Pay No Attention To The Man In The Silk Slippers...

As most of you know, the Pope - who we Anglicans recognize as the Bishop of Rome - was in New York the other day. And he had a few things to say about the Current Unpleasantness (tm) befalling The Episcopal Church (tm):

Benedict decried the "splintering" of Christian churches over "so-called 'prophetic actions' that are based on a hermeneutic not always consonant with the datum of Scripture and Tradition." Such actions, he said, cause Christian communities to "give up the attempt to act as a unified body, choosing instead to function according to the idea of 'local options,'" thus losing their connections to Christians in other times and places. Some, but not all, interpreted that as a veiled reference to controversy in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

Though, The Episcopal Church (tm) swears on a stack of 'An Inconvenient Truth' DVDs that the Pope just couldn't have been talking about us:

"I think he did us the honor of giving us a serious address that I think needs to be read and reflected upon," said New York's Bishop Mark Sisk. Asked whether he thought Benedict had singled out the Episcopal Church in his remarks, Sisk responded, "It's possible--but I would be rather surprised. I don't think he was trying to send shots across the bow at particular churches. I think he spoke in a respectful way and I didn't see that as a shot at the Episcopal Church."

Well... surprise, Bishop Sisk!! That is exactly who the shot was for. Even the Catholic News Service says so:

While the pope did not offer specific examples, he has in the past questioned Christian communities that have decided to ordain women to the priesthood and episcopacy or to bless homosexual unions and ordain openly gay men and women.

The pope's concerns obviously extend to the Anglican Communion and its troubled relations with the U.S. Episcopal Church and some dioceses in Canada.

Some people refuse to wake up and smell the coffee, even when it is poured right in their lap.

Hello, Other Home.

According to Mr. Sitemeter, someone from Newtonville, Massachusetts - my other home town - just stopped by for a visit.

Mmmm....Cabot's.

They Shoot Dobermans, Don't They? III

WWL-TV will be doing a segment tomorrow morning on "Barkgate," the incident this week where the New Orleans Police Department shot a Lakeview resident's dog eight times. It should air around 10am tomorrow (Sunday). A dog trainer who left a comment in this earlier post will be talking about the incident.

This thing is giving New Orleans, and it's police force, yet another black eye. And it can't be attributed to Katrina, or FEMA, or the State, or the Feds, or any of the host of other things Nagin and his buddies like to use as excuses.

To those who say it was JUST a dog miss the point. A canine may have been the catalyst, but it is the behavior of the officer that is in question - an officer who apparently lost control of a situation, panicked, resorted to deadly force as his primary option. What does that say about the NOPD, their training, and all of those claims about reform since their well-known behavior immedately after Katrina?

What if this had been a child?

And further, this incident points up two more things: first, marksmanship training in the NOPD must suck if an officer can only connect with 4 of 8 shots at close range; and second, if a 100 lb. dog with four bullet wounds was able to continue moving (it went back inside the house) and live for an hour after being shot, I think a new pistol caliber is in order. (Hint: try one with a "4" in it.)

I know there are plenty of dedicated cops in the NOPD. But it is incidents like this, and the others since Katrina, that prolong the image that NOPD is a bunch of corrupt, trigger-happy slackers not much better than the criminals they claim to chase. I believe it is up to those good cops, not the current "leaders" and politicians, to do something about changing that.

John Lennon Was Right.

Happiness is a warm gun:

Who are all these gun owners? Are they the uneducated poor, left behind? It turns out they have the same level of formal education as nongun owners, on average. Furthermore, they earn 32% more per year than nonowners. Americans with guns are neither a small nor downtrodden group.

Nor are they "bitter." In 2006, 36% of gun owners said they were "very happy," while 9% were "not too happy." Meanwhile, only 30% of people without guns were very happy, and 16% were not too happy.

I can's speak for all of us, but I'm pretty happy.

Hattip: Instapundit.

Happy Patriot's Day.

And why you should remember it.

Friday Midday Blog Link.

I should poke through folks' blogrolls more often. Via Billy Ockham I came across View From The Porch, which I highly recommend. Women, weapons, and P. J. O'Rourke - never a bad combination.

30 Seconds Over Tokyo.

This was 66 years ago today.

Friday Morning Distractions.

Something utterly non-political and non-ecclesiastical from Dark Roasted Blend: the beauty of fractals.

And of course, Last of the Few. Which is utterly political, lusty, and politically incorrect; which you should be reading every day, anyway.

UPDATE: A new "Will it Blend?" video is up: TV Remotes. These things are addictive.

The Vagina Collects.

Don’t look now, boys and girls, but a bunch of uber-lefty Anglican womyn are writing a prayer book:

While worldwide attention is focused on discord and divisions within the Anglican Communion, Anglican women and girls are uniting to make their voices heard on issues of poverty and women's empowerment, express the power and depth of their faith, and to reveal their connections across cultural and economic differences, by contributing to a new book of women's prayers with a foreword to be written by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

Which means this ain’t your Altar Guild cookbook. These aren't women. They are womyn! They don't bake cookies! They are empowered! (They order out.) And with a forward from the Great Helmsperson, who needs recipes?

Following on the popularity of Women's Uncommon Prayers: Our Lives Revealed, Nurtured, Celebrated...

Which is currently holding a sizzling Amazon sales ranking of 79,598. I'm sure it will break 79,590 any month now. (UPDATE 18APR08: Well I'll be. It jumped 30,000 places in 24 hours, to 49,468. I guess somebody scooped up a dozen just to make me look bad.)

...this all-new collection of prayers, with its multicultural global reach, will be organized according to themes of the Millennium Development Goals.

You expected anything else? It's the whole reason we exist as a church anymore - to promote a UN program (peace and blessings be upon it), not thrust some 2,000 year old misogynist twaddle about sin and Resurrection down the throats of womyn! Like I said:

Editors say that the book will reveal how Anglican women are envisioning a way forward for the welfare of creation, including within the Anglican Communion itself. "At a time when a small cabal of male leaders are insisting on dividing the Anglican Communion over issues of human sexuality," said Dr Te Paa, "Anglican women are offering a way forward. We are committed to prayer, to the unity of the Anglican Communion around Christ's table, and to a common mission that leads to the full flourishing of all people."

Note that the above paragraph contains the one and only use of the word "Christ" in the entire article, so it's anybodies guess who these prayers will be addressed to. "Occupant," perhaps? And of course the article's author has to point out how horrible life is under The Episcopal Church's (tm) two approved Great Satans - conservative America and the conservative Global South:

For example, the book might show the spiritual bond between a teenage girl in the United States struggling with self-image because of a debasing popular culture and a teenage girl from the Global South who has disappeared into the slave trade.

See? Girls who have been seduced by the capitalist neo-cons into wanting an iPhone but cant get one have soooo much in common with girls who were gang-raped by Islamic militias. If you can't see the similarities you must be an insensitive. reasserter clod.

The book is due out in May 2009, just in time for the collective leap off the bridge in Anaheim.

UPDATE 18APR08: A different kind of gyno-empowerment project: cross-sections of female reproductive organs in cross-stitch. Yep. I'd want one of those on my wall.....

Look Straight Ahead. How Hard Is That?

As you know, dear readers, my state is beset with all sorts of problems - failing public schools, an eroding coastline, rampant corruption, and a dysfunctional New Orleans are but a few that come to mind. But what major problem is our legislature - namely one Rep. Mickey Guillory, D-Eunice - boldly tackling now?

The statewide crisis of, and I am not making this up....... urinal privacy. It seems our good legislator wants mandatory dividers between urinals in all new buildings because:

"sexual offenders, sexually violent predators, and child predators can easily violate the privacy of others using urinals ...."

Yeah, not a day goes by down here you don't hear about some poor sod who's been "gang peeked."

This is not the first time Rep. Guillory, D-Eunice, has led the fight against similar threats to our very way of life. Several years ago he was in the vanguard against drive-by porn.

