote on demolishing the four HUD housing projects. Watch it all. Watch the opposition as they respect the dignity of every human being, and watch them respect the polity of the City Council. The cheerleader encouraging the shouting was a nice touch.
I think the City Council vote was the climax of this "debate", and I expect to see it fade from the front pages for a number of reasons: first, primary season is upon us and the national media will be focused elsewhere; second, the more folks look at the facts the less plausible the opponents accusations become; and third, the opponents did not come off at all well yesterday - their behavior lost sympathy and support for their cause (case in point: Bishop Jenkins' statement afterwards). There will be a few spasms over this in the next few months, and some lawsuits, but I'm calling this one is over.
Maybe now we can get on with building decent housing for the people who need it. Wouldn't that, dear readers, be a great Christmas present?
UPDATE: Michelle Malkin has this post about Sharon Jasper, the activist shouting racial epithets in the video and who was profiled earlier in this Times-Picayune story on the debate. I must say, if you have a 60" TV in your living room you are not poor in my book. Unable to control your spending, maybe; but not poor. And the subsidized apartment she is in is better than the one my parents currently occupy post-Katrina, which they pay for. I am glad Bishop Charles Jenkins is distancing himself, and our diocese, from people like this "activist". He should never have been involved with them in the first place.
I think the City Council vote was the climax of this "debate", and I expect to see it fade from the front pages for a number of reasons: first, primary season is upon us and the national media will be focused elsewhere; second, the more folks look at the facts the less plausible the opponents accusations become; and third, the opponents did not come off at all well yesterday - their behavior lost sympathy and support for their cause (case in point: Bishop Jenkins' statement afterwards). There will be a few spasms over this in the next few months, and some lawsuits, but I'm calling this one is over.
Maybe now we can get on with building decent housing for the people who need it. Wouldn't that, dear readers, be a great Christmas present?
UPDATE: Michelle Malkin has this post about Sharon Jasper, the activist shouting racial epithets in the video and who was profiled earlier in this Times-Picayune story on the debate. I must say, if you have a 60" TV in your living room you are not poor in my book. Unable to control your spending, maybe; but not poor. And the subsidized apartment she is in is better than the one my parents currently occupy post-Katrina, which they pay for. I am glad Bishop Charles Jenkins is distancing himself, and our diocese, from people like this "activist". He should never have been involved with them in the first place.
We Want You To Vote Until It Comes Out Our Way.
The New Orleans City Council voted unanimously yesterday to demolish the dilapidated housing projects that are causing so much controversy.
The "protesters", however, vow to continue. Why? Do the poor, who will have to wait even longer to get decent housing because their antics, matter a damn to these people? I guess not.
And Ray Nagin says that HUD must still apply for permits. I don't think that's true. HUD is a Federal Agency, and as such does not need local regulatory approval. (I think they are going through this on HANO projects to allow more local input, but I could be wrong.) Besides, Two of the four have already been submitted to Safety & Permits, but they are dragging their feet (once returning them because every drawing sheet was not "wet-stamped", signed, and dated by the Design Professionals).
And Episcopal Bishop Charles Jenkins, predictably, is in spin mode. More spin here, where he included this bit of classic Episcopal Church (tm) Newsspeak:
"I have come to think that the theological virtue of love is the basis for the baptismal covenant question which asks: “will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?".
Which is, as we now know, the only legitimate theological justification for doing anything (and everything!) in The Episcopal Church (tm) nowadays.
The "protesters", however, vow to continue. Why? Do the poor, who will have to wait even longer to get decent housing because their antics, matter a damn to these people? I guess not.
And Ray Nagin says that HUD must still apply for permits. I don't think that's true. HUD is a Federal Agency, and as such does not need local regulatory approval. (I think they are going through this on HANO projects to allow more local input, but I could be wrong.) Besides, Two of the four have already been submitted to Safety & Permits, but they are dragging their feet (once returning them because every drawing sheet was not "wet-stamped", signed, and dated by the Design Professionals).
And Episcopal Bishop Charles Jenkins, predictably, is in spin mode. More spin here, where he included this bit of classic Episcopal Church (tm) Newsspeak:
"I have come to think that the theological virtue of love is the basis for the baptismal covenant question which asks: “will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?".
Which is, as we now know, the only legitimate theological justification for doing anything (and everything!) in The Episcopal Church (tm) nowadays.
19 December 2007
Oh Little State Of Louzzi-ann.......
Well, dear readers, tis the season, which means we need to make a list and..... well, you know. So we submit for your consideration a few holiday gift suggestions for this year's most memorable Louisianans:
Bobby Jindal: Time. I suggest we all give him some - he's gonna need it.
Kathleen Blanco: A Road Home (D'oh!). Or if the wait for that is too long, might I suggest a German steel mill - though the wait for that may be even longer...
William Jefferson: A new freezer. Go with a chest-type; he doesn't do upright.
FEMA: This is a tricky one, as I don’t know how one would wrap eternal damnation. Is a bow involved?
The Legislature: Lumps of coal. Not for anything specific, just for aspiring to be Legislators.
Ray Nagin: A 'Get Out Of Voting Free' card. Or, an 'I "heart" Dallas' bumper sticker.
David Vitter: Some Vaseline and an imagination.
Oliver Thomas: Ditto, Vitter.
Robert Cerasoli: A budget. Some Post-it notes and a few filing cabinets would also be appreciated.
Walter Boasso: Some ‘Tide™’ and a hose.
Foster Campbell: Who?
John Georges: A plan to recycle all of those unused copies of the ‘Georges Plan’.
LSU Coach Les Miles: A free Louisiana driver's license renewal; good for one year.
Brittany Spears: Underwear.
Mary Landrieu: A signed picture of herself with Hillary Clinton.
John Kennedy: A signed picture of Mary Landrieu with Hillary Clinton.
Charles Foti: A copy of 'Trial Law for Dummies'.
The Ethics Board: Some ethics.
Buddy Caldwell and Royal Alexander: Less mud.
