This is good stuff:
For the power of liturgy to lift us out of our narrow practical and material pursuits is not dependent on our understanding of every actual word we are saying, any more than our emotional submission to classical music's soaring magic is dependent on our ability to read the score that produced it. The power of liturgy to stir and inspire us isn't even dependent on our commitment to the beliefs and doctrines from which the liturgy sprang.
[Damn, that's a GOOD point.]
I see the worship service as more about belonging than belief. An ancestral, globally employed language like Hebrew or Latin provides a context for predictable and organic communion amongst those present at the service. Through regular engagement, even though rote, with a universally recognized language, worshippers are subliminally imbued with a common motivational narrative from the past, common moral goals in the present and intimations of a common destiny in the future.
[Anyone recall the Communion of Saints?]
But the ancient language and music of the liturgy, which unite the individual with his fellows in the sanctuary's space, also unite the individual with the eternal idea of peoplehood -- those who came before and who will come after -- in time. Under the mesmeric sway of ancestral language, the finite moment is transcended through expressions of aspirational yearning (future), emotional attentiveness (present) and nostalgia (past) to fuse in what the philosopher Henri Bergson called "intentional time," when the worshipper achieves the spiritual peace that is conferred by timelessness.
Nope. NOT written by Pope B-16. NOT written by an SSPX theorist. NOT written by a Latin scholar, nor Old-Rite aficiando. NOT written by a nostalgic old lady with a few too many glasses of Chardonnay.
Written by a Jewish lady-staffer of the Canadian National Post.
HT: The New Liturgical Movement
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Bp. Bruskewitz--Teaching With Authority
A stem-winding, foot-stomping, SIX CHEERS speech by the anti-Mahony/anti-Bernardin!!
...the Catholic Church in the United States, and to a large extent throughout the Western World, is facing a very formidable series of crises. Although the Catholic population of the United States is consistently growing, and now exceeds 67 million out of our total American population of 300 million, we have to remember that almost all of the growth has taken place by way of immigration, and almost none or less than none, by natural demographic increase. It should also be pointed out that the number of conversions to the Catholic faith in our country has fallen precipitously in the last forty years. As a matter of fact, it is an aphorism that probably can be statistically verified that the largest religious group in the United States is the Catholic Church, but the second largest is fallen-away Catholics, lapsed, non-practicing, those who have abandoned the Catholic faith.
...There is a breakdown of authority in the Church, constant and open dissent by people who call themselves theologians; great doctrinal and moral confusion, and Catholics who while professing to belong to the Church are, perhaps, within her pale but outside of her orthodoxy. Catholics in many parts of the United States are confronted by banal, shallow, and irreverent liturgies that have no or only a most remote connection with the holy sacrifice of the Mass. In 1965, all the statistical studies showed that at least 85% or perhaps more of the Catholics in the United States attended mass each Sunday. The present statistical studies show that this has gone to 27% of the Catholics in the United States attending mass on Sundays.
["..those who call themselves 'theologians'" ...not just in Milwaukee, where we have plenty of them.]
...There are, of course, many causes for these ecclesiastical crises in which we are involved. There are many causes outside of the Church. We live, for example, in a culture that is dominated by materialism and hedonism, invisibly and imperceptibly the values of those things creep in the lives and attitudes of all, including Catholics. Even the healthiest fish cannot swim along in polluted waters. In our country, especially, a serious misunderstanding of freedom has turned freedom into license, and we live in a pan-sexual and irresponsible age, in which pleasure, comfort, and material possessions appear to be the goals of human existence. Lacking solid catechetical teaching, it is very easy for people, especially young people to be lured into that kind of attitude and condition their entire life-style by such an attitude.
A great amount of dissent and turmoil has come about because of a very serious misunderstanding of the Second Vatican Council. The documents of the Second Vatican Council are excellent. All of the documents deserve careful study and careful consideration in all their implications and all their nuances. The intentions of the Popes of the Council, Blessed John XXIII and Pope Paul VI are also quite clear in their writings and speeches and in all the things they saw as derivative from the Council.
...a great number of personages and causes gathered around the Council as a kind of para-Council, which gave, because of their domination of the media, an incredibly wrong impression which persist even to this day, about what the Council was and what it was intended to achieve. For example, one hears very little about the continuity of historic tradition which is inherent in the very actions of the Council and in its documents, that it always understood itself as in organic unity with the previous Councils of the Church, including both the Council of Trent and the First Vatican Council which is explicitly affirmed and intended to incorporate in its outlook.
[This usually shows up as "Vatican II is the beginning of History, a common disease amongst Liturgeists, not to mention parish priests and 90% of bureaucrats in Chanceries and parishes.]
There was also a mistaken notion, even among some people who should have known better, that by removing or changing accidental matters, sometimes considered accretions in ecclesiastical life, it would not affect the substance of that life. I think there was misunderstanding of the Thomistic view of accidents and substances
...We also had a completely mistaken idea of the relationships of non-Catholics, individually and in groups, to the Catholic Church. The decree on ecumenism and the declaration on non-Christian religious, Unitatis Redintegratio and Nostra Aetate became the launching points of what later became, according to our present Holy Father, the dictatorship of relativism; namely, that there is no religious truth, or that religious truth is good for this person, but not necessarily true or good for that person, or while emphasizing that there are oftentimes, positive and truthful elements in other churches and other religious, and other denominations, and other religious experiences, and trying to be positive about that, may have misled a lot of people into thinking that religious truth is simply not contained in its fullness, in all its integrity and beauty only in the Catholic faith, but might also be contained similarly in others.
[In civic life, the attempt by Positive Law advocates to change Natural Law comes to mind.]
Newman then says that "the Catholic faith opposes this idea of liberalism in religious. It asserts very emphatically that there is a truth, then, that there is one truth, that religious error is of itself an immoral nature, that its maintainers, unless involuntarily such, are guilty in maintaining it, that the mind is below truth and not above it, and is bound, not to descant upon it, but to venerate it, that truth and falsehood are set before us for the trial of our hearts, that our choice is an awful giving forth of lots on which salvation or its rejection is inscribed, and that before all things it is necessary to hold the Catholic faith, and that he who would be saved must think thus and not otherwise."
[Also in binary theory; it's a zero or a one. That's all. No others need apply.]
...The clash of culture represented by the Muslim demography and onslaught in our time, which reflects the Islamic expansionism of times past, cannot be successfully confronted by an easy-going pluralistic tolerance. It can only be confronted by a reinvigorated Christianity, a reinvigorated Catholic faith. The dynamism, the Tielhardism, the Communism, the Marxism, the Socialism, and countless other isms of the last centuries will never be successfully confronted either, apart from a reinvigorated and grace-filled Catholic faith.
Amen. Alleluia.
HT: Cafeteria is Closed
...the Catholic Church in the United States, and to a large extent throughout the Western World, is facing a very formidable series of crises. Although the Catholic population of the United States is consistently growing, and now exceeds 67 million out of our total American population of 300 million, we have to remember that almost all of the growth has taken place by way of immigration, and almost none or less than none, by natural demographic increase. It should also be pointed out that the number of conversions to the Catholic faith in our country has fallen precipitously in the last forty years. As a matter of fact, it is an aphorism that probably can be statistically verified that the largest religious group in the United States is the Catholic Church, but the second largest is fallen-away Catholics, lapsed, non-practicing, those who have abandoned the Catholic faith.
...There is a breakdown of authority in the Church, constant and open dissent by people who call themselves theologians; great doctrinal and moral confusion, and Catholics who while professing to belong to the Church are, perhaps, within her pale but outside of her orthodoxy. Catholics in many parts of the United States are confronted by banal, shallow, and irreverent liturgies that have no or only a most remote connection with the holy sacrifice of the Mass. In 1965, all the statistical studies showed that at least 85% or perhaps more of the Catholics in the United States attended mass each Sunday. The present statistical studies show that this has gone to 27% of the Catholics in the United States attending mass on Sundays.
["..those who call themselves 'theologians'" ...not just in Milwaukee, where we have plenty of them.]
...There are, of course, many causes for these ecclesiastical crises in which we are involved. There are many causes outside of the Church. We live, for example, in a culture that is dominated by materialism and hedonism, invisibly and imperceptibly the values of those things creep in the lives and attitudes of all, including Catholics. Even the healthiest fish cannot swim along in polluted waters. In our country, especially, a serious misunderstanding of freedom has turned freedom into license, and we live in a pan-sexual and irresponsible age, in which pleasure, comfort, and material possessions appear to be the goals of human existence. Lacking solid catechetical teaching, it is very easy for people, especially young people to be lured into that kind of attitude and condition their entire life-style by such an attitude.
A great amount of dissent and turmoil has come about because of a very serious misunderstanding of the Second Vatican Council. The documents of the Second Vatican Council are excellent. All of the documents deserve careful study and careful consideration in all their implications and all their nuances. The intentions of the Popes of the Council, Blessed John XXIII and Pope Paul VI are also quite clear in their writings and speeches and in all the things they saw as derivative from the Council.
...a great number of personages and causes gathered around the Council as a kind of para-Council, which gave, because of their domination of the media, an incredibly wrong impression which persist even to this day, about what the Council was and what it was intended to achieve. For example, one hears very little about the continuity of historic tradition which is inherent in the very actions of the Council and in its documents, that it always understood itself as in organic unity with the previous Councils of the Church, including both the Council of Trent and the First Vatican Council which is explicitly affirmed and intended to incorporate in its outlook.
[This usually shows up as "Vatican II is the beginning of History, a common disease amongst Liturgeists, not to mention parish priests and 90% of bureaucrats in Chanceries and parishes.]
There was also a mistaken notion, even among some people who should have known better, that by removing or changing accidental matters, sometimes considered accretions in ecclesiastical life, it would not affect the substance of that life. I think there was misunderstanding of the Thomistic view of accidents and substances
...We also had a completely mistaken idea of the relationships of non-Catholics, individually and in groups, to the Catholic Church. The decree on ecumenism and the declaration on non-Christian religious, Unitatis Redintegratio and Nostra Aetate became the launching points of what later became, according to our present Holy Father, the dictatorship of relativism; namely, that there is no religious truth, or that religious truth is good for this person, but not necessarily true or good for that person, or while emphasizing that there are oftentimes, positive and truthful elements in other churches and other religious, and other denominations, and other religious experiences, and trying to be positive about that, may have misled a lot of people into thinking that religious truth is simply not contained in its fullness, in all its integrity and beauty only in the Catholic faith, but might also be contained similarly in others.
[In civic life, the attempt by Positive Law advocates to change Natural Law comes to mind.]
Newman then says that "the Catholic faith opposes this idea of liberalism in religious. It asserts very emphatically that there is a truth, then, that there is one truth, that religious error is of itself an immoral nature, that its maintainers, unless involuntarily such, are guilty in maintaining it, that the mind is below truth and not above it, and is bound, not to descant upon it, but to venerate it, that truth and falsehood are set before us for the trial of our hearts, that our choice is an awful giving forth of lots on which salvation or its rejection is inscribed, and that before all things it is necessary to hold the Catholic faith, and that he who would be saved must think thus and not otherwise."
[Also in binary theory; it's a zero or a one. That's all. No others need apply.]
...The clash of culture represented by the Muslim demography and onslaught in our time, which reflects the Islamic expansionism of times past, cannot be successfully confronted by an easy-going pluralistic tolerance. It can only be confronted by a reinvigorated Christianity, a reinvigorated Catholic faith. The dynamism, the Tielhardism, the Communism, the Marxism, the Socialism, and countless other isms of the last centuries will never be successfully confronted either, apart from a reinvigorated and grace-filled Catholic faith.
Amen. Alleluia.
HT: Cafeteria is Closed
Bp. Morlino on Liturgical Order and Music
Gee, this guy in Madison is busy writing letters which are refreshing and Good Stuff!!
In previous communications, I have written about what Pope Benedict has called the discontinuity hermeneutic, that is the various misinterpretations of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, which have occurred since the council and which now stand in need of correction.
After the council, an overemphasis was given to the presence of Christ in the assembly, so that the other ways Christ is even more sacramentally intensely present suffered a certain neglect.
The question arises, does some of the music routinely sung embody the incorrect overemphasis on the presence of Christ in the assembly, so that people are confused as to the importance of the sacramental intensity of His presence, especially under the signs of bread and wine.
Certain songs come to mind where the lyrics raise a real question for me. For example: "We are called, We are chosen, We are Christ for one another, We are a promise, We are sower, We are seed, We are question, We are creed." Singing that song repeatedly teaches people something, and I am afraid that it is something that I as Bishop do not want to teach them, but we certainly need to begin a dialogue about these matters.
Another example of this same problem would be the lyrics of the hymn Gather Us In, where a seemingly endless explanation is given to God about who We are, who are gathered in.
Pope Benedict has said that the music at Mass is not an extrinsic accompaniment to the liturgy, but is intrinsically part of our prayer of praise and adoration and thanksgiving to the Lord. The words of the songs we sing should be focused on giving praise and adoration to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, rather than explaining to God things about ourselves or even praising ourselves
...We must remember that as we pray before the "Holy, Holy, Holy," the angels and saints are present with us giving praise to the Trinity. The hymns we sing should be worthy of the participation of the angels and saints.
Bada Bing Bada Bang Bada Boom.
HT: Christus Vincit
In previous communications, I have written about what Pope Benedict has called the discontinuity hermeneutic, that is the various misinterpretations of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, which have occurred since the council and which now stand in need of correction.
After the council, an overemphasis was given to the presence of Christ in the assembly, so that the other ways Christ is even more sacramentally intensely present suffered a certain neglect.
The question arises, does some of the music routinely sung embody the incorrect overemphasis on the presence of Christ in the assembly, so that people are confused as to the importance of the sacramental intensity of His presence, especially under the signs of bread and wine.
Certain songs come to mind where the lyrics raise a real question for me. For example: "We are called, We are chosen, We are Christ for one another, We are a promise, We are sower, We are seed, We are question, We are creed." Singing that song repeatedly teaches people something, and I am afraid that it is something that I as Bishop do not want to teach them, but we certainly need to begin a dialogue about these matters.
Another example of this same problem would be the lyrics of the hymn Gather Us In, where a seemingly endless explanation is given to God about who We are, who are gathered in.
Pope Benedict has said that the music at Mass is not an extrinsic accompaniment to the liturgy, but is intrinsically part of our prayer of praise and adoration and thanksgiving to the Lord. The words of the songs we sing should be focused on giving praise and adoration to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, rather than explaining to God things about ourselves or even praising ourselves
...We must remember that as we pray before the "Holy, Holy, Holy," the angels and saints are present with us giving praise to the Trinity. The hymns we sing should be worthy of the participation of the angels and saints.
Bada Bing Bada Bang Bada Boom.
HT: Christus Vincit
Semi-Apocalyptic Thought
Let's deal with an interesting possibility!
What will happen if Van Hollen becomes AG and Doyle remains in office?
Heh, heh.
HALLOWE'EN!!
We get Barb Lawton!
What will happen if Van Hollen becomes AG and Doyle remains in office?
Heh, heh.
HALLOWE'EN!!
We get Barb Lawton!
Vote Yes Ad...Hmmmmm
Charlie doesn't like the Vote Yes television ad, although he does like the radio offerings.
It occurs to me that the target markets are two different things. Radio is more a 'think' medium; TV is far more visual and, I suspect, emotional.
So the medium dictates the message.
It occurs to me that the target markets are two different things. Radio is more a 'think' medium; TV is far more visual and, I suspect, emotional.
So the medium dictates the message.
Hail, Britannia!!
Some Brits still have gonads:
To drive in Britain is to measure out your trip in speed cameras. As inevitable as road signs and as implacable as the meanest state trooper, they lurk everywhere, the government’s main weapon against impatient drivers.
It is a shame that so many people hate them.
Among the ways that motorists have made this clear: spraying the cameras with paint; knocking them over; covering them in festive wrapping paper and garbage bags; digging them up; shooting, hammering and firebombing them; festooning them with burning tires; and filling their casings with self-expanding insulation foam that, when activated, blows them apart.
"When in the course of Human Events...."
The people who wrote that little essay were also British citizens, at the time. Evidently some love of freedom still subsists in England!!