UPDATE: Maybe Rep. Guillory, D-Eunice, should watch this short film:

They Shoot Dobermans, Don't They? II

It just gets worse. A report tonight from WWL-TV, with this gem of law enforcement professionalism:

Coleman’s next door neighbor was also troubled by the officer’s immediate reaction to the shooting.

“When I met him [the officer] outside, when I heard the gunshots and ran out, the first thing out of his mouth is, ‘Do you know the neighbor, can you call him to come home? And don't tell him that I shot his dog,’” said Courtney Hidalgo, Coleman’s neighbor.

This thing stinks, and it's only going to get worse if the NOPD keeps treating it as a minor issue. There is something about hurting a dog that folks will not forgive. Ask yourself this - why did Leonard Little get to continue in the NFL, and not Michael Vick?

With Endorsements Like These.....

Powerline reports that at least one group of bitter people clinging to guns, religion, antipathy to people who aren’t like them and an anti-immigrant sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations, likes Barak Obama:

On Sunday, Aaron Klein and John Batchelor interviewed Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Prime Minister of Hamas, on WABC radio. The interview produced a scoop which, for some reason, has not been widely publicized: Hamas has endorsed Barack Obama for President. Yousef said, "We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election." Why? "He has a vision to change America." Maybe Yousef has some insight into what Obama means by all these vague references to "change."

Wednesday Evening Distraction II.

If my earlier Distraction was "cool," this is is just... just.... just...

Just watch it. And watch out for your "toodles," too.

Wednesday Evening Distraction I.

This, is wicked cool:

All Your Rebates Are Belong To Us.

Most Americans will be getting a tax rebate check this year, starting in May. And that's a good thing, too, since it is, well, our money. But not so fast if your an Episcopalian. The Episcopal Church (tm) thinks they deserve it, and you're an immoral, consumerist, raper of the environment if you don't give it to them:

"With a $9 trillion national debt, and a record and growing trade deficit undergirding a society that consumes goods far beyond its need, the call to consume more isn't just indefensible economically, but environmentally and morally," EGR (Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation) said in a news release.

I don't know about you, but we tend to use such "surprise" income to either pay down a debt, build up savings, or advance the purchase of something we had already planned to buy. I think EGR has this notion that folks will head straight to Wal-Mart with their rebate and embark on a frenzy of shopping because Bushitler and the Neo-Cons subliminally ordered them to. Whatever.

But if Kate and her buddies want us to give some of our rebate away, that's fine. Giving is a good thing. So we make this commitment to Kate and the EGR: We will give half our rebate to a worthy cause.

And this, dear readers, is a worthy cause: The Church of the Annunciation in New Orleans. We encourage each of you to send Fr. Jerry something from your rebate as well, as he and his church have done more to alleviate poverty and suffering, in real terms, than all the EGR press releases combined.

FYI to Kate and the EGR: For good measure, we may give the remainder of our rebate to another worthy cause.

They Shoot Dobermans, Don't They?

A followup on the Cop-Kills-Dog-In-Lakeview story from yesterday - the New Orleans Police are saying the police officer's life was in danger, and blaming the dog's owner. Really:

"If your dog does not receive people well, you need to secure that animal because an officer has to protect his or her life," Richardson said. "It is an unfortunate accident, but one of those things that couldn't be prevented in this case."

Accident?? My ass. One shot is an accident. Eight shots is either someone who lost control of the situation and panicked, or someone who missed "When To Use Something Other Than Deadly Force Day" at the Academy. Either way, I have serious questions about having somebody that trigger-happy out on the street.

Look, the dog was in a fenced yard. He was "secure." And it was his territory - of course he was going to bark and growl! Mr. Police officer, you are supposed to be in control of the situation. So back off. Use pepper spray. Go get a scrap of meat from Rouse's and make friends. But eight shots?????

If something like this "couldn't be prevented," the NOPD has a problem. A big problem.

The local SPCA is recommending that large dog owners post a sign, and it seems some folks are already putting up "Beware of Dog" signs.

A "Beware of Police" sign might be equally in order.

UPDATE: This isn't a local story anymore:

The Chicago Tribune has picked up on it.

In a forum, friends of the dog's owners speak out. One of them is vet who was monitoring the dog's progress after recent spinal surgery. In a follow-up post they said this:

"ALSO -- there are two placards on both doors that say there are two Doberman dogs inside - even has their names on it. It's in case of fire or emergency. My wife sent them when they got the dogs a few years ago. We have the same placards/stickers on our front door. If anyone would like one, I can prob get some and mail them out to you."

If that is true, then the officer knew the dogs were there and this could have been prevented. The NOPD statement is starting to ring very hollow.

Contests. I Loves Contests.

My favourite Northshore blogger, Greta over at Kiss My Gumbo, is holding a contest for the "tackiest, most ridiculous &/or most useless" item you can find on E-Bay. Sounds like a challenge, and you can submit your entries here.

Here is my submission, which should win hands down.

And don't forget that Greta starts her radio career in the New Orleans area this Saturday, 3:00-4:00pm on WIST AM 690, where she will announce that I won the contest the winner of the contest.

Reason Number 12,853....

....why we don't live in New Orleans anymore: the New Orleans Police Department can't seem to stop all the crime, but they can shoot a dog. Eight times.

This happened in Lakeview, our old neighborhood. Note that the vet said two of the shots were "point-blank," and note the NOPD's response to the reporter's inquiry.

Yeah, I'd feel safe.

UPDATE: The NOPD has released a video of the incident they say led to their action. It's grainy, so I'm thinking it's from a dashboard cam.

We Few, We Happy Few....

Welcome Last of the Few readers to your 'Blog of the Day'!! While we are nowhere near as exciting as from whence you came (we have no 'Tottys,' alas, nor coverage of Marlyn Monroe doing a Lewinsky..) we do hope you find something interesting and come back.

And to any readers from Blackheath, know I spent more than a few evenings at the 'Hare & Billet.' More accurately, I spent more than a few nights on the heath after an evening at the 'Hare & Billet'.... Good times.

UPDATE: And if you like our little blog, make sure you go over to Billy Ockham. Covers a lot of the same things, just better. Tell Matthew that Clifford sent you.

UPDATE 16APR08: A special message to one T. S. Edwards, reporter and Anglophile zealot of the first order, who I strongly suspect reads Last of the Few: Once again TSE, I got there first.

A Different Kind Of 'Listening Process.'

As in, listen to this.

Have anything to say, ++Rowan? Is that.... "unavoidable?"

And how about you, +Kate? Is that just another "vehicle to the Divine?"

Monday Morning Distraction.

From Last of the Few:

Italians vs. Europeans. Having lived in Italy, this is quite true. And it is also why living in Italy is so much more exciting than living in, say, Belgium.

More Murphy. My favorite: "Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't." Call it the Indiana Jones Rule.

No Wonder He Supports Gun Control - He Keeps Shooting Himself In The Foot.

“And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

That recent pearl of wisdom from Barak Obama about rural America (heck, most of America! - ed.) prompted an Instapundit reader to suggest this as a response:



Even though I'm not a big country music fan, I couldn't agree more.

Whthout knowing it, Obama has clarified the real divide in this country - the "two Americas" - those who hate this country but believe government is the solution; and those who love this country but believe government is the problem.

UPDATE: Frank J. at IMAO has some thoughts on the issue, including this gem:

"If bitter people are clinging to guns, don't we need a president whose smart enough not to upset them?"

Well, yeah. And, he coins the next new political acronym.

An Old Plane Weekend.

I spent the weekend with my dad and my son in Shreveport, Louisiana, visiting the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base. (Barksdale is headquarters of the 8th Air Force and is an active B-52 base.) The outside exhibits are a bit worse for wear these days, but it is still pretty neat to wander up under a real British Avro Vulcan. If you like such things, I highly recommend as visit.

After that sojourn, this seemed timely: the last helicopter used in the famous 1970 Son Tay prison raid in Vietnam is being retired after 38 years of active service. That's impressive.

Why Choose?