And last - Alabama Coach Nick Saban: A chance to play the Bunkie Pre-K 'Disobedient Ponies' - about the only Louisiana school the 'Crimson Tide’ has a 50/50 shot at beating.
(also posted at Louisiana Conservative)
Bobby Jindal: Time. I suggest we all give him some - he's gonna need it.
Kathleen Blanco: A Road Home (D'oh!). Or if the wait for that is too long, might I suggest a German steel mill - though the wait for that may be even longer...
William Jefferson: A new freezer. Go with a chest-type; he doesn't do upright.
FEMA: This is a tricky one, as I don’t know how one would wrap eternal damnation. Is a bow involved?
The Legislature: Lumps of coal. Not for anything specific, just for aspiring to be Legislators.
Ray Nagin: A 'Get Out Of Voting Free' card. Or, an 'I "heart" Dallas' bumper sticker.
David Vitter: Some Vaseline and an imagination.
Oliver Thomas: Ditto, Vitter.
Robert Cerasoli: A budget. Some Post-it notes and a few filing cabinets would also be appreciated.
Walter Boasso: Some ‘Tide™’ and a hose.
Foster Campbell: Who?
John Georges: A plan to recycle all of those unused copies of the ‘Georges Plan’.
LSU Coach Les Miles: A free Louisiana driver's license renewal; good for one year.
Brittany Spears: Underwear.
Mary Landrieu: A signed picture of herself with Hillary Clinton.
John Kennedy: A signed picture of Mary Landrieu with Hillary Clinton.
Charles Foti: A copy of 'Trial Law for Dummies'.
The Ethics Board: Some ethics.
Buddy Caldwell and Royal Alexander: Less mud.
And last - Alabama Coach Nick Saban: A chance to play the Bunkie Pre-K 'Disobedient Ponies' - about the only Louisiana school the 'Crimson Tide’ has a 50/50 shot at beating.
(also posted at Louisiana Conservative)
Is This The Future Of Your Church?
This article in Architect magazine, about what is happening to 65 Roman Catholic parishes in Boston, should give Anglicans in the US pause.
An Inconvienent Truth.
"There is not enough public housing for the poor in New Orleans," is a lie. But it's convenient lie to those who are getting attention by chaining themselves to the fences at HANO headquarters today. Chaining oneself to a fence for the poor makes one seem noble and compassionate; but chaining oneself to a fence for a lie is just silly and pointless.
Just how "actions" like this will get the poor housed any faster is beyond me.
Also, take a look at those "protesters" in the image - do any of them look like, well, displaced housing project residents?? Didn't think so.
Just how "actions" like this will get the poor housed any faster is beyond me.
Also, take a look at those "protesters" in the image - do any of them look like, well, displaced housing project residents?? Didn't think so.
18 December 2007
My BGF!
Or, "Best GOD Forever!" From Chris at MCJ comes this fisking of a Dutch "atheist priest", who seems to be on the cutting edge of Episcopal Church (tm) theology with his God-Is-Just-Relationships silliness. And his church's response to this is pure Episcopal Church (tm), too.
Sacrifice The Pawns. Bishop To Queen 3.
Those opposing the demolition of the old HANO housing projects have succeeded in stopping, for the time being, the demolition, and the City Council will take up the matter.
Why would the opponents do that? Who does this benefit? The poor? Hardly. The faster the old, squalid, Soviet-style housing blocks are taken down, the faster the newer housing units replacing them can come online. (See HANO's website for what the new housing looks like.) Demolition would benefit those who need the housing sooner. Trying to renovate the existing units and bring them into compliance will mean additional years of waiting, not to mention hundreds of millions more in taxpayer dollars. And all of this suing and posturing taking place now is only delaying the date anyone can get into a new housing unit. Remember, before Katrina there were lawsuits to have the old projects razed and replaced with livable housing. That was being done when the storm hit. Why would anyone now oppose continuing in that direction?
If your agenda is to help the displaced poor return to New Orleans in the shortest time, you wouldn't. But if your agenda is to help you, or your "cause", with increased donations, higher visibility, or in scoring some political points, it makes perfect sense. No wonder they see facts as not relevant; they are their natural enemy.
My bishop, sadly, is still siding with the opportunists, sending out this e-mail yesterday:
Action Alert:
Demolition of Public Housing
Bishop Jenkins invites all concerned lay and clergy to join him at New
Orleans City Hall at 9 a.m. Thursday, December 20th to attend this meeting.
On Friday, December 14, the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana issued a special E-DoLA covering the public housing crisis in New Orleans.
Since the release of that information, a judge has ordered a stop to all demolition until the city council holds a hearing on Thursday. In addition, the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate for a 60-day moratorium on demolition, to enable our lawmakers to be fully satisfied regarding a number of disputed facts, and to address the fact that lawmakers have yet to be shown a "full and viable" plan that addresses immediate need for units by Katrina survivors, one-for-one replacement, and the long-term goal of new mixed income developments.
The debate and vote on Thursday represents a moral crossroads for our community. The lives and well-being of tens of thousands of people are at stake, and the weight of this decision and its implications for those in tenuous housing situations or homeless looms large. This is why we urge all residents with post-Katrina humanitarian and spiritual concerns to register their request of our elected officials to be thorough and not hasty, and to approve the request by our two most powerful Congressional leaders for the 60-day moratorium.
If you are unable to be at City Hall, please phone or email city council members to voice your concern for affordable, safe housing in New Orleans.
Arnie Fielkow - (504) 658-1060 AFielkow@cityofno.com
Jacquelyn Clarkson (504) 658-1070 JBClarkson@cityofno.com
Stacy Head (504) 658-1020 SHead@cityofno.com
Shelley Midura (504) 658-1010 SMidura@cityofno.com
James Carter (504) 658-1030 JCarter@cityofno.com
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell (504) 658-1040 CHMorrell@cityofno.com
Cynthia Willard-Lewis (504) 658-1050 CWLewis@cityofno.com
Charles, why stand now? If this is a matter of morality, theology and principal, where was this kind of moral, theological and principled backbone when the very fabric of our Faith was being torn apart by those who have thrown our church to the winds of pop culture values? Why one, now, and not the other? Charles, I remember you as my rector. I remember you as a man of Faith and strength. It was you who made my family feel at home at Saint Luke's. It was your guidance that renewed and strengthened our Faith. It was you showed me once again the power, mystery and majesty of Our Lord, and why "faith, reason, and tradition" matter. What happened??