To drive in Britain is to measure out your trip in speed cameras. As inevitable as road signs and as implacable as the meanest state trooper, they lurk everywhere, the government’s main weapon against impatient drivers.
It is a shame that so many people hate them.
Among the ways that motorists have made this clear: spraying the cameras with paint; knocking them over; covering them in festive wrapping paper and garbage bags; digging them up; shooting, hammering and firebombing them; festooning them with burning tires; and filling their casings with self-expanding insulation foam that, when activated, blows them apart.
"When in the course of Human Events...."
The people who wrote that little essay were also British citizens, at the time. Evidently some love of freedom still subsists in England!!
Nothing to See Here. No Crisis, # 32,475
Yah, Tommy.
As it turns out, Milwaukee is in the top third of US cities for "danger from crime."
Not the Top 10 most dangerous--we're #22 of 351.
As it turns out, Milwaukee is in the top third of US cities for "danger from crime."
Not the Top 10 most dangerous--we're #22 of 351.
P-Mac's Health Woes
No, he's not ill, nor are his children. But he's a victim of DarthDoyle's bullheaded inanity:
But because I live in the only state where the governor has vetoed a deduction for HSA contributions, I’ll be paying $91 more in state income taxes. It’s not a huge sum, but it is more than a fortnight’s worth of health insurance premiums, oddly enough, and I’m paying it because Doyle says doing what most of the rest of the country does just benefits “the wealthy.”
In that, he’s wrong, of course. The insurance industry’s stats say about half the people buying HSA plans last year had incomes under $50,000. And since there are limits on how much you can put into an HSA -- $5,250 last year – the deduction’s value is limited, too. It’s just a smaller proportion of income to the wealthy, even given their higher tax rates, than it is to middle-income taxpayers.
So why does the governor take this line? Because health savings accounts are part of a trend that Democrats generally, and their union backers in particular, seem to dislike: away from some big, coordinated system where your health care is paid by someone else.
This strikes home, as I'm aware of a very large (and unionized) local employer who won't establish an HSA 'because our workers don't have any spare money.'
One reason they don't is because they're paying DarthDoyle too much...duuuhhhhh.
But because I live in the only state where the governor has vetoed a deduction for HSA contributions, I’ll be paying $91 more in state income taxes. It’s not a huge sum, but it is more than a fortnight’s worth of health insurance premiums, oddly enough, and I’m paying it because Doyle says doing what most of the rest of the country does just benefits “the wealthy.”
In that, he’s wrong, of course. The insurance industry’s stats say about half the people buying HSA plans last year had incomes under $50,000. And since there are limits on how much you can put into an HSA -- $5,250 last year – the deduction’s value is limited, too. It’s just a smaller proportion of income to the wealthy, even given their higher tax rates, than it is to middle-income taxpayers.
So why does the governor take this line? Because health savings accounts are part of a trend that Democrats generally, and their union backers in particular, seem to dislike: away from some big, coordinated system where your health care is paid by someone else.
This strikes home, as I'm aware of a very large (and unionized) local employer who won't establish an HSA 'because our workers don't have any spare money.'
One reason they don't is because they're paying DarthDoyle too much...duuuhhhhh.
Bp Morlino: A Teacher With Authority
Discovered by the Triumvirate:
Morlino’s “personal and confidential” letter of Oct. 25, released to The Capital Times this morning, warns diocesan pastors that disagreeing with his positions is not allowed. “I must make it very clear that any verbal or non-verbal expression of disagreement with this teaching on the part of the priest will have to be considered by myself as an act of disobedience, which could have serious consequences.”
So does authority diminish with proximity to Lake Michigan?
Terry Berres covers more here.
Morlino’s “personal and confidential” letter of Oct. 25, released to The Capital Times this morning, warns diocesan pastors that disagreeing with his positions is not allowed. “I must make it very clear that any verbal or non-verbal expression of disagreement with this teaching on the part of the priest will have to be considered by myself as an act of disobedience, which could have serious consequences.”
So does authority diminish with proximity to Lake Michigan?
Terry Berres covers more here.
Kerry: A Complete Ass
This guy just gets worse.
“You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”
...and it was undoubtedly Kerry's education which steered him to Teresa Heinz.
“You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”
...and it was undoubtedly Kerry's education which steered him to Teresa Heinz.
Chisholm Gets Backing
Happened to spend some time with a local prosecutor last night.
(Social, not official, smart-ass.)
The prosecutor commented on the Milwaukee DA race, essentially saying that Chisholm is a law-and-order type who is trusted, respected, and admired by every law-enforcement agency in Milwaukee County.
That's good news for Milk-Carton Tommy, too.
(Social, not official, smart-ass.)
The prosecutor commented on the Milwaukee DA race, essentially saying that Chisholm is a law-and-order type who is trusted, respected, and admired by every law-enforcement agency in Milwaukee County.
That's good news for Milk-Carton Tommy, too.
Home or Biz LAN? New Attack Out There
From Computerworld:
Hackers have published code that could let an attacker disable the Windows Firewall on certain Windows XP machines.
The code, which was posted on the Internet early Sunday morning, could be used to disable the Windows Firewall on a fully patched Windows XP PC that was running Windows' Internet Connection Service (ICS). This service allows Windows users to essentially turn their PC into a router and share their Internet connection with other computers on the local area network (LAN.) It is typically used by home and small-business users.
...the attacker would have to be within the LAN in order to make the attack work, and, of course, it would only work on systems using ICS, which is disabled by default. Furthermore, the attack would have no effect on any third-party firewall being used by the PC, Reguly said.
Users can avoid the attack by disabling ICS, Reguly said. But this will also kill the shared Internet connection.
An easier solution, may be for ICS users to simply move their networks onto a router or NAT (Network Address Translation) device, said Stefano Zanero, chief technology officer with Secure Network SRL. "They are so cheap right now, and in many cases they offer better protection and a easier administration of your LAN," he said via instant message.
There. You've been warned.
Hackers have published code that could let an attacker disable the Windows Firewall on certain Windows XP machines.
The code, which was posted on the Internet early Sunday morning, could be used to disable the Windows Firewall on a fully patched Windows XP PC that was running Windows' Internet Connection Service (ICS). This service allows Windows users to essentially turn their PC into a router and share their Internet connection with other computers on the local area network (LAN.) It is typically used by home and small-business users.
...the attacker would have to be within the LAN in order to make the attack work, and, of course, it would only work on systems using ICS, which is disabled by default. Furthermore, the attack would have no effect on any third-party firewall being used by the PC, Reguly said.
Users can avoid the attack by disabling ICS, Reguly said. But this will also kill the shared Internet connection.
An easier solution, may be for ICS users to simply move their networks onto a router or NAT (Network Address Translation) device, said Stefano Zanero, chief technology officer with Secure Network SRL. "They are so cheap right now, and in many cases they offer better protection and a easier administration of your LAN," he said via instant message.
There. You've been warned.
Darth Does Dollars
Darth pulled ahead of Green in available money. No surprise there.
Sure enough, Darth also made things difficult:
Following past practice, the Doyle campaign submitted its report to the board in a format that makes it difficult to analyze contributions and to spot trends.
Darth's friends seem to live in other places.
Green submitted his report in an electronic database. In an accompanying statement, his campaign said it received 12,153 contributions in the period just ended, with 70% for less than $100. The campaign said 90% of the contributions came from within the state.
A past review showed that about 20% of Doyle's money came from outside the state.
We'll see if the Little Engine actually Could. It's also possible that electing Darth gets us Barb Lawton, after the indictments are in...
Sure enough, Darth also made things difficult:
Following past practice, the Doyle campaign submitted its report to the board in a format that makes it difficult to analyze contributions and to spot trends.
Darth's friends seem to live in other places.
Green submitted his report in an electronic database. In an accompanying statement, his campaign said it received 12,153 contributions in the period just ended, with 70% for less than $100. The campaign said 90% of the contributions came from within the state.
A past review showed that about 20% of Doyle's money came from outside the state.
We'll see if the Little Engine actually Could. It's also possible that electing Darth gets us Barb Lawton, after the indictments are in...
Monday, October 30, 2006
Sex in the City--Modern Culture Uncovered
Blosser finds a gem in an article by Stephen LaTulippe. It's long-ish so I'll give you the good parts. When and if Blogger returns to normal, I'll provide the link.
The article began with LaTulippe describing his first impression of seeing the HBO TV show, Sex and the City, how he found it simultaneously brilliant and horrifying. To give the Devil his due, he says, the script, acting, cinematography are amazing, and the comedy truly hilarious.
"But brilliance of production aside, Sex and the City has a number of profound socio-political nuances that dovetail with an issue I’ve been kicking around for quite some time; namely, that the Western world is experiencing the final stages of a cultural struggle between two radically different versions of social organization (which I call "organic culture" and "post-modernism"). This struggle is the single dominant issue of our age, and it defines a variety of conflicts both within Western civilization and between it and other civilizations, stretching from the relentless expansion of our government to our misbegotten "war on terror."
"Sex and the City represents the post-modern paradigm. The thirty-something single women living in New York City live a life that is, says LaTulippe, while all too common today, perhaps unprecedented in human history, particularly for women. They are completely uprooted and homogenized, with no discernable family connections. They have no religious convictions. They wander around Manhattan, eating in chic restaurants, maxing-out their credit cards in fashionable boutiques, and engaging in a bewildering variety of casual sexual relationships. Their lives are more like those of animals than anything fully human, dominated by impulses and sensations rather than intellect and spirit, indulgence rather than purpose. They have no reverence for the past and no regard for the future, living only in the present. Even more disturbingly, says LaTulippe, their lifestyle has a "spooky passivity" to it, "a sense of slavery" to their vices: "If someone takes them to a swanky Thai restaurant, they’ll eat. If someone hands them a martini, they’ll drink. If a handsome guy appears, they’ll copulate." This, in effect, is the sum total of their lives, illustrating the fact that post-modernism isn't really a culture, but an anti-culture, or a parasite upon what remains of a past culture in the absence of any present culture.
Post-modernism, in LaTulippe's view, suffers from three major flaws: (1) ethical relativism, (2) auto-genocide, and (3) the death of the sacred. LaTulippe developes his analysis at these points more extensively in a political direction than I am able to give space to here, but here are a few highlights.
(1) Ethical relativism. Here LaTulippe looks at foreign policy and domestic policy, focusing, in particular, on the financial scandals that have come to light in connection with the latter. These have as their common root, he suggests, "the amoral quest for the unearned, which is perhaps the final common denominator of our entire political system." Post-modernism, he says, is locked into a "dysfunctional synergy with statism," in which each feeds the other, and they are sucking all of us down with them.
2) Auto-genocide. "Post-modern culture treats children as an expensive and peculiar hobby, something like a curious fashion statement. Children are, after all, expensive, messy, and they interfere with an active dating life. And if children are seen as a mere fashion accessory or an emotional indulgence, then one will do just as well as two (and much better than three or four)," writes LaTulippe. This attitude is reflected in the precipitously falling birthrates of those countries that suffered erstwhile panic attacks from fear of "population explosions."
3. The Death of the Sacred. Post-modernism is this-worldly, recognizing nothing beyond the immediate, concrete world. It has no higher aspirations. It offers no spiritual sustenance. "If a man has food stamps, a welfare check, and a place in a government housing project, it believes he has everything he could possibly need or want. (Actually, that is true only as far as the commoners are concerned. For the post-modern elites, they require exotic ethnic cuisine, cheap immigrant household labor, and a custom Maybach...but this is a difference in degree, not kind.)" Whatever one's income level, however, the shift in frames of reference is that from the Sistine Chapel and Bach's requiem mass to the vulgar creations of contemporary cultural nihilism
And nothing to be pleased about, either.
The article began with LaTulippe describing his first impression of seeing the HBO TV show, Sex and the City, how he found it simultaneously brilliant and horrifying. To give the Devil his due, he says, the script, acting, cinematography are amazing, and the comedy truly hilarious.
"But brilliance of production aside, Sex and the City has a number of profound socio-political nuances that dovetail with an issue I’ve been kicking around for quite some time; namely, that the Western world is experiencing the final stages of a cultural struggle between two radically different versions of social organization (which I call "organic culture" and "post-modernism"). This struggle is the single dominant issue of our age, and it defines a variety of conflicts both within Western civilization and between it and other civilizations, stretching from the relentless expansion of our government to our misbegotten "war on terror."
"Sex and the City represents the post-modern paradigm. The thirty-something single women living in New York City live a life that is, says LaTulippe, while all too common today, perhaps unprecedented in human history, particularly for women. They are completely uprooted and homogenized, with no discernable family connections. They have no religious convictions. They wander around Manhattan, eating in chic restaurants, maxing-out their credit cards in fashionable boutiques, and engaging in a bewildering variety of casual sexual relationships. Their lives are more like those of animals than anything fully human, dominated by impulses and sensations rather than intellect and spirit, indulgence rather than purpose. They have no reverence for the past and no regard for the future, living only in the present. Even more disturbingly, says LaTulippe, their lifestyle has a "spooky passivity" to it, "a sense of slavery" to their vices: "If someone takes them to a swanky Thai restaurant, they’ll eat. If someone hands them a martini, they’ll drink. If a handsome guy appears, they’ll copulate." This, in effect, is the sum total of their lives, illustrating the fact that post-modernism isn't really a culture, but an anti-culture, or a parasite upon what remains of a past culture in the absence of any present culture.
Post-modernism, in LaTulippe's view, suffers from three major flaws: (1) ethical relativism, (2) auto-genocide, and (3) the death of the sacred. LaTulippe developes his analysis at these points more extensively in a political direction than I am able to give space to here, but here are a few highlights.
(1) Ethical relativism. Here LaTulippe looks at foreign policy and domestic policy, focusing, in particular, on the financial scandals that have come to light in connection with the latter. These have as their common root, he suggests, "the amoral quest for the unearned, which is perhaps the final common denominator of our entire political system." Post-modernism, he says, is locked into a "dysfunctional synergy with statism," in which each feeds the other, and they are sucking all of us down with them.
2) Auto-genocide. "Post-modern culture treats children as an expensive and peculiar hobby, something like a curious fashion statement. Children are, after all, expensive, messy, and they interfere with an active dating life. And if children are seen as a mere fashion accessory or an emotional indulgence, then one will do just as well as two (and much better than three or four)," writes LaTulippe. This attitude is reflected in the precipitously falling birthrates of those countries that suffered erstwhile panic attacks from fear of "population explosions."
3. The Death of the Sacred. Post-modernism is this-worldly, recognizing nothing beyond the immediate, concrete world. It has no higher aspirations. It offers no spiritual sustenance. "If a man has food stamps, a welfare check, and a place in a government housing project, it believes he has everything he could possibly need or want. (Actually, that is true only as far as the commoners are concerned. For the post-modern elites, they require exotic ethnic cuisine, cheap immigrant household labor, and a custom Maybach...but this is a difference in degree, not kind.)" Whatever one's income level, however, the shift in frames of reference is that from the Sistine Chapel and Bach's requiem mass to the vulgar creations of contemporary cultural nihilism
This is epigrammatically contained in the remark by Russell Kirk.
Overall, these are insightful observations.And nothing to be pleased about, either.
JSOnline Mythbusters: The "NO" Crowd Fibs...
The JSOnline helps out a bit by demonstrating that the Homosexual Collective's arguments are simply a bunch of crap.
The marriage amendment will be presented as Question 1:
"Marriage. Shall section 13 of article XIII of the constitution be created to provide that only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state and that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state?"
"Keg" Lift-Und-Schlepp-Em weighed in:
"Under present Wisconsin law, only a marriage between a husband and a wife is recognized as valid in this state. A husband is commonly defined as a man who is married to a woman, and a wife is commonly defined as a woman who is married to a man,"
Of course, Amendments trump laws, and SCOWI doesn't have much use for law, precedent, or definitions, if they stand in the way of the Hive's New Social Constructs...
Some noise is made about Ohio, where "domestic violence" is legal(?)--NOT. It's still in the courts. Beyond that, and FAR more significant:
Ohio's amendment language differs from what's on the ballot in Wisconsin.
Try filing Assault and Battery charges in the meantime.
In Kentucky (!!) same-sex couples were given benefits:
Kentucky, which also passed a marriage amendment in 2004. It used the same language that's up for a vote in Wisconsin. The amendment, so far, has not prevented the University of Louisville from approving health benefits for domestic partners, including same-sex partners. And the University of Kentucky is considering offering a similar package.