Matthew has a great post asking, "Fast Cars and Pretty Girls Or Vice Versa?"

Um, both.

Say Kids, What Time Is It? It's Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori Time!

The Pope Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church™, the Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori, spoke to the next generation of Episcopalians the other day in Seattle, reassuring them that Christian theology is optional anymore in The Episcopal Church™. You don’t need a Bible kids; you can find salvation just by reading the bumper of a ’71 VW micro-bus in Santa Monica. Really. First up, “Love Your Mother (the Earth):”

"I expect you to hold older generations' feet to the fire for the condition of Creation," Schori argued.

So let’s worship those MDG’s, kids! Write Congress – Kate did! Next, “Change Happens:”

"You are living reminders to the rest of us that God is constantly doing a new thing . . . Some people believe the church never changes. The only thing that never changes is a dead body, and that begins to rot."

Actually, Kate, the central point of Christian Faith is that one dead body DID change, and didn’t begin to rot. That, to some of us, is still a “new thing.” But why bother the kiddies with such talk when Kate and her friends think the Resurrection is all metaphorical twaddle.

And let’s not forget the obligatory rainbow sticker on the bumper by mentioning The-Worst-Persecution-In-All-Recorded-History – that of a man who, when he is not lecturing, promoting his latest book or being a June bride, just wants to be a simple country bishop. Kate tells the kids why he will not be part of the Lambeth Conference this summer:

"It's the archbishop's party and he issues the invitations," she said. "He (Robinson) is going to be there outside the meeting."

Where he’ll be performing his new one-man stage play, ‘Gene and The Amazing Technicolor Agenda.’ Call Susan Russell for tickets.

Next down the bumper we come to “Save the Wales!” but with a twist - Kate wants to “Save the Albatrosses!” instead:

In answer to a question about cramped church facilities, Schori replied by saying: "Sometimes I think the (church) buildings are albatrosses."

We strongly suspect Kate's first response to a question about cramped Episcopal church facilities was “Where?” - since that is rarely an issue for Episcopalians anymore. The Episcopal Church™ has been pretty successful in heeding the “Fight Overpopulation” sticker. (Remember, we're smarter.) On the albatross front, Kate doesn't seem to think they're all that important:

The Presiding Bishop praised what she called "the freedom that comes with simply gathering and being together."

Unless someone wants one of Kate's albatrosses, then she's all up for the freedom that comes from suing the pants of disagreeable congregations. (Here is a video of Kate disposing of church property in future...)

And Kate took some questions from the young'uns, 'cause the Presiding Bishop is still a hip, far out, with it chick:

Katrina Hamilton, a University of Washington student, talked about how many of her friends are removed from and ignorant of religion, and noted "an increase in the stereotyping of Christians."

"It is much more acceptable in my circle to be gay than to be Christian," said Hamilton.

Which Kate doesn't seem to have a problem with, because:

"We don't live in Christendom anymore," replied Schori, "and that is both a challenge and opportunity." She urged people to ask the question: "How does the way we live proclaim our faith?"

There it is, ladies and gentlemen! THE tag line for the new Jefferts Schori movie! After the tornado of the 2006 General Convention, Kate steps out onto the rainbow-brick road with her lap dog and says, "Beers, I don't think we live in Christendom anymore."

And if you're an Episcopalian these days, it's hard to disagree.

Required Reading.

Before you go off distracting yourself (see below), read this: Michael Yon's excellent op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal.

And don't forget to buy his book!

Friday Morning Distraction.

Our recommendation for logging some "General Office" time today: Last of the Few - An Englishman's View.

Read. This. Book.

Enough trading YouTube videos; this is important - Michael Yon's new book, Moment of Truth in Iraq, is out. You can order it here, here, and here, too.

I can not say this too many times - Read. This. Book.

Let's Rap This Up.

Matthew fires back with several great oldies, but to me a music video is something purposely filmed to promote or advertise a specific song, not part of a movie, concert, or TV show. But if we use the broader definition, then I present....

The First White Rapper.



QED.

Yeah, You Better Run....

Matthew at Billy Ockham couldn't top my OkGo video entry, so he responded by going oldie and posting the first video aired on MTV.

Child's play.

You'd have to know the second video ever aired on MTV to impress your humble blogger. So let me follow suit, oldie-wise, and respond with the first dedicated video ever made:

Getting In Touch With Your Inner Boy Scout.

Hurricane season approaches, so it's time to get prepared. Louisiana has declared a Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, 24 & 25 May 2008, to allow residents to buy things like, flashlights, portable radios and generators, tarps, and batteries, tax free.

See the link above, from wafb.com, for a complete list of the items that are covered.

A Little Relief From 'Ol Man River.

Well this isn't good news - the Corps of Engineers is going to open the Bonnet Carre spillway for the first time in 11 years.

For those who do not know, the Bonnet Carre spillway (pronounced "Bonnie Carray") is located just upriver of New Orleans, and is used to divert water from the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain when River water levels could threaten New Orleans.

After Katrina, we get kinds twitchy down here when folks start talking about high water.

So Cute And Squishy.

Everyone, meet 'Piskie', the new mascot for The Episcopal Church (tm).


And everyone, please thank Matthew for this classic!

Dueling OkGo.

That OkGo video was a good one, Matthew. But this one is way better:

Endorsements...?

Now that all of the GOP big-wigs are getting behind Woody Jenkins, we at RSR felt compelled to also make an endorsement.

But try as we might, dear readers, we just can't get excited by either the Republican or Democrat in this race.

In all likelihood the voters at Villa RSR will end up pulling the lever for Woody Jenkins. And nor because of Woody. We are Republicans, the Democrat candidate is even weaker than the GOP one, and we don't want to hand over a victory to that Pelosi woman. (Though, the Democrat candidate did get an "A" rating from the NRA....) But there are other temptations, candidate-wise, which were pointed out in this Baton Rouge Business Report article.

Were we truly voting our conscience, we'd probably be voting for Randall T. Hayes this time. He's no less of a joke than the two front-runners, but this guy is trying to be funny. Here's his website, which asks opinions about such probing questions as "What is your favorite non-blue primary color?" (Why red, of course!), and he has the best official campaign photo in the race.

Wall Of Separation? What Wall of Separation?

A "charter" school in Minnesota:

"Recently, I wrote about Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA), a K-8 charter school in Inver Grove Heights. Charter schools are public schools and by law must not endorse or promote religion.

Evidence suggests, however, that TIZA is an Islamic school, funded by Minnesota taxpayers.

TIZA has many characteristics that suggest a religious school. It shares the headquarters building of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, whose mission is "establishing Islam in Minnesota." The building also houses a mosque. TIZA's executive director, Asad Zaman, is a Muslim imam, or religious leader, and its sponsor is an organization called Islamic Relief."

It's not a publicly-funded religious school?? Pull the other one. You'd think that the ACLU would have been all over this years ago. And I'm sure they would have, too, had a Cross been involved.

It's Not Like You Weren't Warned II.

Well, that didn't take long. The first Democrat attack ad aginst Woody Jenkins is up and running. But this is no surprise to RSR readers!

When the ad hits YouTube, We'll post a link.

I Wonder Where He Finds Shoes To Match?

I don't know about you, but I think our local Caledonian Society may have found a cause celebre: a man has run afoul of the law for wearing a skirt.

Someone should tell him about these.

UPDATE 09APR08: Goodness me. This has been by far most popular post I have put up in a while. Men in skirts - a repressed fashion trend?

Jefferts Schori: God says,"Don't FedEx Me, Bro!"

The Great Helmsperson of The Episcopal Church™, The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori (who I understand hates to be called “Kate”), once more opines about the whole state of Christ's Church her Church and the world. And yes, boxes are involved.

But first, Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori takes care to remind everyone that society is really to blame for The Current Unpleasantness™ in The Episcopal Church™:

“I think we live in an increasingly polarized society and these particular actions in the church echo that.”