Why would the opponents do that? Who does this benefit? The poor? Hardly. The faster the old, squalid, Soviet-style housing blocks are taken down, the faster the newer housing units replacing them can come online. (See HANO's website for what the new housing looks like.) Demolition would benefit those who need the housing sooner. Trying to renovate the existing units and bring them into compliance will mean additional years of waiting, not to mention hundreds of millions more in taxpayer dollars. And all of this suing and posturing taking place now is only delaying the date anyone can get into a new housing unit. Remember, before Katrina there were lawsuits to have the old projects razed and replaced with livable housing. That was being done when the storm hit. Why would anyone now oppose continuing in that direction?
If your agenda is to help the displaced poor return to New Orleans in the shortest time, you wouldn't. But if your agenda is to help you, or your "cause", with increased donations, higher visibility, or in scoring some political points, it makes perfect sense. No wonder they see facts as not relevant; they are their natural enemy.
My bishop, sadly, is still siding with the opportunists, sending out this e-mail yesterday:
Action Alert:
Demolition of Public Housing
Bishop Jenkins invites all concerned lay and clergy to join him at New
Orleans City Hall at 9 a.m. Thursday, December 20th to attend this meeting.
On Friday, December 14, the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana issued a special E-DoLA covering the public housing crisis in New Orleans.
Since the release of that information, a judge has ordered a stop to all demolition until the city council holds a hearing on Thursday. In addition, the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate for a 60-day moratorium on demolition, to enable our lawmakers to be fully satisfied regarding a number of disputed facts, and to address the fact that lawmakers have yet to be shown a "full and viable" plan that addresses immediate need for units by Katrina survivors, one-for-one replacement, and the long-term goal of new mixed income developments.
The debate and vote on Thursday represents a moral crossroads for our community. The lives and well-being of tens of thousands of people are at stake, and the weight of this decision and its implications for those in tenuous housing situations or homeless looms large. This is why we urge all residents with post-Katrina humanitarian and spiritual concerns to register their request of our elected officials to be thorough and not hasty, and to approve the request by our two most powerful Congressional leaders for the 60-day moratorium.
If you are unable to be at City Hall, please phone or email city council members to voice your concern for affordable, safe housing in New Orleans.
Arnie Fielkow - (504) 658-1060 AFielkow@cityofno.com
Jacquelyn Clarkson (504) 658-1070 JBClarkson@cityofno.com
Stacy Head (504) 658-1020 SHead@cityofno.com
Shelley Midura (504) 658-1010 SMidura@cityofno.com
James Carter (504) 658-1030 JCarter@cityofno.com
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell (504) 658-1040 CHMorrell@cityofno.com
Cynthia Willard-Lewis (504) 658-1050 CWLewis@cityofno.com
Charles, why stand now? If this is a matter of morality, theology and principal, where was this kind of moral, theological and principled backbone when the very fabric of our Faith was being torn apart by those who have thrown our church to the winds of pop culture values? Why one, now, and not the other? Charles, I remember you as my rector. I remember you as a man of Faith and strength. It was you who made my family feel at home at Saint Luke's. It was your guidance that renewed and strengthened our Faith. It was you showed me once again the power, mystery and majesty of Our Lord, and why "faith, reason, and tradition" matter. What happened??
'Tis The Season....
Blogging has been, and will continue to be, somewhat light until after Chrstmas. Along with the usual seasonal rushing about, we have several 2 January deadlines here in the office. Since we are closed between Christmas and New Year's, this means we need to be wrapped up by this coming Monday. Fun.
And on a happier note: this little site will be six months old in a few weeks, and I want to thank each of you for your patronage and support. My Sitemeter stats will never set the world on fire, but that is not why I do this (for why, see my first post). I do not know who most of you are (you never write.....) but I'm glad you find what we put up worth a look. So to each of you, my dear readers, a very Merry Christmas from Red Stick Rant!
And on a happier note: this little site will be six months old in a few weeks, and I want to thank each of you for your patronage and support. My Sitemeter stats will never set the world on fire, but that is not why I do this (for why, see my first post). I do not know who most of you are (you never write.....) but I'm glad you find what we put up worth a look. So to each of you, my dear readers, a very Merry Christmas from Red Stick Rant!
16 December 2007
Vote? Oh, I Thought You Asked "Did I BOAT on October 20th?"
Not letting facts intrude on a good spin seems to be a pretty popular pasttime in New Orleans lately. Fact: 'Ol C. Ray really didn't vote in the October 20th election; something which he chided others for not doing, and a charge he has deflected or denied.
Looser.
My "Top Ten Reasons Ray Nagin Didn't Vote" is here.
Looser.
My "Top Ten Reasons Ray Nagin Didn't Vote" is here.
What Will They 'Offset' Next?
Al Gore can buy carbon offsets so he can feel guilt free. Now, Bill Clinton has a similar opportunity.
Hattip: Matthew.
Hattip: Matthew.
Mythbusters And Mythbelievers.
The New Orleans Sunday Times-Picayune today has a Page One article on the HANO housing “crisis”, pretty much reiterating what I said earlier (here and here) about this – a fact-challenged "opposition" has basically contrived an issue where none existed prior. From the article:
”…a claim that has gained traction in Washington and the national media moved beyond perception and into the realm of demonstrable falsehood: that displaced public housing residents have no place to live.” (emphasis mine)
The article is long but well worth the read. It is a classic example of how a debate can be driven by perception and fear instead of facts.