Boy, o boy--it sure looks menacing, eh?
In Michigan:
a major case involving 21 same-sex couples who asked the courts to rule that the state's marriage amendment doesn't bar governments and universities from offering domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples. The couples won at the trial level and the case is on appeal.
Deborah Labelle, an attorney who represents the couples, said that for now, "the status quo is maintained. All benefits that existed previously are continuing."
Yah. Another place where same-sexers are now living in cardboard boxes and using cornstalks as splints, and dandelion-leaves as Band-Aids...
The marriage amendment will be presented as Question 1:
"Marriage. Shall section 13 of article XIII of the constitution be created to provide that only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state and that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state?"
"Keg" Lift-Und-Schlepp-Em weighed in:
"Under present Wisconsin law, only a marriage between a husband and a wife is recognized as valid in this state. A husband is commonly defined as a man who is married to a woman, and a wife is commonly defined as a woman who is married to a man,"
Of course, Amendments trump laws, and SCOWI doesn't have much use for law, precedent, or definitions, if they stand in the way of the Hive's New Social Constructs...
Some noise is made about Ohio, where "domestic violence" is legal(?)--NOT. It's still in the courts. Beyond that, and FAR more significant:
Ohio's amendment language differs from what's on the ballot in Wisconsin.
Try filing Assault and Battery charges in the meantime.
In Kentucky (!!) same-sex couples were given benefits:
Kentucky, which also passed a marriage amendment in 2004. It used the same language that's up for a vote in Wisconsin. The amendment, so far, has not prevented the University of Louisville from approving health benefits for domestic partners, including same-sex partners. And the University of Kentucky is considering offering a similar package.
Boy, o boy--it sure looks menacing, eh?
In Michigan:
a major case involving 21 same-sex couples who asked the courts to rule that the state's marriage amendment doesn't bar governments and universities from offering domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples. The couples won at the trial level and the case is on appeal.
Deborah Labelle, an attorney who represents the couples, said that for now, "the status quo is maintained. All benefits that existed previously are continuing."
Yah. Another place where same-sexers are now living in cardboard boxes and using cornstalks as splints, and dandelion-leaves as Band-Aids...
The Weenies Are Screeching Over the USCG
So the Coast Guard gets a new weapon, wants to train, and the usual suspects open their mouths and prove beyond a doubt...
"We run the risk that terrorists have succeeded in getting us to poison our own lakes without ever having set foot in the Great Lakes basin," said Hugh McDiarmid Jr. of the Michigan Environmental Council.
That would be from an estimated 3 tons of bullets in the WHOLE GREAT LAKES SYSTEM...
"When people are thinking of where they're going to go fishing, are they going to go to the place that's quiet? Or the place where people are shooting?" asked Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson. "It's not a good tourism thing."
Dear Mayor: How many Lake Superiors ARE there Up North? Can you read a timetable?
"Canada is not harboring terrorists planning a marine assault on the United States across the Great Lakes," Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May said in a news release this month. "The notion is ludicrous."
You absolutely sure of that, Lizzie? Wanna play "peacemaker" in your rowboat if and when?
Coast Guard Capt. Bruce Jones made no apologies for a plan that has so many people appalled during a news briefing held last week at the Milwaukee Coast Guard station.
He said the guns are needed "to ensure that our crews are prepared to respond to any future threat or increase in threat level on the Great Lakes - including our 13 nuclear power plants, 22 high-capacity passenger vessels and ferries and 11 major ports."
Offhand, I'd say that that's a damn impressive list of targets, even if you take out the ferries.
...the Coast Guard would try to conduct the training in off-summer months when recreational boats typically don't ply the mid-lake waters but said the agency wanted to retain the right to use the firing ranges any time of year.
Coast Guard officials say they need to train on water in order for crews to learn how to safely and accurately use the guns in the real-life scenarios they may encounter.
And the Weenie of the Year Award goes to:
...Cameron Davis of the conservation group Alliance for the Great Lakes...
He worries the proposal could have a bigger impact on the future of the lakes than some people think.
"As far as the ecology of the lakes, there are much bigger issues than this," he said. "However, if people are scared to go out on the lakes, they won't love the lakes. And if they don't love the lakes, why will they care for them?"
He could also submit that inanity in the "Most Non-Sequiturs In One 'Graf" contest.
"We run the risk that terrorists have succeeded in getting us to poison our own lakes without ever having set foot in the Great Lakes basin," said Hugh McDiarmid Jr. of the Michigan Environmental Council.
That would be from an estimated 3 tons of bullets in the WHOLE GREAT LAKES SYSTEM...
"When people are thinking of where they're going to go fishing, are they going to go to the place that's quiet? Or the place where people are shooting?" asked Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson. "It's not a good tourism thing."
Dear Mayor: How many Lake Superiors ARE there Up North? Can you read a timetable?
"Canada is not harboring terrorists planning a marine assault on the United States across the Great Lakes," Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May said in a news release this month. "The notion is ludicrous."
You absolutely sure of that, Lizzie? Wanna play "peacemaker" in your rowboat if and when?
Coast Guard Capt. Bruce Jones made no apologies for a plan that has so many people appalled during a news briefing held last week at the Milwaukee Coast Guard station.
He said the guns are needed "to ensure that our crews are prepared to respond to any future threat or increase in threat level on the Great Lakes - including our 13 nuclear power plants, 22 high-capacity passenger vessels and ferries and 11 major ports."
Offhand, I'd say that that's a damn impressive list of targets, even if you take out the ferries.
...the Coast Guard would try to conduct the training in off-summer months when recreational boats typically don't ply the mid-lake waters but said the agency wanted to retain the right to use the firing ranges any time of year.
Coast Guard officials say they need to train on water in order for crews to learn how to safely and accurately use the guns in the real-life scenarios they may encounter.
And the Weenie of the Year Award goes to:
...Cameron Davis of the conservation group Alliance for the Great Lakes...
He worries the proposal could have a bigger impact on the future of the lakes than some people think.
"As far as the ecology of the lakes, there are much bigger issues than this," he said. "However, if people are scared to go out on the lakes, they won't love the lakes. And if they don't love the lakes, why will they care for them?"
He could also submit that inanity in the "Most Non-Sequiturs In One 'Graf" contest.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Of Great Interest to a Few: For Many
Seems that B-16 has made a decision:
Three different well-placed sources I trust in Congregations here in Rome confirmed for me that the Holy Father made the determination that the words pro multis in the consecration of the Precious Blood will be properly translated, "for many", in the upcoming English text now in preparation.
(Fr. Z via The Cafeteria.)
That settles perhaps the most controversial question in the Paul VI/ICEL travesty in use since 1969, or whenever.
Three different well-placed sources I trust in Congregations here in Rome confirmed for me that the Holy Father made the determination that the words pro multis in the consecration of the Precious Blood will be properly translated, "for many", in the upcoming English text now in preparation.
(Fr. Z via The Cafeteria.)
That settles perhaps the most controversial question in the Paul VI/ICEL travesty in use since 1969, or whenever.
The First Thing You Do....
As Chris over at Spotted Horse 2 knows, the first thing you do is feed the deer.
THEN you shoot 'em.
Grandson #1 learning the theory of Game Management.
THEN you shoot 'em.
Grandson #1 learning the theory of Game Management.
Crime Program for Tommy Barrett
Here's a suggested criminal-reduction program for Milk-Carton and the next DA of Milwaukee County:
"...if you really want to stop violent crime, you don't need to spend taxpayer's money to throw parties for mayors and hold seminars and schedule photo ops...and act like violent crime is some new problem with some secret solution," said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre at the NRA's annual meeting in May.
"It's real simple. If you want to get crime off your streets, get criminals off your streets," LaPierre said. "Here's what you do," he said in remarks addressed to Mayor Bloomberg:
"Walk down to Town Hall and tell your prosecuting attorneys that from now on,
no plea bargains,
no reduced charges,
no dropped cases.
A drug dealer caught with a gun goes to jail.
A violent felon caught with a gun goes to jail.
Discharge a gun in commission of a felony, go to jail.
Smuggle a gun, go to jail.
If you do that, if you stop talking and start acting, your violent crime rate will drop 30 to 40 to 50 percent in one year."
--Wayne LaPierre, NRA
Thought the Boys of Downtown could use a reminder.
"...if you really want to stop violent crime, you don't need to spend taxpayer's money to throw parties for mayors and hold seminars and schedule photo ops...and act like violent crime is some new problem with some secret solution," said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre at the NRA's annual meeting in May.
"It's real simple. If you want to get crime off your streets, get criminals off your streets," LaPierre said. "Here's what you do," he said in remarks addressed to Mayor Bloomberg:
"Walk down to Town Hall and tell your prosecuting attorneys that from now on,
no plea bargains,
no reduced charges,
no dropped cases.
A drug dealer caught with a gun goes to jail.
A violent felon caught with a gun goes to jail.
Discharge a gun in commission of a felony, go to jail.
Smuggle a gun, go to jail.
If you do that, if you stop talking and start acting, your violent crime rate will drop 30 to 40 to 50 percent in one year."
--Wayne LaPierre, NRA
Thought the Boys of Downtown could use a reminder.
The Shark Jumps In With Vigor
As usual, The Shark has insight and informed opinion on the Homosex "Marriage" Amendment.
One of the arguments against the marriage protection amendment is that the type of judicial activism that redefined marriage in Massachusetts and, for all practical purposes, in Vermont and New Jersey "can't happen" here. At a debate in which I participated on Thursday (the Fourth Street Forum), Sen. Lena Taylor, a bright and pleasant woman, argued - incredibly in my view - that the Wisconsin Supreme Court tends to be conservative.
Justice Diane Sykes has a few things to say about that issue in this link.
Shark discusses Ferdon v. Patient Compensation Fund.
Here's a short constitutional law primer: Guarantees of equal protection in the federal and state constitution cannot be read to forbid all discrimination. The law discriminates all the time, e.g., wealthy people pay higher tax rates than poor people, people under 16 can't get a driver's license, you can't practice law unless you do what is necessary to be admitted to the bar.
Distinctions based on things that we think should never - or almost never - be the basis for treating people differently, e.g., race, will not be allowed unless they are necessary to serve a compelling interest.
Most other distinctions are subjected to a less exacting standard - often called rational basis scrutiny - which requires only that a distinction be rationally related to a legitimate interest.
Ferdon involved the kind of distinction - i.e., that between plaintiffs who could establish damages above the threshold and those who cannot - that normally gets "rational basis" scrutiny and the Court in that case did not disagree. But it announced that it would apply rational basis scrutiny "with teeth" and proceeded to, essentially, substitute its own judgment for that of the legislature as to whether the damages limit was rational.
If the Court continues to apply this new test, there is - in concept if not in practice - virtually nothing that can't be invalidated on equal protection grounds including a limitation of marriage to one man and one woman. The only thing that really restrains the judiciary is a judge's own reticence.
Ahem....Shark proposes a gambler's-delight oxymoron: "reticent judge." Somebody could take THAT line to Vegas and make a small fortune, especially in the case of Screechin'Shirley Abrahamson.
The claim that "it can't happen here" is flat out wrong and, ironically, is now being made by people who want it to happen here and, if the amendment fails, will go to court on November 8 to try and make it happen.
And that prediction, my friends, you CAN take to Vegas.
One of the arguments against the marriage protection amendment is that the type of judicial activism that redefined marriage in Massachusetts and, for all practical purposes, in Vermont and New Jersey "can't happen" here. At a debate in which I participated on Thursday (the Fourth Street Forum), Sen. Lena Taylor, a bright and pleasant woman, argued - incredibly in my view - that the Wisconsin Supreme Court tends to be conservative.
Justice Diane Sykes has a few things to say about that issue in this link.
Shark discusses Ferdon v. Patient Compensation Fund.
Here's a short constitutional law primer: Guarantees of equal protection in the federal and state constitution cannot be read to forbid all discrimination. The law discriminates all the time, e.g., wealthy people pay higher tax rates than poor people, people under 16 can't get a driver's license, you can't practice law unless you do what is necessary to be admitted to the bar.
Distinctions based on things that we think should never - or almost never - be the basis for treating people differently, e.g., race, will not be allowed unless they are necessary to serve a compelling interest.
Most other distinctions are subjected to a less exacting standard - often called rational basis scrutiny - which requires only that a distinction be rationally related to a legitimate interest.
Ferdon involved the kind of distinction - i.e., that between plaintiffs who could establish damages above the threshold and those who cannot - that normally gets "rational basis" scrutiny and the Court in that case did not disagree. But it announced that it would apply rational basis scrutiny "with teeth" and proceeded to, essentially, substitute its own judgment for that of the legislature as to whether the damages limit was rational.
If the Court continues to apply this new test, there is - in concept if not in practice - virtually nothing that can't be invalidated on equal protection grounds including a limitation of marriage to one man and one woman. The only thing that really restrains the judiciary is a judge's own reticence.
Ahem....Shark proposes a gambler's-delight oxymoron: "reticent judge." Somebody could take THAT line to Vegas and make a small fortune, especially in the case of Screechin'Shirley Abrahamson.
The claim that "it can't happen here" is flat out wrong and, ironically, is now being made by people who want it to happen here and, if the amendment fails, will go to court on November 8 to try and make it happen.
And that prediction, my friends, you CAN take to Vegas.
Condi Rice in the Crosshairs of the Warmonger Wing
Condi Rice is taking more and more flak from the hardline warmongers.
Here PowerLine prints an excerpt from a Rice interview with Cal Thomas:
Thomas asks Secretary Rice what evidence she has that the denizens of such an independent state would give up the dream that actually seems to drive them -- the dream of eliminating Israel:
SECRETARY RICE: Well, you can look at any opinion poll in the Palestinian territories and 70 percent of the people will say they're perfectly ready to live side by side with Israel because they just want to live in peace. And when it comes right down to it, yeah, there are plenty of extremists in the Palestinian territories who are not going to be easily dealt with. They have to be dealt with — Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Palestinian territories — they're terrorists and they have to be dealt with as terrorists.
But the great majority of Palestinian people — this is — I've been with these people. The great majority of people, they just want a better life. This is an educated population. I mean, they have a kind of culture of education and a culture of civil society. I just don't believe mothers want their children to grow up to be suicide bombers. I think the mothers want their children to grow up to go to university. And if you can create the right conditions, that's what people are going to do.
QUESTION: Do you think this or do you know this?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, I think I know it.
QUESTION: You think you know it?
SECRETARY RICE: I think I know it.
And PowerLine cynically comments:
I'd like to see the poll to which Secretary Rice is referring. I don't recall one with results as described. But what are we to make of the broader issue? I read Secretary Rice's answer as suggesting that she knows, or thinks she knows, she's peddling tripe.
PowerLine suggests....exactly what? That MORE than 30% of Palestinians want more and more war with Israel? How much more? Do 50% want more war? 70%?
Shall we conclude that ALL Palestinians want MORE war?
Here PowerLine prints an excerpt from a Rice interview with Cal Thomas:
Thomas asks Secretary Rice what evidence she has that the denizens of such an independent state would give up the dream that actually seems to drive them -- the dream of eliminating Israel:
SECRETARY RICE: Well, you can look at any opinion poll in the Palestinian territories and 70 percent of the people will say they're perfectly ready to live side by side with Israel because they just want to live in peace. And when it comes right down to it, yeah, there are plenty of extremists in the Palestinian territories who are not going to be easily dealt with. They have to be dealt with — Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Palestinian territories — they're terrorists and they have to be dealt with as terrorists.
But the great majority of Palestinian people — this is — I've been with these people. The great majority of people, they just want a better life. This is an educated population. I mean, they have a kind of culture of education and a culture of civil society. I just don't believe mothers want their children to grow up to be suicide bombers. I think the mothers want their children to grow up to go to university. And if you can create the right conditions, that's what people are going to do.
QUESTION: Do you think this or do you know this?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, I think I know it.
QUESTION: You think you know it?
SECRETARY RICE: I think I know it.
And PowerLine cynically comments:
I'd like to see the poll to which Secretary Rice is referring. I don't recall one with results as described. But what are we to make of the broader issue? I read Secretary Rice's answer as suggesting that she knows, or thinks she knows, she's peddling tripe.