Falling attendance figures? It's society. Folks not willing to accept the dumping of 2,000 years of Christian teaching? It's society. Excessive cow farts? It's society. And not just any society, either - Western society in general, and America in particular. But I digress.

"Jefferts Schori argues the number of congregations leaving the church is not large – roughly 1 percent of the 7,600 congregations, by her count. “It gets a lot of press and a lot of play, but it's a relatively small portion of the church.”

The Episcopal Church™ is loosing hundreds of people a week on average, and she's talking number of congregations. You gotta giver her credit - if this gig doesn't work out, Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori has a great future in cherry picking. Or marketing for Bear Stearns. And what about that "small portion of the church" that still ignorantly believes the Resurrection actually happened? They're in denial:

“Voting to leave is the denial of the ability to live in tension with people who don't agree with you about everything,” she said."

Oy. First of all, could you please, finally, tell us what "living in tension" means, Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori? Cables on suspension bridges "live in tension"; not people. People who "live in tension" usually end up needing Valium. Or rehab. (Me, I've always been a compression kinda guy.) Second, I go to church every Sunday with lots of folks who don't agree with me about everything. We don't agree on sports teams, our favorite restaurants, who we are voting for in the next election, who will win the next American Idol, and on and on. (Want to side-track a Men's Club meeting? Ask this simple question: Ginger, or Mary Ann?) But what we DO agree on is our belief in the central tenants of our Faith - which we willingly recite without crossing our fingers. Isn't that, after all, why we show up every Sunday?

Apparently not, says Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori:

“You don't all have to profess exactly the same understandings of the central tenets of the faith,” she added. “What's important is to worship together.”

How's that for a theology - we don't care what you believe (unless we don't like it - see below), just show up. And once more Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori sounds the alarm against cardboard containment:

"Schori is not a biblical literalist. Take the six-day story of Creation in Genesis, for example. “It's too good a story to believe it literally,” she said, “It's got too much meaning to be boxed up in that small of an understanding.”

And reprises an oldie-but-goodie:

Seeing Jesus as the only way to redemption also “puts God in a very small box,” she said.

So let's recap: We don't care what you believe, just show up; and anyone who takes the Bible seriously is stuffing God in a FedEx box. I can't wait to see that added to our Baptismal Covenant. I wonder Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, wasn't it Jesus Christ himself that said God was in that "very small box?" Did you ever think that maybe He had a reason to be in that "very small box? Um, no, you never thought that:

“Most Christians believe that Jesus died for the whole world. If you believe that, then to say that some people are beyond redemption would appear to deny that,” she said."

I too, believe that Christ did die for the whole world, Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, and that no one is beyond redemption. But unlike you, I believe there are terms and conditions. I am willing to accept those terms and conditions, even when they are often hard to do (love your enemies, etc.). But to say that we are redeemed simply by the act of our birth is to deny our baptism - and our Baptismal Covenant. Are we still redeemed if we reject Christ? If yes, then what's the point of the Church?

"Either way, she adds, “I think it is up to God, not for us, to judge.”

Couldn't agree more, Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori. Judging others is not up to us; but alerting others to the consequences of sin, and pointing them to salvation, is up to us.

And of course, Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, you just had to brig up the "prophetic gift":

"She advocates for the inclusion of gays and lesbians. “If we were focused on what holy living looks like, generally, without focusing on the gender of the people involved, I think we would be a lot farther down the road,” she said."

And what, exactly, does "holy living" look like, Kate The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori? Isn't there, like, a book on that or something?

"And she maintains news outlets are way too focused on the threat of schism. “The media loves conflict,” she said. “Feeding people in a soup kitchen or building a school in Haiti ranks at a lower priority in much of the public interest.”

A modest suggestion: If you want to raise the priority of those things with the media, a few well-placed "Please do not feed the Bishop"signs would be in order.

It's Not Like You Weren't Warned....

With the primaries now over, The Wall Street Journal weighs in on Louisiana's 6th District congressional race, and the GOP's chances of keeping a solidly Republican seat:

"A conservative firebrand with a connection to a former Ku Klux Klan leader will run for a Louisiana seat in the House of Representatives, raising Democrats' hopes they can pick up what has been a reliably conservative district for more than three decades."

I told you so.
I told you so.
I told you so.

P.S. A big RSR hello to the folks from the Democratic National Headquarters who stopped by earlier. Here's something to make you feel right at home.

Monday Morning Productivity Killer.

Yep. Mine's gone. Thanks to Matthew, who has a link to this digital distraction. Yes, it's as addictive as the real thing, and it's loads more eco-friendly, but there is nothing like rolling over an entire sheet of the stuff with your desk chair.

UPDATE: Goodness. I had no idea how many folks would actually be wasting a fine Monday workday digitally popping plastic bubble wrap. Some stopped by twice to find the link. No wonder there's talk of a recession. But this one worries me, though - a visitor who followed the link came from here. I guess it's a stressful job...

It's True - The Episcopal Church (tm) Is Up One Pope.

(Note: While this blog is known for placing it's tongue firmly in it's cheek at times, this post is not one of those times.)

Several weeks ago a report claimed that Former Bishop Clarence Pope, who left The Episcopal Church (tm) back in August for the umteenth time to become a Roman Catholic, was back being an Episcopalian. Those reports appear true, as former Bishop Pope (or is he still a bishop?) attended the 11:00am Mass today at Saint Luke's, Baton Rouge. He was wearing a clerical collar and purple shirt, and he took communion. Though I didn't offer him the Cup personally, your humble blogger was a LEM at the 11:00am service and saw him there.

Charlton Heston Has Died.

Gone at 84. Heston was a man who stood up for his beliefs, even though they were often very unpopular with his entertainment industry colleagues. We need more men - and women - like him.

Rest in Peace, Chuck.

You Are Here.

I've always been fascinated by maps, so I really enjoyed Strange Maps which I found over at Stephen Green's Vodkapundit. This strange map should make my American readers consider a different vodka, while this map of majority religious faiths by county should interest all of our Episcopal/Anglican readers. What "mainline" denomination doesn't register on this map, not even in Newark or New Hampshire? I'll give you one guess.

Sometimes You Win; Sometimes, Well.....

The election today is over, and Laurinda didn't prevail. Louis "Woody" Jenkins is the GOP nominee for Louisiana's 6th District.

That being said, I think Laurinda ran a wonderful campaign. Eight weeks ago she was an unknown, and tonight she pulled in nearly 40% against a long-time career politician with high name recognition. Laurinda had ample opportunity to go negative against Woody, and didn't. That may well have cost her the election, but to do so would have cost her her honor. And she chose the latter. Ironic, isn't it, that a person with such character is exactly what we need these days in Washington. I hope we have not heard the last of Laurinda on the political scene.

But while Laurinda didn't go negative, the Democrats will not be so accommodating with Woody. Woody, has negatives. Lots of 'em. (Can you say dealings with David Duke? Knew you could.) It won't be hard for the Democrats to pillory him, and since the national Democrats see this seat as winnable, they will. I'm sure they're writing the commercials as you read this.

So hang onto your hats folks, it's going to be an interesting month here in the 6th District.

Louisiana 6th District Voters - VOTE TODAY!

And make sure you pull the lever for this lady in the GOP primary.

The End Justifies The Means, Eh?

In Canada, officially sanctioned sock-puppetry in the cause of "human rights" is perfectly legal. It seems to be OK to ignore constitutional protections in The Great White North if something will “likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt', and the likely exposers are dirtbags (that is, Nazis - well the ones that weren't cops posing as Nazis). I loved this line:

"In one famous on-the-record exchange during the Lemire case, [CHRC lead investigator Dean] Steacy was asked ‘What value do you give freedom of speech when you investigate one of these complaints? — to which he replied ‘Freedom of speech is an American concept, so I don’t give it any value.’”

All I can say is, thank God I'm not Canadian. And I can say that, too, because the Comrades members of the Canadian Human Rights Commission can't touch me. Freedom of Speech is an American concept, remember?