And look who is buying into that “demonstrable falsehood” – none other than the Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana, Charles Jenkins. Two days before the TP article debunking the opposition, this was sent out by the Diocese. Why Bishop Jenkins, who has proven himself to the consummate fence-sitter on things like, oh, defending the Faith, should throw his weight and that of the diocese behind the HANO “opposition”, is beyond me. I wish he would be this demonstrative and decisive about opposing the “prophetic gift” being imposed on the Anglican Communion by The Episcopal Church ™. But I’m sure he has pleased 815 Second Avenue with his stand.
”…a claim that has gained traction in Washington and the national media moved beyond perception and into the realm of demonstrable falsehood: that displaced public housing residents have no place to live.” (emphasis mine)
The article is long but well worth the read. It is a classic example of how a debate can be driven by perception and fear instead of facts.
And look who is buying into that “demonstrable falsehood” – none other than the Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana, Charles Jenkins. Two days before the TP article debunking the opposition, this was sent out by the Diocese. Why Bishop Jenkins, who has proven himself to the consummate fence-sitter on things like, oh, defending the Faith, should throw his weight and that of the diocese behind the HANO “opposition”, is beyond me. I wish he would be this demonstrative and decisive about opposing the “prophetic gift” being imposed on the Anglican Communion by The Episcopal Church ™. But I’m sure he has pleased 815 Second Avenue with his stand.
13 December 2007
"CALLLLLLLLVIN!!"
I took the What 'Calvin & Hobbes' Character Are You? quiz. Result:
"You Are Calvin."
Those of you who know me know this result really isn't a surprise. You can take the test here.
My favorite C&H strip:
See the last panel, and you'll understand why.
"You Are Calvin."
Those of you who know me know this result really isn't a surprise. You can take the test here.
My favorite C&H strip:
See the last panel, and you'll understand why.
11 December 2007
Pathetic Intimidation Watch.
UPDATES posted. See below. -ed.
According to NOLA.COM, this poster is now appearing in New Orleans:
(image from www.nola.com)
Read it again. It really does say what you think it says. And if you have some time, dear readers, read the blog comments at the above link. One person says that this poster shouldn’t be seen as a threat, since it targets only property – not people. Comforting, isn’t it?
I have posted on this before, but I'll say it again - because of my work, which includes work for the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), I have first-hand knowledge about this situation. Some facts:
HANO is looking to remove the existing buildings because it will cost more to remediate and repair the units than it will be to take them down and rebuild. Do not forget that the projects in question were not in great shape prior to Katrina, and plans to demo some of them were in the works before the storm.
HANO is NOT, repeat NOT, looking to level these projects and leave the land fallow. They have plans in the works for new units – medium-density townhouses and flats similar to what they have done at other projects. I have seen the plans. And the sooner HANO can get the old buildings out of the way, the sooner newer, more livable units, can be completed.
HANO renovated several hundred of their newer townhouses and flats after the storm, but they have found few takers. Some of the units have been vacant for so long that HANO is having to put in de-humidifiers to prevent mold. HANO also has a voucher program for residents, too. So there are affordable homes available. Call HANO.
This whole issue has become so emotionally charged I do not think that facts will be much considered in resolving the issue, but I think they should be put out there anyway. (UPDATE: I think this YouTube video proves my point.) Those fanning these flames seem to have little interest in facts or in housing my fellow New Orleanians (I am a native), and a lot of interest in creating some publicity for themselves by exploiting people’s concerns and by intimidation. You don’t need facts to do that. (When they find who made this poster – not surprisingly there is no organization credit - I’d be willing to bet a a couple of bucks they aren’t even from New Orleans. Or more than a few in number.)
So be mindful, dear readers, to not let yourself be drawn into reacting emotionally when you hear more about this issue. That is what the creators of this trash want – your attention and over-reaction. Don’t give it to them. See it for what it is – a pathetic and desperate attempt to grab attention by being sensational and divisive, by increasing tensions, and by sowing mistrust and fear in an already battered City. Just remember the facts.
UPDATE: The demolitions have begun. This from WWL-TV. Pretty much confirms my worries that this is being driven bycarpetbaggers folks from our-of-town looking to make an issue:
"License plates indicated that many of the protesters had driven in from as far afield as Ohio, Kentucky and Massachusetts."
UPDATE: Day two. So much for the mass of opposition:
"It was expected to be a large crowd, but only a handful of protestors gathered at the B.W. Cooper housing development Thursday morning to wait and see if crews would continue tearing down the development."
"Basically we are just on guard to watch out for the demolition crew so we can mobilize our forces pretty quickly to get out here quickly to lock arms, and stand down the bulldozers as long as necessary," said protestor Roderick Dean."
"But when the bulldozing started most of the protestors left – a sharp contrast from just a day earlier when about 50 protestors blocked the demolition of B.W. Cooper."
QED. I guess many of the protesters left to get an early start on those long drives home.
According to NOLA.COM, this poster is now appearing in New Orleans:
(image from www.nola.com)
Read it again. It really does say what you think it says. And if you have some time, dear readers, read the blog comments at the above link. One person says that this poster shouldn’t be seen as a threat, since it targets only property – not people. Comforting, isn’t it?
I have posted on this before, but I'll say it again - because of my work, which includes work for the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), I have first-hand knowledge about this situation. Some facts:
HANO is looking to remove the existing buildings because it will cost more to remediate and repair the units than it will be to take them down and rebuild. Do not forget that the projects in question were not in great shape prior to Katrina, and plans to demo some of them were in the works before the storm.
HANO is NOT, repeat NOT, looking to level these projects and leave the land fallow. They have plans in the works for new units – medium-density townhouses and flats similar to what they have done at other projects. I have seen the plans. And the sooner HANO can get the old buildings out of the way, the sooner newer, more livable units, can be completed.
HANO renovated several hundred of their newer townhouses and flats after the storm, but they have found few takers. Some of the units have been vacant for so long that HANO is having to put in de-humidifiers to prevent mold. HANO also has a voucher program for residents, too. So there are affordable homes available. Call HANO.
