Today's Required Reading.

Michael Yon's latest dispatch from Afghanistan: Pedro Inspired the Vikings.

A New Episcopal Liturgy?

I don't know what cleric and/or denomination created this new worship liturgy, but I wouldn't be surprised if the word "Episcopal" is involved somehow. Listen, closely, dear readers, to the object of their prayers.

Mullahs and Missiles.

Here's a picture that'll keep you awake at night - Some 12th Century Boys with 21st century killing technology:


(Image source unknown. From here.)

Too bad it doesn't keep President Obama awake at night. I've never seen a stern warning or a UN resolution stop a missile.

Comrade Hack.

Finally (!) found out the nagging cough The Boy (tm) has had for three weeks isn't bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough, or TB. It's... "Habit Cough." Which, if you say it fast enough, sounds more like the name of some obsessed Russian writer.

There is, however, relief in Villa RSR that it wasn't something worse.

Standard, Double, Prime Example Of.

Do you think The Left/Mainstream Media would be rushing to Roman Polanski's defense if he had been a... Priest? Me, either.

I Been Noticed. Again.

By some more of Obama's new fans:



This is getting to be a trend. Can visits from Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela be far behind?

UPDATE: If an Iranian wants to see some "red," I suggest they have a look at this. (Heed the warning...)

UPDATE: My idea about what to do with Iran hasn't changed since 1979-80, and can be summed up nicely in this song by New Orleans' own Vince Vance and the Valiants. It's the only way to get rid of the mullahs and their theocracy, as dissent is met with beatings and bullets.

A Modest Proposal.

William Safire died Sunday. It was Safire who coined the phrase "nattering nabobs of negativism" in describing the Mainstream Media, and in his honor I propose we now replace MSM with NNN.

A Personal Reminder.

D'Oh!! Note to self: Spell check is my friend. Spell check is my friend. Spell ch...

I'm Ready For My Closeup, Mr. Cavuto.

Louisiana's Governor Bobby Jindal will be on FoxNews tonight (4pm eastern) discussing health care. Should be most interesting. When Bobby is himself - and not the GOP spin-handler Bobby we saw after Obama's speech last winter - he can kick some serious Lefty arse.

Don't Mess With A Missionary Man.

Particularly one that can, and has, moved mountains. Sadly, Fr. Jerry Kramer, a priest and friend, resigned last week as rector of Church of the Annunciation in New Orleans. A local writeup is here.

Jerry, his wife Stacy, and the parishioners at Annunciation, are truly some of the epic heroes of the Katrina tragedy, and a better example of "living into" the Power of God you will not find. And I say that from personal experience with Jerry and the wonderful folks at Annunciation.

The loss also leaves our Diocese with one less strong, orthodox Anglican voice, which right now we sorely need. In so many ways, Fr. Jerry will be missed.

The Dead Innuendo?

Louisiana's DRUDGE wanna-be, Chad Rogers, posts this headline on Dead Pelican: "State Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, has taken his wife to Paris for their 20th wedding anniversary."

Hmmm. Sounds fishy, don't it? But if you head over to the link, there's no there there. None. Just an announcement that the State Senator took his wife to Paris for their 20th wedding anniversary. It wasn't reported that he did it on the State's dime, or that he put his wife on the payroll in order to get the Louisiana taxpayer to foot the bill, or anything that would make it Dead Pelican newsworthy. He took his wife to Paris. Big freakin' deal. You can't get much more romantic than that, and most of us guys would do it if we had the chance.

I can't say for certain why Chad decided this was Dead Pelican material. Maybe it was a reallllly slow news cycle. I'm sure it had nothing to do with taking a cheap shot at Claitor, who won one of the most contentious State Senate races in memory over a candidate Rogers seemed to be pushing. No one would be that petty.

Anyway, Dan and Shermaine - congrats on 20.

Debtor's Prison, Team Hopenchange Style.

Back in the 19th century, the government could put you in jail if you didn't pay your debts. In the 21st century, the government will be able to put you in jail if you do not pay for government-approved health insurance.

My, that's "reform." Maybe they should mandate a return to bloodletting while they're at it. Cheaper than an MRI.

I Been Noticed...

...By some of Obama's new fans:



I don't know if I should be honored, or start carrying concealed all the time.

120-Grit Correctness.

Lefty busybodies don't want to be just a metaphorical pain in the arse - they want to be a literal one as well.

Hattip: Hot Air.

If It Ain't Breathing, Is It ALIVE?

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden has tied voter approval of much-needed infrastructure improvements in Baton Rouge to approval of public funding for an amusement park downtown - the ALIVE project.

That strategy now seems to be in some trouble. The ownership for the ALIVE site is in dispute, and has been for some time. Plus, another $40 million will be needed to bring the property to the proper flood elevation before any construction can begin, an amount the State hasn't agreed to pay. Oops. The Metro Council ain't too happy upon learning about about all of this at this late date, especially after Holden pushed them to couple the two on the ballot in November. That coupling may now guarantee the entire bond issue fails at the polls.

ALIVE has been a hard sell from the beginning, and Holden, who I normally admire, has even tried to gerrymander out the most anti-tax areas of Baton Rouge in order to get it passed. (That failed.) His obsession with ALIVE is hard to fathom.

Charlie Buras is now calling this the last straw for Holden. Sadly, I think he might be right.

Side Note: In the article above, a little group your humble blogger is associated with gets a Page 1 mention.

The Transparency Of Governomics.

Well, this is reassuring...

The government is failing to disclose the full details of how the $700 billion bailout of the financial sector has been implemented, the program's top government watchdog will say on Thursday.

Neil Barofsky, the Special Inspector General over the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), will testify to Congress that the government's "basic attitude" on the transparency and accountability of the program "remains a significant frustration."

"TARP largely remains a program in which taxpayers are not being told what most of the TARP recipients are doing with their money and will not be told the full details of how their money is being invested," Barofsky will say.

And the money quote:

"It is extremely unlikely that the taxpayer will see a full return on its TARP investment," Barofsky will say.

Something to remember when you hear all of those milk-and-honey promises from The Left/Mainstream Media about government control of your health care.

You Don't Need A Ghost-Writer To Know Which Way The Wind Blows.

Christopher Andersen's new book, Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage, appears to confirm a story from back in June (original story is here) that Bill Ayrers (yes, THAT Bill Ayers - the one Obama claimed he knew only in passing) actually wrote - or substantially edited - Obama's first book, Dreams From My Father.

To Arthur!

The Elixir of the Gods turns 250 today:


So have a pint - or three - to Arthur.

UPDATE: And on a related note, some nice German girls at Oktoberfest, showing off their pints. Come to think of it, maybe that should be "quarts"...

More Grrr.

Still having problems with the DSL modem at home and work is back to hectic standards, so blogging is still spotty.

Making Up Stuff.

Bombastic and shrill as he may be, but when Glen Beck is right, he is right. Last night Beck pointed out a 20-minute anti-American, anti-capitalist, fact-challenged bit of Left-wing agit-prop now being shown in schools across the US, called "Story of Stuff." Yes, in schools.

Watch it all, and watch Beck's debunking.

My daughter, a sophomore at Baton Rouge Magnet High School, said tonight that Story of Stuff was shown to her class a few weeks ago. Her take: "Dad, I'm not stupid. It was total crap." That's my girl.