Hattip: Instapundit.

Time For A New Change.

Tomorrow is the primary here in Louisiana's 6th Congressional District. I make no bones about my support for Laurinda Calongne, who is vying for the GOP nomination against long-time local politician, Woody Jenkins. Jenkins is, I think a weak candidate for the GOP - he has too much negative baggage (e.g. David Duke connections), and he has never seemed to translate his social conservatism outside of his old state house district. The Democrats see his victory tomorrow as an opportunity to add another 'D' in Congress. This article at nola.com says pretty much the same thing.

For me, Woody's time has past. And in the article Woody's own words seem to prove my point:

"If you compare Bobby Jindal's philosophy and mine, I think you'd see it's very similar," Jenkins said, likening himself to Louisiana's new Republican governor."

But there is a huge difference, and it is this - when Woody Jenkins entered the State Legislature in 1972 on this agenda, Bobby Jindal was one year old. But Bobby Jindal, in less than 10 years in public service, has done more to advance and strengthen the conservative agenda, in real terms, than Woody Jenkins has done in 36 years. And I think Jenkins knows it. Why else would he be trying to ride Jindal's popularity coattails?

Laurinda is only a few years older than Bobby Jindal, and has the same conservative values, outlook, energy and "get-r-done" attitude as our new governor. That is what we need in Congress. And that is why I am supporting her.

Well, Hello There!

Welcome StandFirm and Midwest Conservative Journal readers! Glad you stopped by. Make yourselves at home and poke around our eclectic little site. As most of you came here because of an interest in the epic struggle of The Episcopal Church (tm) to achieve utter irrelevance, here is a look at our posts relating to things church and faith. Enjoy, and y'all come back now, y'hear.

Hey Kids, Do You Know What Time It Is?

That's right, it's.... Opening Day at Fenway Time!

Friday, 4 April, 6:15pm CDT. Be there. (XM177 if you can't)

UPDATE 05APR08: D'Oh!! I should read my posts slower, and not let my fingers go faster than my brain. Friday wasn't Opening Day. I put in the date of the Friday's game with Toronto, which was in Toronto (which we lost...). Opening Day is this Tuesday, 8 April, at 1:05pm CDT. against Detroit.

iChi Ban!

Apple, thorough their iTunes software, is now the largest music retailer in the US. Which may explain why we got an email discount coupon last week from Barnes & Noble for 40% off all CD's. (Ended 30 March, alas.)

Is the CD going the way of the LP?

Michael Yon - Holy Brothel.

Michael Yon's latest post points out that our Al Qaeda enemies aren't exactly piously waiting for their 72 heavenly virgins - ladies on this mortal coil will do nicely. And according to Yon, it's not just ladies.....

Somebody's Gonna Fatwa In Her General Direction...

A member of the Church of England's General Synod is about to get in a whole lot of hot water for saying the UK shouldn't let foreign governments build mosques in the UK anymore. A bit harsh, but considering that the head of our own Communion goes out of his way to not defend the Faith - or even the Rule of Law - her frustration is understandable.

My suggestion: Tell the Saudi government, and it's government-controlled "charities," that they get to build one new mosque in the UK for every new church that the Anglican Communion or the Roman Catholic Church get to build in Saudi Arabia. Don't you think that would help to "build good ties between different communities"?

Philip Johnson - Liberal Fascist.

Bob Heck did say I was an iconoclast, and I'm not gonna let him down now. I've likely pissed off most of my colleagues over my stand on licensing of interior designers, so let's keep it up - here's Ed Driscoll taking a look at the political leanings of that demi-god of internationalist architecture, Philip Johnson.

Germans are involved. It ain't pretty.

More Than A Pillow Fight. Again.

Geez, this is getting to be a habit - once more I'm defending licensing of interior designers (scroll down when you get there). Though, I'm not sure ASID will be all that happy with my reasoning.

UPDATE: If this issue really lays your carpet, then go here for my earlier tussle over licensing. Go through the comments, then hop over to Radly Balko's post and comments that started it all.

Your Prayers, Please.

Sgt. Terrell Gilmore, a Louisiana National Guardsman, was killed last Sunday (30 March) in Iraq. He was a member of the 769th Engineer Battalion.

Rest in Peace, brother.

Our Favorite Day.

April Fool's Day is a very special day here at RSR for obvious reasons. (It's April, and some say we are utter fools.) (more than some - ed.) But it is also three days before a major deadline for our office, so posting will be light these next few days.

As we have for the past several years, we celebrate this day by helping to pen this bit of April Foolery for a friend at one of the best emergency preparedness websites out there. Most of it is "in-the-know" humor, but see if you can pick out which sections your humble blogger wrote.

UPDATE: Hee. Hee. My first "exclusive." I am such a stinker.

Once A Marine; ALWAYS A Marine.

Let's start off the week on a truly happy note! A meeting between a former Marine and a young robber:

"The boy said, "Old man, give me your wallet or I'll cut you," Bair said. The man told the boy he was a former Marine who fought in three wars and had been threatened with knives and bayonets, Bair said.

The man then put his bags on the ground and told the boy that if he stepped closer he would be sorry. When the boy stepped closer, the man kicked him in the groin, knocking him to the sidewalk, Bair said. The ex-Marine picked up his grocery bags and walked home, leaving the boy doubled over, Bair said.

The man reported the attempted robbery to police 45 minutes later."

The alleged robber is 15-16 years old. The former Marine is 84.

Hattip: Instapundit

Is That A Bolt In Your Pocket, Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

Technosexual?? Don't tell Integrity, or they'll be adding another "T" onto "GLBT," the alphabet soup of the only people who seem matter to The Episcopal Church (tm) anymore.

I mean, he is in a monogamous, loving relationship. Unless the USB cable goes bad....

If You Show A Film Saying We're A Bunch Of Violent Religious Fanatics, We Promise Violence Upon Everyone Who Insults Our God By Showing It.

Talk about proving the point! Links to the Gert Wilders film about Islamic extremeism, Fitna, and to some of of the controversy, are here at Instapundit.

It has been pulled from YouTube, though it seems it be back up for the moment. And LiveLeak has pulled it specifically because of violent threats.

What happened to this concept, people?

"...that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
-John F. Kennedy

Or this one?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
-Declaration of Independence

Or even this one?

"Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
-United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights


Anyone? Anyone at all?

C-H-A... V-E-Z... M-O-U-S-E.

Pictures can reveal a lot about a person. Like Hugo Chavez, for instance.

And ANOTHER endorsement for Laurinda Calongne.

Paul Sawyer, the third place finisher in the GOP primary earlier this month to fill the 6th District congressional seat, has endorsed Laurinda Calongne for the runoff against Woody Jenkins:

Paul Sawyer Endorses Laurinda Calongne for Congress

(Baton Rouge) Paul Sawyer announced today his endorsement of Laurinda Calongne for Congress in the 6th Congressional District.

Sawyer, who was a candidate in the Republican primary, received 23% of the vote. "While working for the Sixth District in Washington, I had the honor to work with Laurinda Calongne on a number of initiatives. She is a results-oriented, focused professional who has the most congressional experience of any candidate," Sawyer said.

"I support Laurinda Calongne because she is the best candidate in the runoff election. Laurinda is a strong pro-family, pro-life conservative who will bring our values to Capitol Hill," said Sawyer.

"Laurinda will be a champion for reform and tax relief for small businesses and working families. She will work to build coalitions which will certainly help our district. We need Laurinda Calongne in Washington to work for us. I give her my full endorsement and ask my supporters to join me in voting for Laurinda Calongne in the runoff election on April 5th," said Sawyer.

Calongne is honored by the endorsement. "Paul was a wonderful asset to our state as a staffer for Congressman Richard Baker. He was a great candidate and is a devoted family man," she said, "and I am proud to have him on my team."