PowerLine suggests....exactly what? That MORE than 30% of Palestinians want more and more war with Israel? How much more? Do 50% want more war? 70%?
Shall we conclude that ALL Palestinians want MORE war?
Guess the Source
Here's a short excerpt from an interview. See if you can guess who said it:
What do contemporary intellectuals have to offer anyhow? What passionate engagement do they have to appeal to young people? Liberal secularism has become bourgeois and materialistic. It's snide, elitist, and politically marginalized. The chattering class clearly has no effect whatever on decision-making in Washington. Conservative radio hosts have been claiming that liberal criticism of Bush's decisiveness in invading Iraq mirrors the shilly-shallying of 1930s intellectuals during Hitler's rise. The intellectuals, with their cultivated internationalism, always counsel procrastination and leave it to the men of action to deal forcefully with fascist regimes.
Female.......American......College Prof........Author.......
You're right! Camille Paglia!!
HT: Clay Cramer
What do contemporary intellectuals have to offer anyhow? What passionate engagement do they have to appeal to young people? Liberal secularism has become bourgeois and materialistic. It's snide, elitist, and politically marginalized. The chattering class clearly has no effect whatever on decision-making in Washington. Conservative radio hosts have been claiming that liberal criticism of Bush's decisiveness in invading Iraq mirrors the shilly-shallying of 1930s intellectuals during Hitler's rise. The intellectuals, with their cultivated internationalism, always counsel procrastination and leave it to the men of action to deal forcefully with fascist regimes.
Female.......American......College Prof........Author.......
You're right! Camille Paglia!!
HT: Clay Cramer
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Get Up/Get Moving's Debate
Mike decided to have a go at the dissenters, and the debate's all the usual crap (from the Homosex Collective crowd.)
The Un-Dependable: TSA
Within 10 weeks of the creation of TSA, it was already clear to me that they were not hiring "the best and the brightest." To confirm my judgment, it later emerged that TSA's recruitment "contractor" was incompetent--or worse.
Now comes a Ph.D. student who creates a website from which anyone could create a fake NWA boarding pass--which gets you past initial screeners and right into the 'free zone' of an airport. His case is not my interest here--Malkin's "rest of the story" is, however.
She quotes a senior TSA official:
"The website in question has the potential to promote illegal activity," said TSA spokesman Christopher White. "Submitting fraudulent documents to airline security is illegal. But the site will not aid anyone in circumventing security, since a boarding pass offers entry into a TSA security checkpoint and TSA ensures that every person and their property is fully screened."
That wasn't real smart, Christopher.
Screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport failed 20 of 22 security tests conducted by undercover U.S. agents last week, missing an array of concealed bombs and guns at checkpoints throughout the hub's three terminals, federal security officials familiar with the results said.
The tests, conducted Oct. 19 by U.S. Transportation Security Administration "Red Team" agents, also revealed significant failures by screeners to follow standard operating procedures while checking passengers and their baggage for prohibited items, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it is against TSA policy to release covert-test results...
... The poor test results at Newark come after heightened security procedures that the TSA put in place at U.S. airports in August, after authorities in Great Britain said they foiled an attempt by terrorists to blow up trans-Atlantic flights using liquid explosives.
One of the security officials familiar with last week's tests said screeners at Newark missed fake explosive devices that were hidden under bottles of water in carry-on luggage, taped beneath an agent's clothing and concealed under a leg bandage another tester wore.
Additionally, the official said screeners failed to use hand-held metal detector wands when required, missed an explosive device during a pat-down and failed to properly hand-check suspicious carry-on bags. Supervisors also were cited for failing to properly monitor checkpoint screeners, the official said.
"We just totally missed everything," the official said.
One would think that TSA would sue the living crap out of the "recruitment contractor" for misfeasance, malfeasance, and fraud, fire all these morons, and start over again.
Wanna bet?
Now comes a Ph.D. student who creates a website from which anyone could create a fake NWA boarding pass--which gets you past initial screeners and right into the 'free zone' of an airport. His case is not my interest here--Malkin's "rest of the story" is, however.
She quotes a senior TSA official:
"The website in question has the potential to promote illegal activity," said TSA spokesman Christopher White. "Submitting fraudulent documents to airline security is illegal. But the site will not aid anyone in circumventing security, since a boarding pass offers entry into a TSA security checkpoint and TSA ensures that every person and their property is fully screened."
That wasn't real smart, Christopher.
Screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport failed 20 of 22 security tests conducted by undercover U.S. agents last week, missing an array of concealed bombs and guns at checkpoints throughout the hub's three terminals, federal security officials familiar with the results said.
The tests, conducted Oct. 19 by U.S. Transportation Security Administration "Red Team" agents, also revealed significant failures by screeners to follow standard operating procedures while checking passengers and their baggage for prohibited items, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it is against TSA policy to release covert-test results...
... The poor test results at Newark come after heightened security procedures that the TSA put in place at U.S. airports in August, after authorities in Great Britain said they foiled an attempt by terrorists to blow up trans-Atlantic flights using liquid explosives.
One of the security officials familiar with last week's tests said screeners at Newark missed fake explosive devices that were hidden under bottles of water in carry-on luggage, taped beneath an agent's clothing and concealed under a leg bandage another tester wore.
Additionally, the official said screeners failed to use hand-held metal detector wands when required, missed an explosive device during a pat-down and failed to properly hand-check suspicious carry-on bags. Supervisors also were cited for failing to properly monitor checkpoint screeners, the official said.
"We just totally missed everything," the official said.
One would think that TSA would sue the living crap out of the "recruitment contractor" for misfeasance, malfeasance, and fraud, fire all these morons, and start over again.
Wanna bet?
Advice Column for Muslims
Sure enough, IowaHawk found some old advice columns from Imam Yahu al-Zirius Spiritual Leader, Fostaz al-Vegimita Mosque Lakembabongabinga, Sydney, NSW (not to be confused with Lake Woebegone of Minnesota)
Imram M. of Jumbuck Springs, Victoria asks:
I am a taxi driver at the Melbourne Airport. The Taxi Directorate tells me I must give rides to blind kuffars and their filthy guide dogs, even when I tell him they are haram in the eyes of Allah! Even worse, I think the kuffars and their dogs have been drinking alcohol. Help me, I am at my wit’s end.
Sadly the dog-alcohol cootie issue has been a sore point for the many believers who work at the airport. We have long asked the Airport authority to exempt Muslim baggage handlers from touching luggage containing alcohol, and protect Muslim passengers from having contact with unclean bomb-sniffing dogs. Until we can correct this blatant discrimination, politely tell any fares who are potentially carrying alcohol or dogs that you will rape them.
Ameer Ali of Kangalangaroombawoomba, ACT writes:
As a member of Prime Minister Howard’s Muslim advisory board, I have occasion to travel. When I go abroad, they ask me where do I come from? I say I come from a Muslim country. “Which country,” they say. “Australia.” “That’s not a Muslim country.” “Yes it’s Muslim country.” “Is not!” “Is so.” “Nuh uh.” “YUH huh.” and so on. Then they say, okay then why aren’t you stoning all the drunks and homosexuals? Yow, I have to admit that’s a stumper. I tell them that we want a country that is like a fruit salad, not a mega-fruit juice, with alcohol and such. That way we can enventually start eliminating all the unsavory fruits from the salad until Australia is totally halal and delicious.
When I come back to Australia, I’ll suggest the stoning thing to the Prime Minister, and he just gives me a weird look and tells me to respect Australian values, and goes back to drinking his beer. Now I am all confused.
Of course Australia is a Muslim country! Explain to the doubters you meet that Australian aborigines were practicing Islam for 100,000 years before the infidel James Cook corrupted the holy land by introducing in Fosters and Footy and bikinis and AC/DC. Explain that it will take years of work to drive the infidel yobbos from our traditional holy cities like Perth and Surfside. Explain that, God willing, and if our dole checques don’t get cut, we will restore the ancient Pacific caliphate from Freemantle to Las Vegas. If the doubters persist in their wanton doubtery, apply corrective raping.
It's all so easy. Ione Quimby Griggs never got it, but she didn't understand the Koran, either.
Imram M. of Jumbuck Springs, Victoria asks:
I am a taxi driver at the Melbourne Airport. The Taxi Directorate tells me I must give rides to blind kuffars and their filthy guide dogs, even when I tell him they are haram in the eyes of Allah! Even worse, I think the kuffars and their dogs have been drinking alcohol. Help me, I am at my wit’s end.
Sadly the dog-alcohol cootie issue has been a sore point for the many believers who work at the airport. We have long asked the Airport authority to exempt Muslim baggage handlers from touching luggage containing alcohol, and protect Muslim passengers from having contact with unclean bomb-sniffing dogs. Until we can correct this blatant discrimination, politely tell any fares who are potentially carrying alcohol or dogs that you will rape them.
Ameer Ali of Kangalangaroombawoomba, ACT writes:
As a member of Prime Minister Howard’s Muslim advisory board, I have occasion to travel. When I go abroad, they ask me where do I come from? I say I come from a Muslim country. “Which country,” they say. “Australia.” “That’s not a Muslim country.” “Yes it’s Muslim country.” “Is not!” “Is so.” “Nuh uh.” “YUH huh.” and so on. Then they say, okay then why aren’t you stoning all the drunks and homosexuals? Yow, I have to admit that’s a stumper. I tell them that we want a country that is like a fruit salad, not a mega-fruit juice, with alcohol and such. That way we can enventually start eliminating all the unsavory fruits from the salad until Australia is totally halal and delicious.
When I come back to Australia, I’ll suggest the stoning thing to the Prime Minister, and he just gives me a weird look and tells me to respect Australian values, and goes back to drinking his beer. Now I am all confused.
Of course Australia is a Muslim country! Explain to the doubters you meet that Australian aborigines were practicing Islam for 100,000 years before the infidel James Cook corrupted the holy land by introducing in Fosters and Footy and bikinis and AC/DC. Explain that it will take years of work to drive the infidel yobbos from our traditional holy cities like Perth and Surfside. Explain that, God willing, and if our dole checques don’t get cut, we will restore the ancient Pacific caliphate from Freemantle to Las Vegas. If the doubters persist in their wanton doubtery, apply corrective raping.
It's all so easy. Ione Quimby Griggs never got it, but she didn't understand the Koran, either.
Study Headline Misleading
The headline states "Testosterone Tumbling in US Males"
But, as usual, the useful information is buried in the article. Here's the lede:
The testosterone-fueled American male may be losing his punch.
Over the past two decades, levels of the sex hormone in U.S. men have been falling steadily, a new study finds.
Here's the reality-check:
He and his colleagues analyzed blood samples -- along with health and other information -- from about 1,500 men in the greater Boston area who took part in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study
That's a Blue-State bastion. Draw your own conclusions.
But, as usual, the useful information is buried in the article. Here's the lede:
The testosterone-fueled American male may be losing his punch.
Over the past two decades, levels of the sex hormone in U.S. men have been falling steadily, a new study finds.
Here's the reality-check:
He and his colleagues analyzed blood samples -- along with health and other information -- from about 1,500 men in the greater Boston area who took part in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study
That's a Blue-State bastion. Draw your own conclusions.
New Directions for Traffic Control--US Blamed
I'm sure that the thought has crossed your mind...
Commuters driving to work were greeted by an obscene message when they arrived at Crawley, West Sussex, on Thursday morning.
Digital roadside signs, which usually give information about parking availability, instead urged visitors to "F*** off" after hackers gained remote access to the displays. Three of the 11 Variable Message Signs on approach roads to the town carried the expletive.
"Under the message were the initials TOTSE, suggesting that this was the work of the
US-based online community of that name. Why they picked on Crawley, I have no idea."
If it's US-based, they should tell the drivers to drive on the correct side of the road...
Commuters driving to work were greeted by an obscene message when they arrived at Crawley, West Sussex, on Thursday morning.
Digital roadside signs, which usually give information about parking availability, instead urged visitors to "F*** off" after hackers gained remote access to the displays. Three of the 11 Variable Message Signs on approach roads to the town carried the expletive.
"Under the message were the initials TOTSE, suggesting that this was the work of the
US-based online community of that name. Why they picked on Crawley, I have no idea."
If it's US-based, they should tell the drivers to drive on the correct side of the road...
Friday, October 27, 2006
Friday Funnies
Stolen, directly, from Orthometer:
The Pope took a couple of days off to visit the mountains of Alaska for some sight-seeing. He was cruising along the campground in the Pope Mobile when there was a frantic commotion just at the edge of the woods. A helpless Democrat, wearing sandals, shorts, a "Save the Whales" hat, and a "To Hell with Bush" T-shirt, was screaming while struggling frantically, thrashing around trying to free himself from the grasp of a 10-foot grizzly.
As the Pope watched horrified, a group of Republican loggers came racing up. One quickly fired a .44-magnum into the bear's chest. The other two reached up and pulled the bleeding, semiconscious Democrat from the bear's grasp. Then using long clubs, the three loggers finished off the bear and two of them threw it onto the bed of their truck while the other tenderly placed the injured Democrat in the back seat.
As they prepared to leave, the Pope summoned them to come over. "I give you my blessing for your brave actions," he told them. "I heard there was a bitter hatred between Republican loggers and Democratic Environmental activists but now I've seen with my own eyes that this is not true."
As the Pope drove off, one of the loggers asked his buddies "Who was that guy?"
"It was the Pope," another replied. "He's in direct contact with heaven and has access to all wisdom."
"Well," the logger said, "he may have access to all wisdom but he sure as Hell doesn't know anything about bear hunting! By the way, is the bait holding up, or do we need to go back to Massachusetts and grab another one?"
The Pope took a couple of days off to visit the mountains of Alaska for some sight-seeing. He was cruising along the campground in the Pope Mobile when there was a frantic commotion just at the edge of the woods. A helpless Democrat, wearing sandals, shorts, a "Save the Whales" hat, and a "To Hell with Bush" T-shirt, was screaming while struggling frantically, thrashing around trying to free himself from the grasp of a 10-foot grizzly.
As the Pope watched horrified, a group of Republican loggers came racing up. One quickly fired a .44-magnum into the bear's chest. The other two reached up and pulled the bleeding, semiconscious Democrat from the bear's grasp. Then using long clubs, the three loggers finished off the bear and two of them threw it onto the bed of their truck while the other tenderly placed the injured Democrat in the back seat.
As they prepared to leave, the Pope summoned them to come over. "I give you my blessing for your brave actions," he told them. "I heard there was a bitter hatred between Republican loggers and Democratic Environmental activists but now I've seen with my own eyes that this is not true."
As the Pope drove off, one of the loggers asked his buddies "Who was that guy?"
"It was the Pope," another replied. "He's in direct contact with heaven and has access to all wisdom."
"Well," the logger said, "he may have access to all wisdom but he sure as Hell doesn't know anything about bear hunting! By the way, is the bait holding up, or do we need to go back to Massachusetts and grab another one?"
"Sharing"
Heard enough of that word?
GKC, as usual, clarifies things for us:
Chesterton said that most collectivist utopias "consist of the pleasure of sharing." He admitted there is satisfaction in sharing, such as gathering nuts from a tree or visiting a museum. But he preferred the pleasure of giving and receiving.
Giving, he said, is the opposite of sharing. Utopian sharing, he argued, is based on the abhorrent idea that there is no private property.
Chesterton used the analogy of two men sharing a box of cigars. He didn't want that. Rather, he wished that each man might give the other a cigar from his own box. Socialist "eloquence," he said, never recognizes the ideal of "gifts and hospitalities" in its visions of the collectivist state.
Their proposals may be appealing, but the "spirit" of their unfulfilled ideals becomes impractical. Ironically, they forget human needs.
I thought you'd like that...HT: Chesterton and Friends
GKC, as usual, clarifies things for us:
Chesterton said that most collectivist utopias "consist of the pleasure of sharing." He admitted there is satisfaction in sharing, such as gathering nuts from a tree or visiting a museum. But he preferred the pleasure of giving and receiving.
Giving, he said, is the opposite of sharing. Utopian sharing, he argued, is based on the abhorrent idea that there is no private property.