This whole issue has become so emotionally charged I do not think that facts will be much considered in resolving the issue, but I think they should be put out there anyway. (UPDATE: I think this YouTube video proves my point.) Those fanning these flames seem to have little interest in facts or in housing my fellow New Orleanians (I am a native), and a lot of interest in creating some publicity for themselves by exploiting people’s concerns and by intimidation. You don’t need facts to do that. (When they find who made this poster – not surprisingly there is no organization credit - I’d be willing to bet a a couple of bucks they aren’t even from New Orleans. Or more than a few in number.)
So be mindful, dear readers, to not let yourself be drawn into reacting emotionally when you hear more about this issue. That is what the creators of this trash want – your attention and over-reaction. Don’t give it to them. See it for what it is – a pathetic and desperate attempt to grab attention by being sensational and divisive, by increasing tensions, and by sowing mistrust and fear in an already battered City. Just remember the facts.
UPDATE: The demolitions have begun. This from WWL-TV. Pretty much confirms my worries that this is being driven by
"License plates indicated that many of the protesters had driven in from as far afield as Ohio, Kentucky and Massachusetts."
UPDATE: Day two. So much for the mass of opposition:
"It was expected to be a large crowd, but only a handful of protestors gathered at the B.W. Cooper housing development Thursday morning to wait and see if crews would continue tearing down the development."
"Basically we are just on guard to watch out for the demolition crew so we can mobilize our forces pretty quickly to get out here quickly to lock arms, and stand down the bulldozers as long as necessary," said protestor Roderick Dean."
"But when the bulldozing started most of the protestors left – a sharp contrast from just a day earlier when about 50 protestors blocked the demolition of B.W. Cooper."
QED. I guess many of the protesters left to get an early start on those long drives home.
"Proud To Belong To His Church"
Me, too.
Watch it all. Not once will you hear the words "living into", or "dialogue" (used as a verb), or "invite into a deeper relationship", or "understanding of comprehensiveness." No "living in tension" here. THIS is what a Church leader should sound like.
Watch it all. Not once will you hear the words "living into", or "dialogue" (used as a verb), or "invite into a deeper relationship", or "understanding of comprehensiveness." No "living in tension" here. THIS is what a Church leader should sound like.
10 December 2007
Faith And Rebuilding II
From New Orleans, a new playground appears. In a day.
The Church of the Annunciation is an Anglican (Episcopal) church in the Broadmoor district of New Orleans, a neighborhood with many problems before Katrina, and devastated after. By most standards the storm should have killed the church. But God gave the church the ever-energetic Father Jerry Kramer, and He gave Fr. Kramer boundless Faith. Father Kramer LIVES that Faith. He doesn't "live into", or "live in tension with", or "dialogue", or any of that other 60's, post-modernist twaddle. He LIVES the Faith; he leads by example. And he has a growing church infected with that same spirit.
To help community recovery, the church decided to gave over a corner of their property for a neighborhood playground. And this past Saturday several hundred people showed up throughout the day (including your humble blogger and his wife) to erect the playground from materials provided by Kaboom! and the New Orleans Hornets. Volunteers came from Episcopal churches in Tennessee, Washington, DC, and Louisiana, the New Orleans Hornets, the neighborhood, Americorps, and many, many other places. Some images:
Beginning, around 10:00am.
Around Noon.
Faith does move mountains. One shovel-full at a time.
Getting close to the ribbon-cutting.
Just before ribbon-cutting at 3:00 pm.
Can Faith help build a better world? Yes. But if you look to the the Millennium Development Goals (peace be upon them) for that, or to Canons and Constitutions, or to General Conventions, you are looking in the wrong place. Look to the example of Father Kramer and the Church of the Annunciation. They know how to get it done.
(All images by Red Stick Rant)
The Church of the Annunciation is an Anglican (Episcopal) church in the Broadmoor district of New Orleans, a neighborhood with many problems before Katrina, and devastated after. By most standards the storm should have killed the church. But God gave the church the ever-energetic Father Jerry Kramer, and He gave Fr. Kramer boundless Faith. Father Kramer LIVES that Faith. He doesn't "live into", or "live in tension with", or "dialogue", or any of that other 60's, post-modernist twaddle. He LIVES the Faith; he leads by example. And he has a growing church infected with that same spirit.
To help community recovery, the church decided to gave over a corner of their property for a neighborhood playground. And this past Saturday several hundred people showed up throughout the day (including your humble blogger and his wife) to erect the playground from materials provided by Kaboom! and the New Orleans Hornets. Volunteers came from Episcopal churches in Tennessee, Washington, DC, and Louisiana, the New Orleans Hornets, the neighborhood, Americorps, and many, many other places. Some images:
Beginning, around 10:00am.
Around Noon.
Faith does move mountains. One shovel-full at a time.
Getting close to the ribbon-cutting.
Just before ribbon-cutting at 3:00 pm.
Can Faith help build a better world? Yes. But if you look to the the Millennium Development Goals (peace be upon them) for that, or to Canons and Constitutions, or to General Conventions, you are looking in the wrong place. Look to the example of Father Kramer and the Church of the Annunciation. They know how to get it done.
(All images by Red Stick Rant)
Faith And Rebuilding I
In Baghdad, this Associated Press story about a church service:
"Under heavy guard and broadcast live on Iraqi state television, the service was capped by a handshake from a visiting Shiite imam—a symbolic show of unity between Iraq's majority Muslim sect and its tiny Christian community."
If this a "quagmire", we need more, not less.
Via Instapundit and Powerline.
"Under heavy guard and broadcast live on Iraqi state television, the service was capped by a handshake from a visiting Shiite imam—a symbolic show of unity between Iraq's majority Muslim sect and its tiny Christian community."
If this a "quagmire", we need more, not less.
Via Instapundit and Powerline.
09 December 2007
Nagin on Lakeview: Bunch of Slackers.
New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, the man who continues to prove Mark Twain's point, on the Lakeview neighborhood in New Orleans:
"Nagin admitted that Lakeview was an area he expected to be further along in the recovery..."
For those who don't know, Lakeview is the neighborhood where the 17th street Canal broke. It is also where both my wife and I grew up, were our families were living until Katrina, and where we have spent the last two years cleaning out and recovering what we could. Watch the whole interview.