Sawyer's endorsement adds to the list of business leaders and elected officials that have endorsed Laurinda Calongne's campaign. Paul Sawyer joins Baton Rouge Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister, Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor, State Representatives John LaBruzzo (R-Metairie) and Kirk Talbot (R-River Ridge), Livingston Parish Council member Thomas Watson, Denham Springs City Council members Lori Lamm-Williams and Jerry Denton, and Walker Aldermen Gary Griffin and Rick Ramsey.


I just got back from watching Woody Jenkins and Laurinda speak at our local AIA chapter luncheon. Laurinda talked specifics, down to bill numbers. She demonstrated an intimate knowledge about how Congress works, and who to talk to to get things done in 2008. Woody talked about a "flatter" tax, privatizing government, and how excited he was about New Urbanism. All great ideas; all right out of the 1980's.

2.0 Firmware Review.

Endgadget has done a review of the iPhone 2.0 beta firmware released earlier this month at the SDK rollout. Some pretty interesting features. They have a video showing 2.0 in action.

More Endorsements For Laurinda Calongne.

I got this yesterday. We're on a roll!

Livingston Parish Officials Endorse Laurinda Calongne

(Baton Rouge) Livingston Parish Council member Thomas Watson, Denham Springs City Council members Lori Lamm-Williams and Jerry Denton, and Walker Alderman Gary Griffin today announced their endorsement of candidate Laurinda Calongne.

"I believe Laurinda represents the change and the vision that I have for this state and my area," said Thomas Watson, a Republican who represents District 7 of the Livingston Parish Council. "I would be very proud to be represented by Laurinda in Congress."

"Laurinda is a positive voice for reform," said Lori Lamm-Williams, a Republican on the Denham Springs City Council. "Sending Laurinda Calongne to Washington DC will continue the direction of change our state is going with the election of a new governor and new legislators."

Jerry Denton, also a Republican on the Denham Springs City Council, said that Calongne is the kind of candidate that he is proud to support. "I'm going to tell everyone I know that Laurinda is my candidate and that she has my full support."

He added, "It's nice to finally have a candidate that I can be proud of."

Gary Griffin, a Republican Alderman of Walker, echoed this sentiment. "I know Laurinda, and I am confident that she has the federal experience and the reputation among the Louisiana delegation to get the job done," he said.

Calongne stated, "I am so grateful for the support that I have received out of Livingston Parish," she said. "I can't wait to start working hard for the people of Livingston Parish and the entire 6th Congressional District."

Watson, Lamm-Williams, Denton and Griffin join Rolfe McCollister of the Baton Rouge Business Report, Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor, State Representative John LaBruzzo (R-Metairie) and State Representative Kirk Talbot (R-River Ridge) in endorsing Laurinda Calongne for the Louisiana 6th Congressional District.

Arrrgh!

Several times in the past week I tried to embed YouTube videos, only to have them not show up on the site. Until days later. So if you saw a whole bunch of YouTube videos posted this morning, some of them two and three times, my apologies.

No more YouTube embeds until I can get this sorted out.

Now continue on about your daily lives, dear readers.

-The Management (what there is of it)

Is That A Class-A Rated Throw Pillow, Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

Welcome to all of the folks from asid.org in Washington, DC, who have stopped by. Hope I haven't hacked you off. Well, not too much, anyway. As an architect, I would like to hear your comments as well. My email is redstickrant@gamil.com. If you do not want it published, please say so at the beginning. Or else it may end up here in pixels for the world to read.

I do not often comment on things architectural on this blog, but I saw this post by Radley Balko, Via Instapundit, who takes to task the licensing of interior designers and other, less visible, professions. I can not say if it is necessary to license florists (which does, on the face of it, seem silly), but when it comes to interior designers, I have a dog in this hunt in two ways. First, I am a licensed architect, and the issue of licensing interior designers has been debated since at least the mid 80’s when I got out of school. Second, my wife is an intern-interior designer who is sitting for her licensing exam in two weeks.

For me, the issue of licensing comes down to this: is it necessary to protect the life and safety of the public? I am not licensed by the state to carry the title “architect” because I can draw well-proportioned building or make a snappy floor plan (both of which I can do). I am licensed because I am qualified to apply the standards necessary to protect the life and safety of the public, and I assume a legal responsibility to uphold and execute those standards. Every time a design professional stamps a set of drawings, that is what we are doing – taking public responsibility that the design complies with those standards.

And those standards are voluminous. In Louisiana, a commercial building design must comply with: The International Building Code 2006, NFPA 101 (The Life Safety Code), the National Electric Code, The Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), The State Plumbing Code, The State Sanitary Code (if food preparation facilities are involved), and the State Energy Code. If a health care facility is involved, a whole new set of Codes and Guidelines are involved, both Federal and State. And there are separate Codes dealing with elevators, sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, military facilities, and jails just to name a few.


Some of the Codes we work with.

And interior designers? Initially, I agreed with Radley. They don’t deal with all that Code stuff, so what’s the point except to make yourself feel important? But that has changed over the years. Our practice is almost exclusively in commercial design (we do very little residential design), and we rely more and more on interior designers to help us select finish materials for projects such as schools, hospitals and dormitories. Those materials have restrictions in the Codes (flame spreads, smoke developed ratings, texture requirements, space planning and layout standards, etc.). Therefore, the persons making these design decisions needs more than a casual acquaintance with their properties, with the Codes, and with commercial construction practices.

So I am now, grudgingly, in favor of licensing interior designers.

But do not make the mistake Radley, and most everybody else, makes - interior designers and interior decorators are not the same thing. Interior decorators decorate what others have designed. They mostly deal with furnishings and finishes in existing spaces, usually without respect to the Codes, and are not extensively trained in materials, methods, and construction practices. Interior designers also deal with furnishings and finishes, but they are (or should be) extensively trained in materials, techniques and Codes, and able to design spaces to meet Code (space planning is often a part of an interior designer’s scope of work)

Anyone can call themselves an “interior decorator”. And since they do not usually deal with issues of Life Safety, that is as it should be; and no license required. Interior designers, however, often do work with design problems that require an understanding Life Safety when making design decisions, and as such should be held to a standard, as I am, with respect to maintaining the life and safety of the public.

Today's Required Reading.

When you're not reading RSR, of course: On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting For.

Hattip: Murdoc Online.

Yes, We Do.

The Los Angles Times reports iPhone users may know too much:

Apple Inc.'s iPhone, which went on sale nine months ago, isn't the only so-called smart phone that provides itinerant access to the Web. But its wide screen and top-quality browser make it easy to use and read, which means it can in seconds change a lighthearted conversation into the Pursuit of Truth.

"It's turned me from a really annoying know-it-all into an incredibly annoying know-it-all, with the Internet to back me up," said Sadum, a technology writer in Denver. "It's not a social advantage."

We knew that.

Hattip: Stuff White People Like.

Oops.

Hillary: "I remember landing under sniper fire....."

CBS News: Oh, really? Let's check the video.

Hmm. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? I guess it depends on what the definition of "landing under sniper fire" is, and "running to our cars" is, and "that is what happened" is.

Laurinda Calongne Lands A Big Endorsement.

The editor of the Baton Rouge Business Report, Rolfe McCollister, is endorsing Laurinda Calongne for the GOP primary:

"Laurinda Calongne is a woman of integrity and Christian values. She is a conservative who believes in lower taxes and less government. Her personality, intelligence, energy and business experience would serve her well in getting things done for the people of the 6th District. In the Republican primary runoff for Congress, I am endorsing Laurinda Calongne."

Read it all here.

UPDATE 26MAR08: Post title changed.

Why Children Of Architects Have Such Problems Fitting Into Society.

This is what they get when they ask for a playhouse.

(FWIW - I made a cardboard chair in second-year architecture school, and it lasted for many years.)

Monday Required Reading.

Michal Yon's latest post is about the battle to route Al Qaeda in Nineveh province: Steak Through Their Hearts.

And he discovers a dirty little secret the mainstream media seems to have missed: we are winning. Not just the battle, but the war. So don't tell Osama. Or Obama.

(For folks who remember your Bible - yes, it's the same Nineveh.)