Chesterton used the analogy of two men sharing a box of cigars. He didn't want that. Rather, he wished that each man might give the other a cigar from his own box. Socialist "eloquence," he said, never recognizes the ideal of "gifts and hospitalities" in its visions of the collectivist state.
Their proposals may be appealing, but the "spirit" of their unfulfilled ideals becomes impractical. Ironically, they forget human needs.
I thought you'd like that...HT: Chesterton and Friends
Kate Falk: Ignorant, and a Liar, to Boot
Right Off the Shore has a good catch:
Kathleen Falk and her cohorts in the GWC have decided to blame JB Van Hollen for something he had absolutely no control over.
In fact, the case they try to blame him for happened before he even took office as District Attorney.
In October of 1999, Stanley Newago was released by another DA and judge on bail for a charge of 2nd Degree sexual assault. The same DA and court gave him probation for this charge in November of 1999.
In December of 1999, JB became DA in the area, after the bail and probation had already been given to Newago. He had no control over it, nothing to do with it, and he legally could not reopen the case.
A few months later, Newago attacked and assaulted another person. In this case, the only one that JB had any control over in regards to Newago, JB got a life in prison sentence without the possibility of parole for Newago, along with a few other charges for other crimes.
However, these "facts" don't really matter to Kathleen Falk and her dirty little friends in GWC. She's decided to blame her opponent for events before he took office that were out of his control. Down in the polls, she's getting desperate--and she's lying.
Perhaps this just shows her inexperience when it comes to criminal matters--she may not understand how the prosecution of criminals works, having never done it herself. But that doesn't give her or GWC the right to lie.
I don't think there's a "perhaps" about it.
Kathleen Falk and her cohorts in the GWC have decided to blame JB Van Hollen for something he had absolutely no control over.
In fact, the case they try to blame him for happened before he even took office as District Attorney.
In October of 1999, Stanley Newago was released by another DA and judge on bail for a charge of 2nd Degree sexual assault. The same DA and court gave him probation for this charge in November of 1999.
In December of 1999, JB became DA in the area, after the bail and probation had already been given to Newago. He had no control over it, nothing to do with it, and he legally could not reopen the case.
A few months later, Newago attacked and assaulted another person. In this case, the only one that JB had any control over in regards to Newago, JB got a life in prison sentence without the possibility of parole for Newago, along with a few other charges for other crimes.
However, these "facts" don't really matter to Kathleen Falk and her dirty little friends in GWC. She's decided to blame her opponent for events before he took office that were out of his control. Down in the polls, she's getting desperate--and she's lying.
Perhaps this just shows her inexperience when it comes to criminal matters--she may not understand how the prosecution of criminals works, having never done it herself. But that doesn't give her or GWC the right to lie.
I don't think there's a "perhaps" about it.
Milk Carton Tom's Pals
Tom Barrett, often bleating for more Federal money to solve local (!) problems, joined a group of Mayors who are "against illegal guns."
The group was organized in April by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and includes 109 cities in 44 states, among them Los Angeles, Denver, Little Rock, Miami, Atlanta, St. Louis, Omaha, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Seattle.
Proposed actions? Glad you asked.
In Trenton, police set up checkpoints to search cars for illegal guns. Of 375 guns confiscated last year, Palmer says, half came from Pennsylvania, where laws are less restrictive than in New Jersey.
Maybe the 4th Amendment does not apply in New Jersey, eh?
New York City sued 15 gun dealers in Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia in May for allowing straw purchases. Private investigators hired by the city posed as gun buyers and wore hidden cameras.
Of course, NYC also was forced to pay settlements to a couple of those dealers because the "private investigators" acted illegally. Somehow that fact didn't make it into the article.
The mayors' immediate goal is to defeat proposed federal legislation that would permanently prohibit disclosure of gun-tracing data by the ATF. Once available to cities and police departments, the national database has been restricted by Congress every year since 2003. The data had been used by police departments to figure out where crime guns come from. The House of Representatives has passed the bill; its prospects in the Senate are uncertain.
As we have pointed out, the Mayors' interpretation of the law is flat-out wrong. What they REALLY want is a neat printout of the names and addresses of ALL gun-owners who purchased through a Federally-licensed dealer.
That means legitimate gun owners will be the targets. By definition, "straw" buyers don't have the guns they purchased.
HT: Of Arms and the Law
The group was organized in April by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and includes 109 cities in 44 states, among them Los Angeles, Denver, Little Rock, Miami, Atlanta, St. Louis, Omaha, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Seattle.
Proposed actions? Glad you asked.
In Trenton, police set up checkpoints to search cars for illegal guns. Of 375 guns confiscated last year, Palmer says, half came from Pennsylvania, where laws are less restrictive than in New Jersey.
Maybe the 4th Amendment does not apply in New Jersey, eh?
New York City sued 15 gun dealers in Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia in May for allowing straw purchases. Private investigators hired by the city posed as gun buyers and wore hidden cameras.
Of course, NYC also was forced to pay settlements to a couple of those dealers because the "private investigators" acted illegally. Somehow that fact didn't make it into the article.
The mayors' immediate goal is to defeat proposed federal legislation that would permanently prohibit disclosure of gun-tracing data by the ATF. Once available to cities and police departments, the national database has been restricted by Congress every year since 2003. The data had been used by police departments to figure out where crime guns come from. The House of Representatives has passed the bill; its prospects in the Senate are uncertain.
As we have pointed out, the Mayors' interpretation of the law is flat-out wrong. What they REALLY want is a neat printout of the names and addresses of ALL gun-owners who purchased through a Federally-licensed dealer.
That means legitimate gun owners will be the targets. By definition, "straw" buyers don't have the guns they purchased.
HT: Of Arms and the Law
Some Questions Fr Massingale Didn't Answer
It has been said that "the news" is colored by what is and is not reported. It's also true that it is colored by what is and what is not answered.
The JSOnline noticed that Fr. Massingale seems to be taking a position directly opposed to the teaching of the competent authority (the Archbishop of Milwaukee) on the question of the Homosex "Marriage" amendment. Interesting that they noticed it only 4 weeks after Fr Massingale's manifesto was printed...
In any case, there are a couple of interesting little points which deserve some notice.
Father Bryan Massingale, an associate professor of moral theology at Marquette University, wrote a lengthy essay in which he struggled with the idea that "the amendment, read in its entirety, poses a dilemma for many faithful people."
Really? Fr. Massingale did not "struggle." In fact, he initiated the concept that " [it] poses a dilemma..."
"The amendment upholds certain beliefs about the uniqueness of marriage," he wrote in the Sept. 21 issue. "But it does so at a cost, namely, potentially damaging impacts upon the welfare of individuals and their children."
Those "certain beliefs" happen to be founded on natural law and enshrined by the Church as a sacrament, no less. On the other hand, "potential" damage is just that--potential.
"I do not see myself as a person in opposition to the bishops," Massingale said Thursday in a telephone interview.
Right. So long as 3 is equal to 5, there's no opposition here, Father.
When Massingale's scheduled appearance at St. John Vianney in Brookfield was abruptly postponed Tuesday, some parishioners worried that he was somehow being silenced by the church.
"I called the parish the previous week and expressed concerns that because this was a more public event than originally planned, it could easily become mischaracterized," Massingale said. "So the archdiocese had no part or no role in that decision at all."
A "more public event"? That parish printed an announcement of your appearance in more than 1000 bulletins which were distributed to most people who attended Mass over the weekend. That's pretty "public" all by itself. Only 150 people showed up--not exactly a Bradley Center-class event. But notice: Massingale does NOT tell you exactly why the event was "postponed."
"If [the Archbishop] had any concerns about anything I've written he would have expressed them to me directly and not done anything through any intermediary," he said.
Just a co-incidence that the Archbishop phoned in to a morning talk-show yesterday to specifically re-state his authoritative teaching on the amendment, eh Father?
In an Oct. 19 letter to the Catholic Herald, Massingale responded to some critics and concluded that "one can believe in what is called 'traditional' marriage - and even 'defend' it - without supporting this amendment. Indeed, we must not reinforce the institution of marriage through a measure which carries the risk of endangering human well-being."
Fr. Massingale conflates to deceive. First off, "the risk" of not having health-care is about zero, since Federal law requires hospitals and MD's to render care without regard for ability to pay. I know of NO doctors who refuse treatement due to monetary concerns--conversely, I know MANY doctors who voluntarily render treatment at no cost through Milwaukee-area 'free clinics.'
As I mentioned before, Fr. Massingale is also 'pulling a Bernardin,' by ignoring the heirarchy of moral values. It is impossible to make the case that supporting marriage is 'in opposition' to "human well-being." He is able to say that only by speculating that the Legislature and citizens of Wisconsin will deliberately act (or fail to act) to harm people.
That speculation is offensive on its face, and Fr. Massingale owes us an apology.
The JSOnline noticed that Fr. Massingale seems to be taking a position directly opposed to the teaching of the competent authority (the Archbishop of Milwaukee) on the question of the Homosex "Marriage" amendment. Interesting that they noticed it only 4 weeks after Fr Massingale's manifesto was printed...
In any case, there are a couple of interesting little points which deserve some notice.
Father Bryan Massingale, an associate professor of moral theology at Marquette University, wrote a lengthy essay in which he struggled with the idea that "the amendment, read in its entirety, poses a dilemma for many faithful people."
Really? Fr. Massingale did not "struggle." In fact, he initiated the concept that " [it] poses a dilemma..."
"The amendment upholds certain beliefs about the uniqueness of marriage," he wrote in the Sept. 21 issue. "But it does so at a cost, namely, potentially damaging impacts upon the welfare of individuals and their children."
Those "certain beliefs" happen to be founded on natural law and enshrined by the Church as a sacrament, no less. On the other hand, "potential" damage is just that--potential.
"I do not see myself as a person in opposition to the bishops," Massingale said Thursday in a telephone interview.
Right. So long as 3 is equal to 5, there's no opposition here, Father.
When Massingale's scheduled appearance at St. John Vianney in Brookfield was abruptly postponed Tuesday, some parishioners worried that he was somehow being silenced by the church.
"I called the parish the previous week and expressed concerns that because this was a more public event than originally planned, it could easily become mischaracterized," Massingale said. "So the archdiocese had no part or no role in that decision at all."
A "more public event"? That parish printed an announcement of your appearance in more than 1000 bulletins which were distributed to most people who attended Mass over the weekend. That's pretty "public" all by itself. Only 150 people showed up--not exactly a Bradley Center-class event. But notice: Massingale does NOT tell you exactly why the event was "postponed."
"If [the Archbishop] had any concerns about anything I've written he would have expressed them to me directly and not done anything through any intermediary," he said.
Just a co-incidence that the Archbishop phoned in to a morning talk-show yesterday to specifically re-state his authoritative teaching on the amendment, eh Father?
In an Oct. 19 letter to the Catholic Herald, Massingale responded to some critics and concluded that "one can believe in what is called 'traditional' marriage - and even 'defend' it - without supporting this amendment. Indeed, we must not reinforce the institution of marriage through a measure which carries the risk of endangering human well-being."
Fr. Massingale conflates to deceive. First off, "the risk" of not having health-care is about zero, since Federal law requires hospitals and MD's to render care without regard for ability to pay. I know of NO doctors who refuse treatement due to monetary concerns--conversely, I know MANY doctors who voluntarily render treatment at no cost through Milwaukee-area 'free clinics.'
As I mentioned before, Fr. Massingale is also 'pulling a Bernardin,' by ignoring the heirarchy of moral values. It is impossible to make the case that supporting marriage is 'in opposition' to "human well-being." He is able to say that only by speculating that the Legislature and citizens of Wisconsin will deliberately act (or fail to act) to harm people.
That speculation is offensive on its face, and Fr. Massingale owes us an apology.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Italian Bishops Don't Like Benedict's Message
Here's the relevant part of a lengthy article focusing on recent Italian church-politics. It's relevant because it's not too far from the situation in the USA.
During the first three days in Verona, the Tettamanzi effect had stunning success. In the absence of Benedict XVI and with the silence of cardinal Ruini, the dominant words among the delegates, divided into dozens of groups for parallel discussions, were “welcoming,” “listening,” “dialogue,” “oblation”: words imbued more with passion than with analysis of the epochal changes that have taken place in the world and in the Church over the past twenty years. The pope was almost completely ignored, even by the official speakers. His lecture in Regensburg was cited only once: by the rector of the Catholic University of Milan, Lorenzo Ornaghi, a dyed-in-the-wool disciple of Ruini.
That was until Benedict XVI arrived and pulverized what had held the stage until then. “L’Osservatore Romano,” on the mark for once, printed the papal address beneath a full-page headline: “To restore full citizenship to the Christian faith.” This means the public citizenship, equivalent in secular terms, of Christians capable of saying ‘no’ (and the pope omitted nothing of what he sees as obligatory for the defense of human life from conception to natural death, the family, freedom of education) but above all of saying ‘yes’ “to everything that is right, true, and pure in cultures and civilizations,” in short, “that great ‘yes’ that, in Jesus Christ, God has spoken to man and to his life.” This is, in essence – the pope said – the “cultural project” conceived and implemented for the Italian Church by cardinal Ruini.
Ruini had been ignored, and his first sponsor, John Paul II, was derided as a rube from Poland who didn't really get it. (Yes, the Intellectualoids over there are the same as here--brie-and-wine dilettantes...)
Perhaps the most obnoxious (but, to be sure, suave and debonair Italian nay-sayer was until recently the Cardinal of Milan--a Jesuit--and close personal friend of none other than Rembert Weakland.
NOW you know why it's relevant...
During the first three days in Verona, the Tettamanzi effect had stunning success. In the absence of Benedict XVI and with the silence of cardinal Ruini, the dominant words among the delegates, divided into dozens of groups for parallel discussions, were “welcoming,” “listening,” “dialogue,” “oblation”: words imbued more with passion than with analysis of the epochal changes that have taken place in the world and in the Church over the past twenty years. The pope was almost completely ignored, even by the official speakers. His lecture in Regensburg was cited only once: by the rector of the Catholic University of Milan, Lorenzo Ornaghi, a dyed-in-the-wool disciple of Ruini.
That was until Benedict XVI arrived and pulverized what had held the stage until then. “L’Osservatore Romano,” on the mark for once, printed the papal address beneath a full-page headline: “To restore full citizenship to the Christian faith.” This means the public citizenship, equivalent in secular terms, of Christians capable of saying ‘no’ (and the pope omitted nothing of what he sees as obligatory for the defense of human life from conception to natural death, the family, freedom of education) but above all of saying ‘yes’ “to everything that is right, true, and pure in cultures and civilizations,” in short, “that great ‘yes’ that, in Jesus Christ, God has spoken to man and to his life.” This is, in essence – the pope said – the “cultural project” conceived and implemented for the Italian Church by cardinal Ruini.
Ruini had been ignored, and his first sponsor, John Paul II, was derided as a rube from Poland who didn't really get it. (Yes, the Intellectualoids over there are the same as here--brie-and-wine dilettantes...)
Perhaps the most obnoxious (but, to be sure, suave and debonair Italian nay-sayer was until recently the Cardinal of Milan--a Jesuit--and close personal friend of none other than Rembert Weakland.
NOW you know why it's relevant...
The French Army's Bishops
Talk about stark raving fear:
French clerics are leading the opposition to release of a papal document that would allow wider use of the traditional Latin Mass.
A group of 35 French bishops and priests have issued a statement urging Pope Benedict XVI not to issue the motu proprio that has been widely discussed in recent weeks. The clerics predict that by allowing broader use of the Tridentine rite, the papal document would "plunge us back into the liturgical life of another age."
The opposition is particularly evident among French bishops, many of whom have given clear public indications of their hostility toward the papal initiative. Bishop Robert Le Gall of Toulouse told the daily La Croix that permission to use the Latin Mass would "create grave difficulties, especially for those who have remained loyal to Vatican II." Sounding the same theme, Bishop Andre Lacrampe of Besançon said that "one cannot erase Vatican II with a stroke of the pen."
The remarks by these Mitred Frogs are similar to the outright lies we encounter on our side of the pond regarding, say, gay "marriage." Ridiculous on their face, deceptive, or just plain outright lies.
Are these guys working for Darth Doyle? They could be...
French clerics are leading the opposition to release of a papal document that would allow wider use of the traditional Latin Mass.