And another gem that is, pardon my French, complete and utter bullshit:
"Meanwhile, the city's Public Works Department said they have finished road work on Robert E. Lee and that Fleur-de-Lis is under construction. They said all of the street signs have been replaced and that all stoplights are working in Lakeview."
I was in Lakeview last Friday. Robert E. Lee has only ONE LANE paved. One. And there are still lots of street signs missing and home-made signs in their place. Mouton and West End Boulevard, for one.
"Nagin admitted that Lakeview was an area he expected to be further along in the recovery..."
For those who don't know, Lakeview is the neighborhood where the 17th street Canal broke. It is also where both my wife and I grew up, were our families were living until Katrina, and where we have spent the last two years cleaning out and recovering what we could. Watch the whole interview.
And another gem that is, pardon my French, complete and utter bullshit:
"Meanwhile, the city's Public Works Department said they have finished road work on Robert E. Lee and that Fleur-de-Lis is under construction. They said all of the street signs have been replaced and that all stoplights are working in Lakeview."
I was in Lakeview last Friday. Robert E. Lee has only ONE LANE paved. One. And there are still lots of street signs missing and home-made signs in their place. Mouton and West End Boulevard, for one.
A Note Form The Management: Comments
We at Red Stick Rant have a very simple comments policy: "No profanity. No whining. No Spam. No hysterical rants. Reasoned, respectful rants only." It is listed every time you, dear readers, go to post a comment. And we do enjoy your comments.
But....
If you violate the rules, we will remove your comment. ESPECIALLY if you dump spam on our little site. So let this be a two-fold warning, dear readers - first, play within the rules (so far, most all have); and second, do not click on any links in any comment from anyone named 'Adam'. I do not know him; I have never conversed eith him, and I do not care what site he "writes for", or how it can make me money. HIS COMMENTS ARE SPAM, and they will be deleted as soon as they are found.
Other than that, dear readers, we at RSR hope you have a blessed day, and comment to your heart's content.
But....
If you violate the rules, we will remove your comment. ESPECIALLY if you dump spam on our little site. So let this be a two-fold warning, dear readers - first, play within the rules (so far, most all have); and second, do not click on any links in any comment from anyone named 'Adam'. I do not know him; I have never conversed eith him, and I do not care what site he "writes for", or how it can make me money. HIS COMMENTS ARE SPAM, and they will be deleted as soon as they are found.
Other than that, dear readers, we at RSR hope you have a blessed day, and comment to your heart's content.
Hosea 8:7
"For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: It hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: If so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up."
The time of indecision and posturing for The Episcopal Church (tm) and the Anglican Communion is over, as the Diocese of San Joaquin has taken the vote heard round the world. Brad Drell has an excellent piece on what lies ahead.
The time of indecision and posturing for The Episcopal Church (tm) and the Anglican Communion is over, as the Diocese of San Joaquin has taken the vote heard round the world. Brad Drell has an excellent piece on what lies ahead.
07 December 2007
New JSRV Bible.
Matthew over at Billy Ockham has seen a draft of the New Episcopal Church Bible, the JSRV (John Spong Revised Version), which will be marketed by Church Publishing world-wide as the "Living Into" Bible. Matthew's list is not complete, alas, as we at RSR understand that the following Books are also included:
Gospels:
Goals
Polity
Epistles:
Acts of Viki
Numbers
Exodus (Also known as the Book of Thieves)
UPDATE: RSR also understands that a 'Council of Newark' will be convened to establish and ratify the new Cannon.
Gospels:
Goals
Polity
Epistles:
Acts of Viki
Numbers
Exodus (Also known as the Book of Thieves)
UPDATE: RSR also understands that a 'Council of Newark' will be convened to establish and ratify the new Cannon.
06 December 2007
Using A Tradgedy.
A distraught teenager goes on a shooting spree at a shopping mall. Again. And the press goes on a "usual suspects" spree. Again. From this FoxNews report:
But later in the story, we have this:
OK. This is an AK-47:
It is about weighs about 7 pounds and is 36 inches long. It uses a replaceable 30-round magazine. The military version is fully automatic (multiple rounds are fired when you pull the trigger), the civilian version is self-loading only (one round fired for each pull of the trigger). The AK-47 is the primo-scary looking "assault weapon" of the anti-gun crowd.
This, is an SKS:
It is about 9 pounds, 40 plus inches long, and has a fixed 10-round magazine. It is self-loading only. It is similar to the WWII US M-1 Carbine; just bigger, heavier, and not so scary looking. IT IS NOT AN AK-47. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.
This tragedy will be no doubt be used by the anti-gun lobby to try and prove their point. And reports like the one mentioned above this only reinforce their propaganda. Either the reporter is ignorant on the subject on which they are writing - and has never heard of Google - or has an agenda. You decide.
Instead of disarming citizens, why not let law-abiding citizens protect themselves? What would have been the outcome if, after the first shot, someone with a CCW permit had shot this killer dead? Think about it.
(Images from: world.guns.ru)
UPDATE: If this was the typical response to someone trying to turn a mall, or a college campus, or a downtown street into a shooting gallery, I don't think it would happen too often. The people who commit these sorts of things are, by nature, cowards - they want to be seen as powerful and important, so they strike targets because they are vulnerable. If they thought their targets had the same power they did, and they wouldn't make it past the first shot or two.....
They have a name for that concept: it's called deterrence.
"A teenage gunman carried his AK-47 into a Nebraska department store..."
But later in the story, we have this:
"She told the Omaha World-Herald that the night before the shooting, Hawkins and her sons showed her an SKS semiautomatic Russian military rifle — the same type used in the shooting."
OK. This is an AK-47:
It is about weighs about 7 pounds and is 36 inches long. It uses a replaceable 30-round magazine. The military version is fully automatic (multiple rounds are fired when you pull the trigger), the civilian version is self-loading only (one round fired for each pull of the trigger). The AK-47 is the primo-scary looking "assault weapon" of the anti-gun crowd.