You're Not "Failing;" You're..... "Priority One!"

Want to know why we left Massachusetts and moved back to Louisiana to raise our children? Uber-PC bull***t such as this.

Gee, will we now hear Nancy Pelosi accuse George Bush of having a "priority one" Iraq strategy?

Hattip: Reason Magazine.

"As Drag Races Go, You Will Agree This Is Quite A Good One.".

Take one Bugatti Veyron, one Eurofighter Typhoon, and an idea only an Englishman would think up. Read the first comment posted by "daisy". I think she's right.

It's from a blog called Last of the Few - An Englishman's View. It's not exactly PC, and may not be quite work safe (so you have been warned...), but it's well worth the visit. You can learn how to put on a bra, for starters.

Hattip: Instapundit.

UPDATE 24MAR08: Matthew found the source for this video - a show on the BBC called 'Top Gear'. It seems they do this kind of thing on a regular basis. And waddaya know, it's on BBC America, too. Tonight 8pm Eastern (7pm Central). Three guesses where I'll be....

The 2008 Democratic Party Platform, Put To Music.

Right here.

With profuse apologies to Harry McClintock.

Happy, Um.... "It's All About Us!" Sunday.

Today Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (at least, we Christians who still believe in such things). But here is a look at where The Episcopal Church (tm) will be in a few years, if much of our current church leadership has anything to say about it:

That triumphal barnburner of an Easter hymn, 'Jesus Christ Has Risen Today – Hallelujah', this morning will rock the walls of Toronto's West Hill United Church as it will in most Christian churches across the country.

But at West Hill on the faith's holiest day, it will be done with a huge difference. The words “Jesus Christ” will be excised from what the congregation sings and replaced with “Glorious hope.”

Read it all. Chris Johnson, as usual, is all over it.

Today Is Good Friday.

So put down the mouse, switch off the monitor for a while, and remember why we celebrate this day.

Do I Want To Be A Blogging Star?

Not really. (OK, maybe. Just a little. -ed.) But I probably should follow these rules of blogging more closely.

Today's Required Reading: Michael Yon's New Website.

Michael Yon has a new website up. He says he launched earlier than planned after hackers attacked his old site.

Make sure to read Michael's latest post, Guitar Heroes.

I'm Back.

Ugh. Meetings, meetings, meetings. I'm back from New Orleans, I've plowed through my emails, and now..... I'm going home. To a fine gin & tonic.

But since you took the time to stop by, I don't want you to think your time was not well spent. So I leave you with..... a catapult that fires chicken poo.

Not to be confused with something else known to, on occasion, hurl loads of chicken poo.

On The Road Again...

I'm on my way to New Orleans for several project meetings. More later, when I get back this afternoon.

There's A Second Amendment?

The case of DC v. Heller, which centers around the Second Amendment, was argued before the Supreme Court today. Heller may well be one the most (if not the most) far-reaching and controversial decisions the Supreme Court has undertaken since Roe v. Wade.

SCOUTSblog has a roundup. As do the folks at The Volokh Conspiracy (just scroll around).

Tuesday Afternoon Distraction.

Let's take a break from the struggles of churches and of politics, and enjoy some way-cool robo tech: The Boston Dynamics Big Dog.

I assume it's a prototype, but they really do need to get rid of that "it's-mowing-your-yard" engine sound.

Well, Duh.

From Matthew, a link to this excellent short essay on defining poverty. A thing to remember when someone starts berating you about the evils of capitalism, or whining on (and on!) about the Millennium Development Goals (peace be upon them).

Oh, and all you Stand Firm readers - if you are not reading Matthew's Billy Ockham every day, you should be.

Hillary Clinton's Worst Nightmare.

Brilliant! Laurinda Calongne is running to claim the GOP nomination for Louisiana's 6th District against GOP political contender for the last several decades, Woody Jenkins.

The New York Times has noticed this ad. So did ABC News.

Like I've said before, why settle for Woody when you can have Buzz?

The Episcopal Church Claims The Rainbow.

02 September 2010: I have no reason why this two year-old post is getting such attention (pray, someone tell me...), but a hearty "Hello, Eh" to all you Canadians who have been stopping by here today.

Welcome StandFirm readers! Gald you could make it. I tidied up a bit, (I even dusted behind the archives) so make yourselves at home and have a look round.

This was Sunday. (WARNING: Do not have coffee in your mouth when you open this link, or your monitor will need a cleaning.)

This was Monday....

"NEW YORK - A Federal judge today issued a temporary restraining order against The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, saying she can not wear or display her "rainbow" mitre in public.

Bishop Jefferts Schori wore the multi-colored mitre during this last weekend's Palm Sunday celebration.

The order came after lawyers for NBC, the National Broadcasting Company, filed suit in Federal court saying the mitre is strikingly similar to their "peacock" logo and infringes on their copyright. NBC has used the peacock logo for more than 60 years.

A spokesperson for The Episcopal Church said they were surprised at the action, and would quickly ask the judge for a voice vote of "all the attorneys present" to reverse his ruling. Dennis Cannon, the attorney for the Church, had initially argued that NBC's claim was actually "theft." Since the rainbow of visible light is "God-given," he reasoned, it is therefore held in trust by the Church as God's agent on earth. "Individual colors may leave the spectrum," the Church's lawyer said, "but not whole rainbows."

Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori said that in the meantime she may return to her initial "color of sunrise" mitre, or try out a new "color of depositions" mitre that has been in the works for some time.

A final ruling by the judge on this case is expected sometime this summer. Weather permitting."

OK, the Monday bit isn't real. The Sunday bit is, alas, all too real.

UPDATE: The post has been modified to provide a link to the image in question, not the actual image. If there is anything The Episcopal Church has an overabundance of, it's lawyers; and if there is anything they lack in abundance, it's a sense of humor.

So, ++Rowan, Is This Our "Unavoidable" Future?

A priest is is attacked in London. And his church vandalized at Easter. By...... "Asians."

Haven't heard about it? Not surprising. Had he been an imam, and his mosque vandalized at Ramadan, you can bet you would have heard about it by now. Repeatedly.

A Telegraph correspondent gets it:

"No respectable Muslim encourages youths to punch 57-year-old vicars. On the other hand, I suspect that many radical Muslims believe that St George’s should be a mosque, and will be one day. (God knows there are plenty of precedents.) Violence is not necessary: the wimpishness of C of E leaders such as the Bishop of Oxford, who actually wants the muezzin to sound through the city streets, will do the job instead.

That and cash from the Gulf. For many years, Saudi Arabia has been tipping money into Muslim community projects in Tower Hamlets, with the aim of winning over young people to the pure Wahhabi Islam that holds sway in the kingdom. And how many churches are there in Saudi Arabia?"

Read it all. It's fair question - just don't expect an answer.

How St. Patrick's Day Should Be Celebrated.

No commentary necessary.

(Yes, it's a repeat. But what better day to repeat it?

UPDATE: More on St. Patrick's Day here.

It's A Trend!

Another frustrated orthodox Episcopalian in Louisiana lends his voice to the cyber-public square: Cotton Country Anglican.

The Princess Of Positive Shall Speak!

So listen up! My northshore blogger-buddy, Greta Perry of Kiss My Gumbo fame, will be getting her own radio show in New Orleans on WIST, AM 690. She goes on the air on Saturdays from 3:00pm-4:00pm, starting April 19th.

(WIST?? Geez, I remember when it was "The Mighty Six-Ninety, WTIX!!" And 99.5 FM was WRNO - "The Rock of New Orleans" - broadcasting out of the old Imperial House Hotel on North Causeway. Yes, I'm that old.)

Saturday Night Conversation Starter.

When some feminists met in New Orleans a few days ago, Mayor Nagin claimed he was "a vagina-friendly mayor." Okey-dokey.

So what kind of a "friendly" mayor will he claim to be when the Decadence Festival comes to town?

Talk among yourselves.

CHE-NGE.