A group of 35 French bishops and priests have issued a statement urging Pope Benedict XVI not to issue the motu proprio that has been widely discussed in recent weeks. The clerics predict that by allowing broader use of the Tridentine rite, the papal document would "plunge us back into the liturgical life of another age."
The opposition is particularly evident among French bishops, many of whom have given clear public indications of their hostility toward the papal initiative. Bishop Robert Le Gall of Toulouse told the daily La Croix that permission to use the Latin Mass would "create grave difficulties, especially for those who have remained loyal to Vatican II." Sounding the same theme, Bishop Andre Lacrampe of Besançon said that "one cannot erase Vatican II with a stroke of the pen."
The remarks by these Mitred Frogs are similar to the outright lies we encounter on our side of the pond regarding, say, gay "marriage." Ridiculous on their face, deceptive, or just plain outright lies.
Are these guys working for Darth Doyle? They could be...
Consumerism
Stolen from Laudator:
Diogenes Laertius 2.25 (Socrates, tr. R.D. Hicks):
Often when he looked at the multitude of wares exposed for sale, he would say to himself, "How many things I can do without!"
Hell, that happens every time I open my wife's closet...
Diogenes Laertius 2.25 (Socrates, tr. R.D. Hicks):
Often when he looked at the multitude of wares exposed for sale, he would say to himself, "How many things I can do without!"
Hell, that happens every time I open my wife's closet...
Another Blogroll Addition
What with all the sturm und drang surrounding New Jersey, Massachusetts, the Wisconsin Amendment proposal, and other bits and pieces having to do with homosexuality, this blog is most interesting.
And reassuring.
Written by a Roman Catholic homosexual living in Washington DC, it maintains current-events interest and at the same time a very human series of reflections.
And reassuring.
Written by a Roman Catholic homosexual living in Washington DC, it maintains current-events interest and at the same time a very human series of reflections.
More Russell Kirk from Dreher
Just Great Stuff:
The great line of demarcation in modern politics, Eric Voegelin used to point out, is not a division between liberals on one side and totalitarians on the other. No, on one side of that line are all those men and women who fancy that the temporal order is the only order, and that material needs are their only needs, and that they may do as they like with the human patrimony. On the other side of that line are all those people who recognize an enduring moral order in the universe, a constant human nature, and high duties toward the order spiritual and the order temporal.
(Daniel Larison quoting Kirk in an essay on H. MacDonald's essay regarding Christians in the Republican Party.)
The great line of demarcation in modern politics, Eric Voegelin used to point out, is not a division between liberals on one side and totalitarians on the other. No, on one side of that line are all those men and women who fancy that the temporal order is the only order, and that material needs are their only needs, and that they may do as they like with the human patrimony. On the other side of that line are all those people who recognize an enduring moral order in the universe, a constant human nature, and high duties toward the order spiritual and the order temporal.
(Daniel Larison quoting Kirk in an essay on H. MacDonald's essay regarding Christians in the Republican Party.)
The Archbishop and the Mullah
There's a bit of controversy over some Mullah's remarks about women and rape:
Sheik Alhilali drew widespread condemnation for likening scantily clad women to uncovered meat eaten by animals in a sermon to 500 people last month, The Australian reported today.
Sheik Hilaly's reported comments, made in a Ramadan sermon, compared women who wore make-up and dressed immodestly to meat that attracted cats.
He blamed women who "sway suggestively" and who wore make-up and no hijab (Islamic scarf) for sexual attacks."
If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat?" he said.
Seems to me that a certain Archbishop once remarked that 'some of those [young boys] are very streetwise and [are perhaps seducing] priests...' or words to that effect.
Sheik Alhilali drew widespread condemnation for likening scantily clad women to uncovered meat eaten by animals in a sermon to 500 people last month, The Australian reported today.
Sheik Hilaly's reported comments, made in a Ramadan sermon, compared women who wore make-up and dressed immodestly to meat that attracted cats.
He blamed women who "sway suggestively" and who wore make-up and no hijab (Islamic scarf) for sexual attacks."
If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat?" he said.
Seems to me that a certain Archbishop once remarked that 'some of those [young boys] are very streetwise and [are perhaps seducing] priests...' or words to that effect.
Student Self-Defense? Not in Texas Anymore
You recall that a Texas school district employee decided to teach students some elementary self-defense techniques for use if they were confronted with an armed intruder. The guy was not talking about guns, nor about "using textbooks as 'bulletproof shields.'" His advice was to swarm the attacker and use fists, fingernails, teeth, and feet to disable/injure him.
Made sense to me. Probably even made sense to Folkbum and Other Side.
But not to the Burleson School District.
The Burleson school district has “reassigned” Greg Crane, the teacher who was behind the training that taught students to fight back against an armed attacker. Mr. Crane was formerly a police officer and developed the idea when he asked his wife, a teacher, what she would do if her classroom were to be attacked and she didn’t have an answer.
Last Friday the district sent a letter to all parents outlining that they do not support any student resisting an attacker (i.e. they want to continue with the failed cooperate and die strategy).
The letter was signed by all principals in the district, save one, the principal of the school where Greg Crane taught, who also happens to be his wife.
Greg Crane was “reassigned” from his classroom teaching role to working from home.
The Burleson school district is now hiding behind confidentiality rules with regards to Mr. Crane and won’t discuss him further.
Mr. Crane says he has not been given a reason for the “reassignment” and is retaining a lawyer.
What the HELL is the matter with this School District?
Made sense to me. Probably even made sense to Folkbum and Other Side.
But not to the Burleson School District.
The Burleson school district has “reassigned” Greg Crane, the teacher who was behind the training that taught students to fight back against an armed attacker. Mr. Crane was formerly a police officer and developed the idea when he asked his wife, a teacher, what she would do if her classroom were to be attacked and she didn’t have an answer.
Last Friday the district sent a letter to all parents outlining that they do not support any student resisting an attacker (i.e. they want to continue with the failed cooperate and die strategy).
The letter was signed by all principals in the district, save one, the principal of the school where Greg Crane taught, who also happens to be his wife.
Greg Crane was “reassigned” from his classroom teaching role to working from home.
The Burleson school district is now hiding behind confidentiality rules with regards to Mr. Crane and won’t discuss him further.
Mr. Crane says he has not been given a reason for the “reassignment” and is retaining a lawyer.
What the HELL is the matter with this School District?
Lying About Tom Reynolds
Jessica came up with this one:
It has come to my attention that a commercial currently being aired on the radio paid for by the Greater Wisconsin PAC accuses State Senator Tom Reynolds of being too extreme to hire women on his staff. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Deborah Bowers and I have been on Senator Reynolds’ staff since January 31, 2005.
...He did not ask me anything about my beliefs about Heaven, nor did he ask me about my marital fidelity. Rather, he stuck to job appropriate questions, such as experience and education. I never felt that he pried into my personal life between my husband and me. Since he is a Legislator, we did discuss political beliefs, realizing that we were of like mind on many, but not all topics.
Lying about Reynolds. Lying about homosexual marriage. Lying about EMBRYONIC stem-cell research.
Maybe you detect a pattern...
It has come to my attention that a commercial currently being aired on the radio paid for by the Greater Wisconsin PAC accuses State Senator Tom Reynolds of being too extreme to hire women on his staff. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Deborah Bowers and I have been on Senator Reynolds’ staff since January 31, 2005.
...He did not ask me anything about my beliefs about Heaven, nor did he ask me about my marital fidelity. Rather, he stuck to job appropriate questions, such as experience and education. I never felt that he pried into my personal life between my husband and me. Since he is a Legislator, we did discuss political beliefs, realizing that we were of like mind on many, but not all topics.
Lying about Reynolds. Lying about homosexual marriage. Lying about EMBRYONIC stem-cell research.
Maybe you detect a pattern...
Abp Dolan To Come Out Swinging
The Archbishop of Milwaukee, Timothy Dolan, has dumped his 'cheesehead' in favor of his mitre and crook, and takes a public stand on Homosex Marriage, aimed at a large audience:
He will be appearing live on the Weber show during the 10AM (CDT) hour today, October 26, to re-iterate his authoritative teaching on marriage.
Attaboy, Your Grace!!
Streaming broadcast HERE for you out-staters.
He will be appearing live on the Weber show during the 10AM (CDT) hour today, October 26, to re-iterate his authoritative teaching on marriage.
Attaboy, Your Grace!!
Streaming broadcast HERE for you out-staters.
More on Vote YES!
Owen comes up with the good stuff:
Many of these statutory rights and benefits, [of marriage] while automatically conferred on married couples, are not exclusive to marriage and can be completely or nearly replicated for unmarried individuals
...Further, no evidence appears to exist to show that the intent of the provision in question is to prohibit unmarried individuals from receiving benefits or utilizing the law in such a way as to allow them to privately order their lives even though such benefits or use of the laws may result in the unmarried individuals sharing in benefits or protections that also happen to be offered to married persons.
(Wisconsin Legislative Council opinion.)
Plain and simple: the "Vote No" crowd is lying, lying, lying about the effects of The Amendment. That includes Fr. Brian Massingale, by the way. (PDF file, scroll down to P. 4)
Many of these statutory rights and benefits, [of marriage] while automatically conferred on married couples, are not exclusive to marriage and can be completely or nearly replicated for unmarried individuals
...Further, no evidence appears to exist to show that the intent of the provision in question is to prohibit unmarried individuals from receiving benefits or utilizing the law in such a way as to allow them to privately order their lives even though such benefits or use of the laws may result in the unmarried individuals sharing in benefits or protections that also happen to be offered to married persons.
(Wisconsin Legislative Council opinion.)
Plain and simple: the "Vote No" crowd is lying, lying, lying about the effects of The Amendment. That includes Fr. Brian Massingale, by the way. (PDF file, scroll down to P. 4)
Paperwork--the Silent Killer
Yah, they did it again!!
A woman told police Julius M. King, 22, pointed a shotgun at her and threatened to kill her Aug. 11, but the misdemeanor charge filed against him in that case four days later didn't result in a warrant until Sept. 11 - four days after King's arrest in the Aug. 26 shooting death of Fabian Binns.
A month here, a month there...
According to police records shared by District Attorney E. Michael McCann, King's neighbor told police he pointed a shotgun at her Aug. 11 after she and his girlfriend had been brawling outside. King didn't answer his doorbell when police got there, so a report was filed.
On Aug. 15, a prosecutor working in the nearest police station under McCann's community-prosecution program signed a criminal complaint charging King with endangering safety, and it was sent downtown the next day so a Circuit Court commissioner could authorize an arrest warrant.
But that took weeks, McCann said, because the neighbor was the only witness against King.
Under McCann's policy, the head of the misdemeanor unit reviews all such cases.
"It is slowed by the fact that we are careful that we don't issue a warrant incorrectly," McCann said.
Oh--it gets better:
Assistant District Attorney Karen Loebel, head of the misdemeanor unit, approved a warrant by Aug. 31, McCann said.
In the interim, King was on the street, and according to another criminal complaint, on Aug. 26 he fetched his .38-caliber revolver from the basement of his home to follow up on an argument between Binns and a woman. He went to the scene of the fight and found Binns on a nearby sidewalk. King, wearing a mask, approached Binns in front of a gas station, closed his eyes and fired a shot before running away, the complaint says. Binns, shot in the back of the head, was later pronounced dead at the scene.
King was charged on Sept. 8 with first-degree intentional homicide in Binns' death.
Three days later, Court Commissioner Barry Slagle signed the warrant for King's arrest on the Aug. 15 misdemeanor charge, which was to be taken to the clerk of courts' office for processing.
Slagle had the paperwork on August 31. He signs it on September 11th.
Labor Day weekend, and all, you know.
As to the real problem (you've already guessed, right?)
McCann blamed the delay on a matter of resources.
"It's all backlogged," McCann said. "There's people with a lot of things, people with priorities they have to do."
McCann said his office was short on both staffing and money
So "waving a shotgun around" is not a priority because we need more TAX MONEY.
A woman told police Julius M. King, 22, pointed a shotgun at her and threatened to kill her Aug. 11, but the misdemeanor charge filed against him in that case four days later didn't result in a warrant until Sept. 11 - four days after King's arrest in the Aug. 26 shooting death of Fabian Binns.
A month here, a month there...
According to police records shared by District Attorney E. Michael McCann, King's neighbor told police he pointed a shotgun at her Aug. 11 after she and his girlfriend had been brawling outside. King didn't answer his doorbell when police got there, so a report was filed.
On Aug. 15, a prosecutor working in the nearest police station under McCann's community-prosecution program signed a criminal complaint charging King with endangering safety, and it was sent downtown the next day so a Circuit Court commissioner could authorize an arrest warrant.
But that took weeks, McCann said, because the neighbor was the only witness against King.
Under McCann's policy, the head of the misdemeanor unit reviews all such cases.
"It is slowed by the fact that we are careful that we don't issue a warrant incorrectly," McCann said.
Oh--it gets better:
Assistant District Attorney Karen Loebel, head of the misdemeanor unit, approved a warrant by Aug. 31, McCann said.
In the interim, King was on the street, and according to another criminal complaint, on Aug. 26 he fetched his .38-caliber revolver from the basement of his home to follow up on an argument between Binns and a woman. He went to the scene of the fight and found Binns on a nearby sidewalk. King, wearing a mask, approached Binns in front of a gas station, closed his eyes and fired a shot before running away, the complaint says. Binns, shot in the back of the head, was later pronounced dead at the scene.
King was charged on Sept. 8 with first-degree intentional homicide in Binns' death.
Three days later, Court Commissioner Barry Slagle signed the warrant for King's arrest on the Aug. 15 misdemeanor charge, which was to be taken to the clerk of courts' office for processing.
Slagle had the paperwork on August 31. He signs it on September 11th.
Labor Day weekend, and all, you know.
As to the real problem (you've already guessed, right?)
McCann blamed the delay on a matter of resources.
"It's all backlogged," McCann said. "There's people with a lot of things, people with priorities they have to do."
McCann said his office was short on both staffing and money
So "waving a shotgun around" is not a priority because we need more TAX MONEY.
Dear, Deer
Well, DNR's managed to drop $26 million and get nowhere.
A nearly five-year-long, $26.8 million campaign that has failed to control the spread of chronic wasting disease is forcing the state Department of Natural Resources to revamp its strategy.
Chronic wasting disease is centered in a region west of Madison in portions of Dane and Iowa counties. But pockets have been found across southern Wisconsin, including northern Walworth County.
The assessment of wildlife health experts who believe these "sparks" of infection must be eliminated before they get bigger continues to concern the DNR; so does the potential devastation of a cultural tradition and economic contributor to the state.
A new concern is a study published this month by the University of Georgia that provides the best evidence to date that the brain-destroying illness is spread through saliva, meaning that high concentrations of deer could fan the disease.
Deer? Swapping spit? How's that go...Kiss the deer and make him die...?
A nearly five-year-long, $26.8 million campaign that has failed to control the spread of chronic wasting disease is forcing the state Department of Natural Resources to revamp its strategy.
Chronic wasting disease is centered in a region west of Madison in portions of Dane and Iowa counties. But pockets have been found across southern Wisconsin, including northern Walworth County.
The assessment of wildlife health experts who believe these "sparks" of infection must be eliminated before they get bigger continues to concern the DNR; so does the potential devastation of a cultural tradition and economic contributor to the state.
A new concern is a study published this month by the University of Georgia that provides the best evidence to date that the brain-destroying illness is spread through saliva, meaning that high concentrations of deer could fan the disease.
Deer? Swapping spit? How's that go...Kiss the deer and make him die...?
New Zealand's Humming
Need a grounding pitch?
Scientists investigating a strange humming sound in the New Zealand city of Auckland believe they have pinpointed the frequency.
The source of the noise, however, remains a mystery.
According to Dr Tom Moir, a computer engineer at Massey University's Institute of Information and Mathematical Sciences, the low level drone is almost certainly hitting the scales at a frequency of 56hz.
That however, has not brought the sleuths any closer to pinpointing the source of the hum which they have dubbed the Unidentified Acoustic Phenomena.
Dr Moir rules out geological factors. "It's more likely to be things like pipes under the ground - you know, gas pipes, sewerage pipes, factories in the distance."
It could also be a 'trick-or-treat' request.