This, is an SKS:
It is about 9 pounds, 40 plus inches long, and has a fixed 10-round magazine. It is self-loading only. It is similar to the WWII US M-1 Carbine; just bigger, heavier, and not so scary looking. IT IS NOT AN AK-47. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.
This tragedy will be no doubt be used by the anti-gun lobby to try and prove their point. And reports like the one mentioned above this only reinforce their propaganda. Either the reporter is ignorant on the subject on which they are writing - and has never heard of Google - or has an agenda. You decide.
Instead of disarming citizens, why not let law-abiding citizens protect themselves? What would have been the outcome if, after the first shot, someone with a CCW permit had shot this killer dead? Think about it.
(Images from: world.guns.ru)
UPDATE: If this was the typical response to someone trying to turn a mall, or a college campus, or a downtown street into a shooting gallery, I don't think it would happen too often. The people who commit these sorts of things are, by nature, cowards - they want to be seen as powerful and important, so they strike targets because they are vulnerable. If they thought their targets had the same power they did, and they wouldn't make it past the first shot or two.....
They have a name for that concept: it's called deterrence.
'Nagin' - Act I, Scene III.
We think it was Shakespeare Mark Twain who said (and we paraphrase, since we don't have time to Google right now): "Keep your mouth shut and let them think you a fool, open it and remove all doubt."
This morning Mayor C. Ray Nagin proved Mr.Shakespeare's Twain's point. Again.
Watch the whole thing, particularly his response to the charges of not voting in the October 20th election, and about the "Naginville" that has sprung up outside of City Hall in Duncan Plaza. The bits about Blanco and Katrina are pretty interesting, too.
UPDATE: D'OH!! It was Mark Twain: "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." We made corrections, lest our mother the teacher find out. Google is your friend, Google is your friend.....
This morning Mayor C. Ray Nagin proved Mr.
Watch the whole thing, particularly his response to the charges of not voting in the October 20th election, and about the "Naginville" that has sprung up outside of City Hall in Duncan Plaza. The bits about Blanco and Katrina are pretty interesting, too.
UPDATE: D'OH!! It was Mark Twain: "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." We made corrections, lest our mother the teacher find out. Google is your friend, Google is your friend.....
05 December 2007
Going Too Far.
As you can well imagine, dear readers, RSR is no champion of the former First Lady and Senator from New York. Not at all. But we are human, and therefore we wince when we see something cross the boundry from hard criticism to downright cruelty. And this, friends, is downright cruel.
How could anyone equate Mary Landrieu to Mrs. Clinton?? Sorry, but I think somebody owes Hillary a big apology.
How could anyone equate Mary Landrieu to Mrs. Clinton?? Sorry, but I think somebody owes Hillary a big apology.
"I Always Wanted To Be A June Bride."
The above was uttered by Bishop V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, who is planning to "marry" his boyfriend.
That a bishop in the church would say this, and that the leadership of the church doesn't seem at all bothered by it, speaks volumes about what is now important - and what isn't important - to our church.
I think it would be more than appropriate if he had a fat lady singing at the "ceremony".
UPDATE: Matthew, as usual, finds the perfect YouTube video!
That a bishop in the church would say this, and that the leadership of the church doesn't seem at all bothered by it, speaks volumes about what is now important - and what isn't important - to our church.
I think it would be more than appropriate if he had a fat lady singing at the "ceremony".
UPDATE: Matthew, as usual, finds the perfect YouTube video!
04 December 2007
What To Do For Lunch?
As the Noon hour approaches, don't forget that Dark Roasted Blend has your cool surfing distractions covered.
Wouldn't want to be doing that during work hours, now would we?
Wouldn't want to be doing that during work hours, now would we?
Naked Emperor Watch.
It's been over a month since The Naked Emperor posted anything. Anything at all. Not a thing on politics (commentary at which he excels). Not a thing on the the saga of the "Katrina Kannon". I check, hoping against hope, but.......
So listen here, bro - either you get busy on that keyboard, or I'll release your Kindergarten papers where you say you want to be, not the just "The Naked Emperor", but....
"EMPEROR OF THE WORLD"!!! And the fact you colored outside the lines on at least seven occasions.
Hey, its all there in crayon and glue.
So listen here, bro - either you get busy on that keyboard, or I'll release your Kindergarten papers where you say you want to be, not the just "The Naked Emperor", but....
"EMPEROR OF THE WORLD"!!! And the fact you colored outside the lines on at least seven occasions.
Hey, its all there in crayon and glue.
03 December 2007
The Episcopal Church Welcomes You. If You Agree With Us, That Is.
This reasoned, understanding, inclusive, and utterly non-judgemental missive actually appears at Episcopal Life Online:
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: Retired bishop announces plans to become Roman Catholic
By Karen T. Morgan • Colton, New York, Dec 03, 2007
I am totally, completely hurt, disturbed, have feelings of betrayal and abandonment by Dan Herzog, former bishop of the Diocese of Albany. He led this diocese down the path of glory and then totally abandoned them! I did not totally agree with his thinking...thinking which made the decision for him to return to the Roman Catholic Church. The Episcopal Church is traditionally a church of acceptance...even though we have had some imports from other denominations who have/are trying to turn us into what they believe and come from. My thought is: Go back to your narrow-minded, non-accepting, un-Christ-like thinking/attitudes and leave us Episcopalians alone to think and believe as Christ did, not judging, but accepting all who believe in Him!
Dan Herzog could not accept this way of thinking and believing, that is why he gave up the position of bishop, priest, clergy and became an ordinary person in the church. He went back to the Roman Catholic Church because that church does not accept and believe that all people who believe in Christ are precious in his sight and that God loves all people no matter who they are, and that all people are created in God's image.
How Accepting. How Inclusive. How...... Episcopalian.
To my Roman Catholic Friends: If you want to respond, you may reach the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (tm), here. UPDATE: And feel free to ask her about this little comparative analysis she gave about what separates us from your church.