You can now buy this poster, by artist Shepard Fairey, at the Obama website:


It's in the ever-hip Heroic Socialist Leader! style, though at $70.00 a pop they're not exactly priced for the working-class.

Now, where have I seen something simialr? Oh yeah. In an Obama campaign office:

Friday Morning Distraction.

I am out today (Friday) to meetings in New Orleans, so here is something to make sure your employer gets absolutely no productive work out of you today: Will It Blend?

Watch 'em all.

Our family favorite: Why you should never mess with Chuck Norris.

Pimp My Model

If you were ever an architecture student, stuck in studio after four days without sleep and a deadline in 3 hours, this is hysterical.

And yes, that the GSD at Harvard.

Today's REQUIRED Reading.

On The Road To Greenwich Village....David Mamet had an ephiphany. And not one, alas, that most New York 60's liberals have. Mamet, a well known playwright and author, who penned plays such as Glengarry Glen Ross, and screenplays for The Verdict and Wag the Dog, found out he couldn't be a 60's liberal anymore:

"And, I wondered, how could I have spent decades thinking that I thought everything was always wrong at the same time that I thought I thought that people were basically good at heart? Which was it? I began to question what I actually thought and found that I do not think that people are basically good at heart; indeed, that view of human nature has both prompted and informed my writing for the last 40 years. I think that people, in circumstances of stress, can behave like swine, and that this, indeed, is not only a fit subject, but the only subject, of drama.

I'd observed that lust, greed, envy, sloth, and their pals are giving the world a good run for its money, but that nonetheless, people in general seem to get from day to day; and that we in the United States get from day to day under rather wonderful and privileged circumstances—that we are not and never have been the villains that some of the world and some of our citizens make us out to be, but that we are a confection of normal (greedy, lustful, duplicitous, corrupt, inspired—in short, human) individuals living under a spectacularly effective compact called the Constitution, and lucky to get it."

Read. The. Whole. Thing.


And welcome to the club, sir.

Is The Grass Greener On Our Side Of The Tiber?

Is retired Episcopal Bishop Clarence Pope, the Mark Spitz of Episcopal Bishops, swimming back across the Tiber for the fourth time after only seven months in the Roman Church? I've heard rumblings from a pretty good source. VirtueOnline is reporting the same thing.

Developing...?

Easter Greetings from Greenpeace The Episcopal Church ™

The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church ™, gets in touch with her inner Gore and writes us, her flock, about an upcoming holiday:

Your Easter celebration undoubtedly has included lots of physical signs of new life -- eggs, flowers, new green growth.

And bunnies? You forgot the bunnies, Kate. What says new life more than cute fuzzy creatures who have sex a lot? And we all know that sex is so important to The Episcopal Church ™ that they will stop at nothing to be "inclusive” of all kinds of sex.

As the Easter season continues, consider how your daily living can be an act of greater life for other creatures.

Like bunnies?

How can you enact the new life we know in Jesus the Christ? In other words, how can you be the sacrament, the outward and visible sign, of the grace that you know in the resurrected Christ? How can your living let others live more abundantly?

Warning! Warning, Will Robinson! Obligatory “it’s-our-fault-there-are-any-problems-in-the-world” statement follows. (It’s our “tradition” that's at fault, you know….)

The Judaeo-Christian tradition has been famously blamed for much of the current environmental crisis….

So? The auto industry has been famously blamed for keeping a 200mpg car off the market. The government has been been famously blamed for 9/11. Since when does the notoriety of something make it true? And what about the Moslem tradition, or the Hindu tradition, the Shinto tradition? Have they done no harm the environment?

…particularly for our misreading of Genesis 1:28 as a charge to "fill the earth and subdue it."

No, No, Kate, we didn’t misread it. That’s what it says.

Our forebears were so eager to distinguish their faith from the surrounding Canaanite religion and its concern for fertility...

I thought you said all that fertility was a bad thing, Kate?

...that some of them worked overtime to separate us from an awareness of "the hand of God in the world about us," especially in a reverence for creation. How can we love God if we do not love what God has made?

Good question. And that fits in with your pro-abortion stand how? Are babies not made by God, Kate?

We base much of our approach to loving God and our neighbors in this world on our baptismal covenant.

Really? So I guess this bit is obsolete in our hip, with-it, new church:

VI. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.

Yet our latest prayer book was written just a bit too early to include caring for creation among those explicit baptismal promises.

"Bonnie Anderson? Get me re-write!!"

I would invite you to explore those promises a bit more deeply -- where and how do they imply caring for the rest of creation?

Is your entire theology based on the "promises" of only one of the eight questions in the baptismal covenant? What about believing in the apostle's teaching, resisting evil, repenting, proclaming the Good News of God In Christ? Isn't all that in your beloved covenant?

We are beginning to be aware of the ways in which our lack of concern for the rest of creation results in death and destruction for our neighbors.

So every time we eat a Big Mac from a drive-thru, someone in Bangladesh dies? I had no idea. I guess it really is all our fault.

We cannot love our neighbors unless we care for the creation that supports all our earthly lives.

I couldn't agree with you more, Kate, but I don't know what you mean in the spiritual sense. I smell more than a wiff of activism in your words. So recycling and driving less isn't enough? Unless we pop off a check to PETA, or calculate our carbon footprint, or write our Congressman, or worship the Millennium Development Goals (peace be upon them), we're not following Christ's Great Commandment?

We are not respecting the dignity of our fellow creatures if our sewage or garbage fouls their living space.

And what if the intellectual sewage and relativist garbage embraced as theology by so much of the leadership of The Episcopal Church ™ fouls the dignity of my living space? Or more importantly, the dignity of my worship space? You worried about that, Kate?

When atmospheric warming, due in part to the methane output of the millions of cows we raise each year to produce hamburger, begins to slowly drown the island homes of our neighbors in the South Pacific, are we truly sharing good news?

The thought of Pacific islanders drowning in a tsunami of cow farts is too much for me to bear, Kate, especially at Easter (that is why you wanted to talk to us, isn't it?). So I'm trying to eat those farting cows as fast as I can. Rare. With sautéed mushrooms, steamed broccoli, and a good Bordeaux. For the environment, of course.

The food we eat, the energy we use, the goods and foods we buy, the ways in which we travel, are all opportunities -- choices and decisions -- to be for others, both human and other.

Huh? Am I to be for human others; or other others? Or both? Or neither?

Our Christian commitment is for this -- that we might live that more abundant life and that we might do it in a way that is for the whole world. Abundant blessings this Easter, and may those blessings abound through the coming days and years.

And a Happy Earth Day to you, too.

UPDATE: As usual, Chris Johnson at theMCJ does a much better job of taking Schori's "message" apart, and brings up a brilliant point - for Christians, Easter celebrates the most important event in our Faith - the reserrection of Jesus Christ. But the leader of our Church uses it as an opportunity to "invite" us to reflect on........ reducing cow farts. This says volumes about the Christian theology (or lack thereof) being pushed by the current leadership of The Episcopal Church ™.

Tuesday Wednesday Night Distraction.

(I tried to post this yesterday (Tuesday), but for some reason it didn't show up from YouTube 'till this evening. Apologies. - ed.)

Pretty funny. From the same people who brought youthis cool video.

Hattip: Matthew.

Chewing My Own Leg Off.....

.....Is how I spent my day. Well not actually, but it sure felt like it at times - we attended a 6 hour continuing ed seminar on pre-cast concrete. Though, as seminars went this one was pretty interesting, and I did actually learn some things. But there are only so many hours a human being can be forced to watch PowerPoint presentations without going off his/her nut.

Plus, I've got a few crises lurking on my desk here at the office that require my attention. More later.

Troll Feeding.

Someone from Baton Rouge, not surprisingly named "Anonymous", left a comment in this post calling me an idiot for not understanding how the UN is supposed to work. Like I care how the UN is supposed to work. (Though it would be nice, once a decade or so, if it did actually work.)

I know I shouldn't, but it's Sunday night and I'm bored - so I responded.