Scientists investigating a strange humming sound in the New Zealand city of Auckland believe they have pinpointed the frequency.
The source of the noise, however, remains a mystery.
According to Dr Tom Moir, a computer engineer at Massey University's Institute of Information and Mathematical Sciences, the low level drone is almost certainly hitting the scales at a frequency of 56hz.
That however, has not brought the sleuths any closer to pinpointing the source of the hum which they have dubbed the Unidentified Acoustic Phenomena.
Dr Moir rules out geological factors. "It's more likely to be things like pipes under the ground - you know, gas pipes, sewerage pipes, factories in the distance."
It could also be a 'trick-or-treat' request.
An Unexpected Meeting
This guy's about to get a surprise:
Philip Kevin Paulson, who fought a 17-year legal battle to remove the Mount Soledad cross from public property, died Wednesday of liver cancer. He was 59
In comments made prior to his demise, he said:
“It has nothing to do with me being an atheist" ...
I'm sure that his argumentation will be even more passionate on meeting St. Pete.
Philip Kevin Paulson, who fought a 17-year legal battle to remove the Mount Soledad cross from public property, died Wednesday of liver cancer. He was 59
In comments made prior to his demise, he said:
“It has nothing to do with me being an atheist" ...
I'm sure that his argumentation will be even more passionate on meeting St. Pete.
New Jersey vs. Wisconsin
When the lawsuits start here, that's what the title may as well be.
A ruling by the Massachusetts high court in 2003 introduced same-sex marriage to the United States. But activists on both sides viewed the New Jersey decision as even more significant because the Garden State, unlike Massachusetts, has no law barring out-of-state couples from wedding there if their marriages would not be recognized in their home states.
New Jersey – one of only five states without a law or a state constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one man and one woman – could become a destination for homosexual couples from around the U.S. who would return home and sue to have their marriages recognized.
A whole new meaning to the term "destination spot..."
And a whole new meaning to the term "equal benefits and privileges"
"The issue is not about the transformation of the traditional definition of marriage, but about the unequal dispensation of benefits and privileges to one of two similarly situated classes of people," the court said.
Thespinners propagandists here were prepared:
"The people of Wisconsin aren't for gay marriage, but they don't want to rip away any semblance of legal protections from their neighbors," [said] Mike Tate of the "Vote No" bunch.
Undermining Tate's blustery baloney is current New Jersey law:
Under existing law, same-sex couples can enjoy some of the legal rights of marriage, such as health care for the partners of state workers and the right to inherit possessions if a partner leaves behind no will.
And "Vote Yes for Marriage" was vindicated:
"We are saddened that the Supreme Court of New Jersey continues on a parade of legislating from the bench," said John Tomicki, executive director of League of American Families.
You can bet that Screechin'Shirley Abrahamson has already cut-and-pasted the language from the SCONJ for use in an upcoming decision.
And Althouse, who is in favor of gay "marriage" concurs that the SCOWIS could easily impose this fiction on Wisconsin:
. . the judges do not, I think, provide the kind of assurances that would undercut the argument proponents of the amendment make that it is needed to thwart some future state supreme court case finding a state law right to same-sex marriage. . . .
[Less convoluted translation: the SCOWIS is inclined to rule in favor of Homosex "marriage."] HT: Marquette Warrior
A ruling by the Massachusetts high court in 2003 introduced same-sex marriage to the United States. But activists on both sides viewed the New Jersey decision as even more significant because the Garden State, unlike Massachusetts, has no law barring out-of-state couples from wedding there if their marriages would not be recognized in their home states.
New Jersey – one of only five states without a law or a state constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one man and one woman – could become a destination for homosexual couples from around the U.S. who would return home and sue to have their marriages recognized.
A whole new meaning to the term "destination spot..."
And a whole new meaning to the term "equal benefits and privileges"
"The issue is not about the transformation of the traditional definition of marriage, but about the unequal dispensation of benefits and privileges to one of two similarly situated classes of people," the court said.
The
"The people of Wisconsin aren't for gay marriage, but they don't want to rip away any semblance of legal protections from their neighbors," [said] Mike Tate of the "Vote No" bunch.
Undermining Tate's blustery baloney is current New Jersey law:
Under existing law, same-sex couples can enjoy some of the legal rights of marriage, such as health care for the partners of state workers and the right to inherit possessions if a partner leaves behind no will.
And "Vote Yes for Marriage" was vindicated:
"We are saddened that the Supreme Court of New Jersey continues on a parade of legislating from the bench," said John Tomicki, executive director of League of American Families.
You can bet that Screechin'Shirley Abrahamson has already cut-and-pasted the language from the SCONJ for use in an upcoming decision.
And Althouse, who is in favor of gay "marriage" concurs that the SCOWIS could easily impose this fiction on Wisconsin:
. . the judges do not, I think, provide the kind of assurances that would undercut the argument proponents of the amendment make that it is needed to thwart some future state supreme court case finding a state law right to same-sex marriage. . . .
[Less convoluted translation: the SCOWIS is inclined to rule in favor of Homosex "marriage."] HT: Marquette Warrior
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The Lingua Franca de Roma
Noticed by a number of blogs, this stolen from Ten Reasons:
By the way, the regularly scheduled Novus Ordo Masses at St. Peters are all now in Latin - except for the readings - which are in a variety of languages and the homily - and it is chanted. They hand out little booklets - Latin Chant on the right side and the translation in English, French and Spanish on the other side - it's a small pamphlet - and they let you take it with you! Gee - methinks a change is underfoot - AND they don't look particularly expensive. Everyone gets one!
When in a universal city, use the universal language. Should be the case at all Cathedrals worldwide, given that most tourists and international visitors will stay in hotels near Cathedrals.
By the way, the regularly scheduled Novus Ordo Masses at St. Peters are all now in Latin - except for the readings - which are in a variety of languages and the homily - and it is chanted. They hand out little booklets - Latin Chant on the right side and the translation in English, French and Spanish on the other side - it's a small pamphlet - and they let you take it with you! Gee - methinks a change is underfoot - AND they don't look particularly expensive. Everyone gets one!
When in a universal city, use the universal language. Should be the case at all Cathedrals worldwide, given that most tourists and international visitors will stay in hotels near Cathedrals.
Catholic "Non-Negotiables" in Voting
For the informed Catholic, there are only a few things which are "non-negotiable" in voting, as outlined by Benedict XVI and re-iterated by Bp. Olmstead of Phoenix, AZ.
In an address to European politicians on March 30, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI stated:
“ As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the principal focus of her interventions in the public arena is the protection and promotion of the dignity of the person, and she is thereby consciously drawing particular attention to principles which are not negotiable. Among these the following emerge clearly today:
• Protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception until natural death;
• Recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family – as a union between a man and a woman based on marriage – and its defense from attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different forms of union which in reality harm it and contribute to its destabilization, obscuring its particular character and its irreplaceable social role;
• The protection of the rights of parents to educate their children.”
The issues mentioned by Pope Benedict are all “non-negotiable” and are some of the most contemporary issues in the political arena. I should note, however, that other issues, while not intrinsically evil, deserve prayerful consideration, such as questions of war and capital punishment, poverty issues and matters relating to illegal immigration.
HT: Custos Fidei
In an address to European politicians on March 30, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI stated:
“ As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the principal focus of her interventions in the public arena is the protection and promotion of the dignity of the person, and she is thereby consciously drawing particular attention to principles which are not negotiable. Among these the following emerge clearly today:
• Protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception until natural death;
• Recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family – as a union between a man and a woman based on marriage – and its defense from attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different forms of union which in reality harm it and contribute to its destabilization, obscuring its particular character and its irreplaceable social role;
• The protection of the rights of parents to educate their children.”
The issues mentioned by Pope Benedict are all “non-negotiable” and are some of the most contemporary issues in the political arena. I should note, however, that other issues, while not intrinsically evil, deserve prayerful consideration, such as questions of war and capital punishment, poverty issues and matters relating to illegal immigration.
HT: Custos Fidei
Purification: Not for the Extraordinary Ministers Any More
At the direction of Pope Benedict XVI, extraordinary ministers of holy Communion will no longer be permitted to assist in the purification of the sacred vessels at Masses in the United States.
In an Oct. 23 letter, Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asked his fellow bishops to inform all pastors of the change, which was prompted by a letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
The USCC also reminded Bishops and pastors of the following:
The document notes that the "extraordinary ministry" by which laypeople distribute Communion "was created exclusively for those instances where there are not enough ordinary ministers to distribute holy Communion [in a timely fashion].
I'm certain that we will see the results of this directive immediately.
HT: Christus Vincit
In an Oct. 23 letter, Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asked his fellow bishops to inform all pastors of the change, which was prompted by a letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
The USCC also reminded Bishops and pastors of the following:
The document notes that the "extraordinary ministry" by which laypeople distribute Communion "was created exclusively for those instances where there are not enough ordinary ministers to distribute holy Communion [in a timely fashion].
I'm certain that we will see the results of this directive immediately.
HT: Christus Vincit
On the Mess in Iraq
Almost nightly, a number of Iraqi civilians are tortured and/or killed. While this is reported, the "why" is never mentioned in the press, whether US or Iraqi. Tech Central Station has a hypothesis.
When there is a significant fraction of the population that will not join in political compromise, whether because of ideological idealism, addiction to supernatural power, or the passion for revenge, civil society is faced with a diabolical paradox.
It wishes to form legal and political institutions that are transparent, correctable by debate, and under the control of the people (with protections for minorities), where people can make good money in the marketplace and raise families in peace. But the reality is that even after all possible compromises have been offered to the refuseniks, civil society is faced with a small but absolutely hostile minority that will be content with nothing but total victory.
What can civil society do? The only solution is the disappearance of that implacable moiety. Civil society cannot use the instruments of government to stamp out its mortal enemy—for that would be to invalidate and destroy the very principles and legitimacy of that government, and set in place a precedent by which normal political squabbles could in future be settled by genocide or the Gulag.
The enemies of the legitimate Iraqi government are almost exclusively Sunnis (though so too are many of its supporters). By logical necessity the exterminators would have to be mostly Shiites and Kurds. The government simply cannot afford to go after its enemies in the systematic way required, for that would be to destroy its claim to represent all minorities. There are, from the point of view of Iraq's nascent civil society, some thousands of people who, in the Texas phrase, need killing. Who is going to do it?
In the absence of government intervention, the answer is: ordinary people. Basically the killers are posses of self-organized vigilantes, who know their local area, who know who the bombers are, and who the bombers' relatives are. The posses are expert in distinguishing those people who might be fair political enemies from those who will go on striking, like a snake, even when cut in two.
This has precedent:
...death squads are rational, in their own horrible way. They may prove, as they did in Latin America, to be a pretty effective method of wiping out implacable enemies of social order and preparing the way for democratic and law-abiding government. In living memory almost every decent and legal regime in Latin America was preceded by a chaotic period in which ordinary men armed themselves with guns, said goodnight to their families, and went out in groups to kill some local dissident.
If civil society finds itself threatened by utter chaos, it may resort to free-enterprise war against its enemy. By definition what it does then cannot be law-abiding or approved by its own government; it is in Hobbes' state of nature; but it can be a kind of savage rationality that might precede law.
But, as Socrates knew, this dark archetypal crime must be hidden. The American authorities in Baghdad are not saying much about it because the vigilantes are doing their work for them, with infinitely greater precision and expertise. The Iraqi government is not doing or saying much about it either, because it would lose legitimacy if it cooperated with the death squads, and sabotage its own interests if it tried (probably unsuccessfully, anyway) to stop them; but it obviously cannot admit that this inaction is its policy. The U.S. Republican Press cannot say anything about it because it would imply in an election year that it approved of the death squads. The Democratic Press cannot give the vital information—that most of the victims probably deserve their fate—because that would imply that the Iraqis have finally started to do what they were expected to do all along, that is, clean up their own house.
An interesting theory. Let's hope that the work is finished soon.
When there is a significant fraction of the population that will not join in political compromise, whether because of ideological idealism, addiction to supernatural power, or the passion for revenge, civil society is faced with a diabolical paradox.
It wishes to form legal and political institutions that are transparent, correctable by debate, and under the control of the people (with protections for minorities), where people can make good money in the marketplace and raise families in peace. But the reality is that even after all possible compromises have been offered to the refuseniks, civil society is faced with a small but absolutely hostile minority that will be content with nothing but total victory.
What can civil society do? The only solution is the disappearance of that implacable moiety. Civil society cannot use the instruments of government to stamp out its mortal enemy—for that would be to invalidate and destroy the very principles and legitimacy of that government, and set in place a precedent by which normal political squabbles could in future be settled by genocide or the Gulag.
The enemies of the legitimate Iraqi government are almost exclusively Sunnis (though so too are many of its supporters). By logical necessity the exterminators would have to be mostly Shiites and Kurds. The government simply cannot afford to go after its enemies in the systematic way required, for that would be to destroy its claim to represent all minorities. There are, from the point of view of Iraq's nascent civil society, some thousands of people who, in the Texas phrase, need killing. Who is going to do it?
In the absence of government intervention, the answer is: ordinary people. Basically the killers are posses of self-organized vigilantes, who know their local area, who know who the bombers are, and who the bombers' relatives are. The posses are expert in distinguishing those people who might be fair political enemies from those who will go on striking, like a snake, even when cut in two.
This has precedent:
...death squads are rational, in their own horrible way. They may prove, as they did in Latin America, to be a pretty effective method of wiping out implacable enemies of social order and preparing the way for democratic and law-abiding government. In living memory almost every decent and legal regime in Latin America was preceded by a chaotic period in which ordinary men armed themselves with guns, said goodnight to their families, and went out in groups to kill some local dissident.
If civil society finds itself threatened by utter chaos, it may resort to free-enterprise war against its enemy. By definition what it does then cannot be law-abiding or approved by its own government; it is in Hobbes' state of nature; but it can be a kind of savage rationality that might precede law.
But, as Socrates knew, this dark archetypal crime must be hidden. The American authorities in Baghdad are not saying much about it because the vigilantes are doing their work for them, with infinitely greater precision and expertise. The Iraqi government is not doing or saying much about it either, because it would lose legitimacy if it cooperated with the death squads, and sabotage its own interests if it tried (probably unsuccessfully, anyway) to stop them; but it obviously cannot admit that this inaction is its policy. The U.S. Republican Press cannot say anything about it because it would imply in an election year that it approved of the death squads. The Democratic Press cannot give the vital information—that most of the victims probably deserve their fate—because that would imply that the Iraqis have finally started to do what they were expected to do all along, that is, clean up their own house.
An interesting theory. Let's hope that the work is finished soon.
WI DNR: Licensed to Do Whatever It Wants to Do
Preposterous? Inane?
Well, it's the opinion of some Blackrobes. YOU decide:
The DNR can enforce actions against oversized piers, even if no one complains about them. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals on Oct. 10 held that, notwithstanding agency rules to the contrary, the DNR’s obligation to protect the public trumps the rule.
Here's the background story:
Thomas and Michele Baer own lakefront property in Vilas County, and maintained two piers on the lake.
In November 1999, an agent from the Department of Natural Resources visited the area to inspect a boat shelter the Baers had built on their property. In the process of viewing the boat shelter, the agent observed that the piers exceeded the dimensions allowed by the DNR without a permit.
When the Baers failed to take action to reduce the size of the piers, the DNR commenced an enforcement action, pursuant to sec. 30.03(4)(a), which authorizes such an action, “[i]f the department learns of a possible violation of the statutes relating to navigable waters or a possible infringement of the public rights relating to navigable waters.”
An administrative law judge ordered that the piers be reduced in size. The Baers petitioned for judicial review, and Rock County Circuit Court Judge John W. Roethe vacated the orders, concluding that the DNR lacked authority to bring the action because a department employee first discovered the alleged pier violations on her own, rather than as a result of a third-party complaint or a request from the pier owner for information or a permit.
The DNR appealed, and the court of appeals reversed, in a decision by Judge David G. Deininger.
...The Baers also emphasized that sec. 30.02(4) repeatedly uses the term “may” in referring to the DNR’s authority to bring an enforcement action. Thus, they argued that the Legislature has empowered the DNR to limit its exercise of enforcement authority.