Hattip: Chris Johnson.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: Retired bishop announces plans to become Roman Catholic
By Karen T. Morgan • Colton, New York, Dec 03, 2007
I am totally, completely hurt, disturbed, have feelings of betrayal and abandonment by Dan Herzog, former bishop of the Diocese of Albany. He led this diocese down the path of glory and then totally abandoned them! I did not totally agree with his thinking...thinking which made the decision for him to return to the Roman Catholic Church. The Episcopal Church is traditionally a church of acceptance...even though we have had some imports from other denominations who have/are trying to turn us into what they believe and come from. My thought is: Go back to your narrow-minded, non-accepting, un-Christ-like thinking/attitudes and leave us Episcopalians alone to think and believe as Christ did, not judging, but accepting all who believe in Him!
Dan Herzog could not accept this way of thinking and believing, that is why he gave up the position of bishop, priest, clergy and became an ordinary person in the church. He went back to the Roman Catholic Church because that church does not accept and believe that all people who believe in Christ are precious in his sight and that God loves all people no matter who they are, and that all people are created in God's image.
How Accepting. How Inclusive. How...... Episcopalian.
To my Roman Catholic Friends: If you want to respond, you may reach the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (tm), here. UPDATE: And feel free to ask her about this little comparative analysis she gave about what separates us from your church.
Hattip: Chris Johnson.
Holy Engineering, Kate!
The Episcopal Church (tm) says individuals may leave the church, but parishes can't leave and take their property with them. Heh, heh, heh. Think again.
Can't you just see David Beers running down the road yelling, "Come back here with my church!!"
Hattip: Billy Ockham.
Can't you just see David Beers running down the road yelling, "Come back here with my church!!"
Hattip: Billy Ockham.
What Happened to "Make Levees, Not War"?
C. B. Forgotston questions the motives and sincerity of those opposing the demolition of the dilapidated HANO housing projects to make way for new, more livable units. The opponents are threatening a "war" if they don't get their way.
Our office has been directly involved with these (and other) HANO projects for well over a year, and C.B. hits the nail on the head:
"Note the reference to “our homes.” These are publicly-owned and taxpayer-subsidized apartment buildings.
Obviously, the threatened war is not over needed housing in New Orleans. There are hundreds of apartments currently available in other existing housing projects. The housing authority cannot get people who need housing to move into them.
Why?
It’s not because the available apartments are run-down. They have just been refurbished since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
It’s not because the available apartments aren’t in New Orleans.
It’s because the apartments are not in the exact same neighborhood as the apartments in which the renters lived."
Forgotston is right. HANO currently has numerous living spaces available, and has had for some time. I do not think housing is the issue here. Entitlement is.
Our office has been directly involved with these (and other) HANO projects for well over a year, and C.B. hits the nail on the head:
"Note the reference to “our homes.” These are publicly-owned and taxpayer-subsidized apartment buildings.
Obviously, the threatened war is not over needed housing in New Orleans. There are hundreds of apartments currently available in other existing housing projects. The housing authority cannot get people who need housing to move into them.
Why?
It’s not because the available apartments are run-down. They have just been refurbished since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
It’s not because the available apartments aren’t in New Orleans.
It’s because the apartments are not in the exact same neighborhood as the apartments in which the renters lived."
Forgotston is right. HANO currently has numerous living spaces available, and has had for some time. I do not think housing is the issue here. Entitlement is.
The Gray Lady Goes Tabloid.
The New York Times thinks the rebuilding in New Orleans is newsworthy because..... (wait for it)...... Brad Pitt is involved. (Full disclosure: some of my colleagues are involved in this project, too, who I know and respect.) The rebuilding has been going on for some time now, sans hunky actor, so I wonder if the NYT really thinks this is "news fit to print", or are they trying to win back some of their declining readership by dropping a bit of beefcake into the mix?
Steenson Makes It Across The Tiber.
It's official. Jeffery Steenson, until last September a Bishop in The Episcopal Church (tm):
"was received into the Catholic Church this weekend in Rome at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
He is not alone, which speaks volumes in response to The Episcopal Church's (tm) "The Reactionaries Are A Tiny Minority, All is Well" mantra.
"was received into the Catholic Church this weekend in Rome at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
He is not alone, which speaks volumes in response to The Episcopal Church's (tm) "The Reactionaries Are A Tiny Minority, All is Well" mantra.
02 December 2007
01 December 2007
If It Will Save Just One Life......
In the wake of the hostage incident at a Hillary Clinton campaign office in New Hampshire, Matthew asks a, um, sticky question.
I want to know if she will also press for a ban on the possession of "high-capacity" road flares, too?
I want to know if she will also press for a ban on the possession of "high-capacity" road flares, too?
Future Real Estate Opportunity At Prime Second Avenue Location. Recently Renovated.
This past week, the Powers-That-Be in The Episcopal Church (tm) issued a report on the state of our dying church, which included the following as one of the church's six "Areas of Encouragement":
"Recently completed renovations to the Episcopal Church Center at 815 Second Avenue in New York City have made that workplace more efficient and safer for our employees, while creating a positive and more attractive atmosphere for the whole church."
When something like this is an "Areas of Encouragement" for the future of your church, (and one of only six) you would be right to suspect that the state of the church is not good. And when you read vacuous bureaucratic phrases like "Conflict and change can create opportunity", "...we need a plan for action at all of our organizational levels"..., "...articulate and renew these leadership trajectories...", your suspicions are pretty well confirmed. As are your suspicions that that the Church leadership hasn't a clue about what to do to improve things.
"Recently completed renovations to the Episcopal Church Center at 815 Second Avenue in New York City have made that workplace more efficient and safer for our employees, while creating a positive and more attractive atmosphere for the whole church."
When something like this is an "Areas of Encouragement" for the future of your church, (and one of only six) you would be right to suspect that the state of the church is not good. And when you read vacuous bureaucratic phrases like "Conflict and change can create opportunity", "...we need a plan for action at all of our organizational levels"..., "...articulate and renew these leadership trajectories...", your suspicions are pretty well confirmed. As are your suspicions that that the Church leadership hasn't a clue about what to do to improve things.
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