Rejecting the argument, the court concluded, “A far more reasonable reading of ‘may proceed’ in sec. 30.03(4) is that the legislature intended to imbue the Department with a degree of prosecutorial discretion by permitting it, in individual cases, to achieve compliance with Wis. Stat. Ch. 30 by means other than administrative enforcement actions.”
Of course the question of "oversize piers" remains in debate.
HT: Random10
Well, it's the opinion of some Blackrobes. YOU decide:
The DNR can enforce actions against oversized piers, even if no one complains about them. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals on Oct. 10 held that, notwithstanding agency rules to the contrary, the DNR’s obligation to protect the public trumps the rule.
Here's the background story:
Thomas and Michele Baer own lakefront property in Vilas County, and maintained two piers on the lake.
In November 1999, an agent from the Department of Natural Resources visited the area to inspect a boat shelter the Baers had built on their property. In the process of viewing the boat shelter, the agent observed that the piers exceeded the dimensions allowed by the DNR without a permit.
When the Baers failed to take action to reduce the size of the piers, the DNR commenced an enforcement action, pursuant to sec. 30.03(4)(a), which authorizes such an action, “[i]f the department learns of a possible violation of the statutes relating to navigable waters or a possible infringement of the public rights relating to navigable waters.”
An administrative law judge ordered that the piers be reduced in size. The Baers petitioned for judicial review, and Rock County Circuit Court Judge John W. Roethe vacated the orders, concluding that the DNR lacked authority to bring the action because a department employee first discovered the alleged pier violations on her own, rather than as a result of a third-party complaint or a request from the pier owner for information or a permit.
The DNR appealed, and the court of appeals reversed, in a decision by Judge David G. Deininger.
...The Baers also emphasized that sec. 30.02(4) repeatedly uses the term “may” in referring to the DNR’s authority to bring an enforcement action. Thus, they argued that the Legislature has empowered the DNR to limit its exercise of enforcement authority.
Rejecting the argument, the court concluded, “A far more reasonable reading of ‘may proceed’ in sec. 30.03(4) is that the legislature intended to imbue the Department with a degree of prosecutorial discretion by permitting it, in individual cases, to achieve compliance with Wis. Stat. Ch. 30 by means other than administrative enforcement actions.”
Of course the question of "oversize piers" remains in debate.
HT: Random10
Milwaukee Grinch-List
The Milwaukee Aldermen who voted AGAINST calling it a Christmas Tree:
Common Council President Willie Hines Jr. and Aldermen Ashanti Hamilton, Bauman, D'Amato and McGee-[Jackson.]
Common Council President Willie Hines Jr. and Aldermen Ashanti Hamilton, Bauman, D'Amato and McGee-[Jackson.]
Gay "Marrige" in New Jersey?
The American Spectator blogsite:
At about 3:00 PM Eastern Time, the Supreme Court of New Jersey will be issuing a ruling in Lewis v. Harris, in which seven gay couples have sued the state, demanding marriage certificates. Judging by the oral argument from February, which you can watch online, the plaintiffs have a very good chance of prevailing.
Apparently New Jersey does NOT have the protection afforded by a constitutional amendment such as the one on the ballot here in Wisconsin.
Vote YES, .....duh....
At about 3:00 PM Eastern Time, the Supreme Court of New Jersey will be issuing a ruling in Lewis v. Harris, in which seven gay couples have sued the state, demanding marriage certificates. Judging by the oral argument from February, which you can watch online, the plaintiffs have a very good chance of prevailing.
Apparently New Jersey does NOT have the protection afforded by a constitutional amendment such as the one on the ballot here in Wisconsin.
Vote YES, .....duh....
Charlie Makes the WaPo!
In an article not exactly favorable to the Pubbies, Charlie appears:
Charlie Sykes, a Milwaukee host, told Bartlett during an interview: "If the Republicans lose control of the House, they won't have anybody but themselves to blame."
...Sykes said that "we've spent the last nine months being disappointed with the administration and being disillusioned." But now, he said, "people are getting more focused on the choice. . . . I don't think the Democrats have an alternative vision."
Next thing, he'll be off to LA...with shades, "people," you know...
Charlie Sykes, a Milwaukee host, told Bartlett during an interview: "If the Republicans lose control of the House, they won't have anybody but themselves to blame."
...Sykes said that "we've spent the last nine months being disappointed with the administration and being disillusioned." But now, he said, "people are getting more focused on the choice. . . . I don't think the Democrats have an alternative vision."
Next thing, he'll be off to LA...with shades, "people," you know...
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Massingale Cancelled, and Strange Lacunae
So at around 7:00 yours truly hauls through the parking lot at St John's. Counted cars, because there would be a "magic flyers" assignment--the news item would appear on all those cars' windshields during the lecture on Dissent.
Got back from Kinko's and most of the cars were gone. A few people (quite old, by the way) were standing around outside.
The lecture was cancelled. Awwwwww......
OK. The Strange Lacunae.
Go back and read the article from the Catholic Herald. Go almost to the end. See this 'graf:?
In writing the letter, Archbishop Dolan said he and the other signers, Bishops Robert C. Morlino of Madison; David A. Zubik of Green Bay; Raphael M. Fliss of Superior and Jerome E. Listecki of La Crosse, wanted to help shine light of the Gospel on what seems to be a controversial issue.
Notice anything? Read it again and count the Bishops of Wisconsin.
NOW you get it, right?
Were Weakland and Sklba out of town?
You're old enough. Draw your own conclusions.
Got back from Kinko's and most of the cars were gone. A few people (quite old, by the way) were standing around outside.
The lecture was cancelled. Awwwwww......
OK. The Strange Lacunae.
Go back and read the article from the Catholic Herald. Go almost to the end. See this 'graf:?
In writing the letter, Archbishop Dolan said he and the other signers, Bishops Robert C. Morlino of Madison; David A. Zubik of Green Bay; Raphael M. Fliss of Superior and Jerome E. Listecki of La Crosse, wanted to help shine light of the Gospel on what seems to be a controversial issue.
Notice anything? Read it again and count the Bishops of Wisconsin.
NOW you get it, right?
Were Weakland and Sklba out of town?
You're old enough. Draw your own conclusions.
Massingale at St John Vianney 10/24th
An emailer advises that Fr. Massingale, a dissenter from Abp. Dolan's position on the Homosex Marriage Amendment, will be spreading the smoke of Satan around St. John Vianney parish in Brookfield this evening. A Canonical prohibition on homosex "Marriage" can be found here (scroll down to the end).
There is apparently some unhappiness among parish members.
"Unhappiness" at St. John's would not be news. Fr. Len Van Vlaenderen, the Pastor, is VERY close to the former Archbishop of Milwaukee, and had invited Abp. Weakland to confirm a group at St John's a couple of years ago--just after Abp. Weakland resigned in disgrace.
There was a revolt. Unhappy parish members made it clear that they did NOT want Abp. Weakland anointing their children. Fr. Van Vlaenderen pouted loudly--but Weakland was dis-invited.
Fr. Len was appointed pastor at St John's by Rembert Weakland. St John's is a wealthy parish whose members eat well. It's called a "plum."
Reportedly Van Vlaenderen has advised the Youth Group that "they should not let the Church tell them how to vote;" that their "informed" conscience should "guide them" in the voting booth.
Presumably, Fr. Massingale will "inform" the consciences of those who show up tonight.
There is apparently some unhappiness among parish members.
"Unhappiness" at St. John's would not be news. Fr. Len Van Vlaenderen, the Pastor, is VERY close to the former Archbishop of Milwaukee, and had invited Abp. Weakland to confirm a group at St John's a couple of years ago--just after Abp. Weakland resigned in disgrace.
There was a revolt. Unhappy parish members made it clear that they did NOT want Abp. Weakland anointing their children. Fr. Van Vlaenderen pouted loudly--but Weakland was dis-invited.
Fr. Len was appointed pastor at St John's by Rembert Weakland. St John's is a wealthy parish whose members eat well. It's called a "plum."
Reportedly Van Vlaenderen has advised the Youth Group that "they should not let the Church tell them how to vote;" that their "informed" conscience should "guide them" in the voting booth.
Presumably, Fr. Massingale will "inform" the consciences of those who show up tonight.
Musica Sacra since 1969
This article has been referenced numerous times in the last 10 days, but was not available online until this morning.
A well-known and highly respected Scots composer, James MacMillan:
In recent times the Church has developed uneasy relations with its musicians. Growing up in the 1960s and 70s I was aware of a creeping separation between my serious engagement with the study of music, the application and practice of assiduously honed skills, and what the Church seemed to need and want for its liturgy.
I soon discovered that most serious Catholic musicians were being repulsed by an increasingly rigid misinterpretation of the Second Vatican Council’s reforms on music. Clergy and "liturgists" began expressing a scarcely veiled disdain for the very expertise and learning that musicians had sought to acquire. Serious musicians were more and more caricatured as elitists, reactionaries and Tridentinists by a new philistinism in the Church. Many of those who were not subdued into a state of quietism defected to Anglican and Lutheran parishes where their skills as organists, choral directors and singers were greatly appreciated.
These other churches now regard the Catholic Church as having engaged in a cultural vandalism in the 1960s and 70s – a destructive iconoclasm which wilfully brought to an end any remnant of its massive choral tradition and its skilful application to liturgical use. In short, music in the Catholic Church is referred to with sniffs of justified derision by these other denominations which have managed to maintain high standards of music-making in their divine services.
No question about it. And serious musicians who could quote Paras. 36 & 54 from the Document on the Liturgy were considered dangerous infiltrators.
But the author is optimistic:
There is a new momentum building in the Church which could be directed to bringing about this new, creative “reform of the reform”. Part of that momentum comes from a widespread disgust at what was described recently as “aisle-dancing and numbskull jogging for Jesus choruses at Mass”. The days of embarrassing, maudlin and sentimental dirges such as “Bind us together Lord” and “Make me a channel of your peace” may indeed be numbered.
Are we seeing the end days for overhead projectors, screaming microphones and fluorescent lighting and their concomitant music, complete with incompetently strummed guitars and cringe-making, smiley, cheesy folk groups?
Or even less desirable ones...
Liturgy as social engineering has probably repulsed more people from the modern Catholic Church than any of the usual list of “social crimes” trotted out by the Church’s critics. Like most ideas shaped by 1960s Marxist sociology, it has proved an utter failure. Its greatest tragedy is the wilful, de-poeticisation of Catholic worship. Our liturgy was hi-jacked by opportunists who used the vacuum created by the Council to push home a radical agenda of de-sacralisation and, ultimately, secularisation.
The Church has simply aped the secular West’s obsession with “accessibility”, “inclusiveness”, “democracy” and “anti-elitism”. The effect of this on liturgy has been a triumph of bad taste and banality and an apparent vacating of the sacred spaces of any palpable sense of the presence of God. The jury is still out on any “social gains” achieved by the Church as a result
Ah, yes.."inclusiveness." Gay Marriage, anyone? "Dumbing Down" the schools, anyone?
He cites not only SC, but Musicam Sacram, affirming Chant, choirs, polyphony...
It is clear, therefore, that Vatican II did not abolish choirs, the great choral tradition, Gregorian chant, organs, prayerful liturgy, or even Latin. In fact as the documents make clear here, all these things are positively encouraged. So who did abolish them?
In this country, we could start with the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, which was first chaired by Rembert Weakland, OSB...
A well-known and highly respected Scots composer, James MacMillan:
In recent times the Church has developed uneasy relations with its musicians. Growing up in the 1960s and 70s I was aware of a creeping separation between my serious engagement with the study of music, the application and practice of assiduously honed skills, and what the Church seemed to need and want for its liturgy.
I soon discovered that most serious Catholic musicians were being repulsed by an increasingly rigid misinterpretation of the Second Vatican Council’s reforms on music. Clergy and "liturgists" began expressing a scarcely veiled disdain for the very expertise and learning that musicians had sought to acquire. Serious musicians were more and more caricatured as elitists, reactionaries and Tridentinists by a new philistinism in the Church. Many of those who were not subdued into a state of quietism defected to Anglican and Lutheran parishes where their skills as organists, choral directors and singers were greatly appreciated.
These other churches now regard the Catholic Church as having engaged in a cultural vandalism in the 1960s and 70s – a destructive iconoclasm which wilfully brought to an end any remnant of its massive choral tradition and its skilful application to liturgical use. In short, music in the Catholic Church is referred to with sniffs of justified derision by these other denominations which have managed to maintain high standards of music-making in their divine services.
No question about it. And serious musicians who could quote Paras. 36 & 54 from the Document on the Liturgy were considered dangerous infiltrators.
But the author is optimistic:
There is a new momentum building in the Church which could be directed to bringing about this new, creative “reform of the reform”. Part of that momentum comes from a widespread disgust at what was described recently as “aisle-dancing and numbskull jogging for Jesus choruses at Mass”. The days of embarrassing, maudlin and sentimental dirges such as “Bind us together Lord” and “Make me a channel of your peace” may indeed be numbered.
Are we seeing the end days for overhead projectors, screaming microphones and fluorescent lighting and their concomitant music, complete with incompetently strummed guitars and cringe-making, smiley, cheesy folk groups?
Or even less desirable ones...
Liturgy as social engineering has probably repulsed more people from the modern Catholic Church than any of the usual list of “social crimes” trotted out by the Church’s critics. Like most ideas shaped by 1960s Marxist sociology, it has proved an utter failure. Its greatest tragedy is the wilful, de-poeticisation of Catholic worship. Our liturgy was hi-jacked by opportunists who used the vacuum created by the Council to push home a radical agenda of de-sacralisation and, ultimately, secularisation.
The Church has simply aped the secular West’s obsession with “accessibility”, “inclusiveness”, “democracy” and “anti-elitism”. The effect of this on liturgy has been a triumph of bad taste and banality and an apparent vacating of the sacred spaces of any palpable sense of the presence of God. The jury is still out on any “social gains” achieved by the Church as a result
Ah, yes.."inclusiveness." Gay Marriage, anyone? "Dumbing Down" the schools, anyone?
He cites not only SC, but Musicam Sacram, affirming Chant, choirs, polyphony...
It is clear, therefore, that Vatican II did not abolish choirs, the great choral tradition, Gregorian chant, organs, prayerful liturgy, or even Latin. In fact as the documents make clear here, all these things are positively encouraged. So who did abolish them?
In this country, we could start with the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, which was first chaired by Rembert Weakland, OSB...
How D'Ya Like Doyle's Tax "Freeze" Now???
Hey--don'tcha know Doyle signed a tax Freeze?
Whassamatta you?
The Elmbrook School Board will vote tonight on a final 2006-'07 budget that includes a 5% increase in the school property tax levy - the largest levy increase in four years.
An increase in the property tax for Milwaukee schools that is more than double what was envisioned last spring ...But now that the actual figures for state aid are completed and other totals have been adjusted by changed circumstances, the increase has risen to 7.7%.
By the way, search that JSOnline article about the State's contribution to the Milwaukee public schools as often as you like. You won't find out how much the State sends.
Interesting, no?
Whassamatta you?
The Elmbrook School Board will vote tonight on a final 2006-'07 budget that includes a 5% increase in the school property tax levy - the largest levy increase in four years.
An increase in the property tax for Milwaukee schools that is more than double what was envisioned last spring ...But now that the actual figures for state aid are completed and other totals have been adjusted by changed circumstances, the increase has risen to 7.7%.
By the way, search that JSOnline article about the State's contribution to the Milwaukee public schools as often as you like. You won't find out how much the State sends.
Interesting, no?
Monday, October 23, 2006
Today's Anniversary
On this day in history, 1956:
...the start of the Hungarian Revolution, in which the heroic people of Hungary rose up against their Soviet oppressors and by force of arms established freedom for a brief but golden span of days before the U.S. government's behind-the-scenes betrayal and Communist treachery and slaughter overwhelmed them.
A date you (and I) SHOULD have known.
HT: LACatholic
...the start of the Hungarian Revolution, in which the heroic people of Hungary rose up against their Soviet oppressors and by force of arms established freedom for a brief but golden span of days before the U.S. government's behind-the-scenes betrayal and Communist treachery and slaughter overwhelmed them.
A date you (and I) SHOULD have known.
HT: LACatholic
New Link
Yup.
For the confused, the forlorn--and for those who wish to maintain a vestige of Natural Law here in Wisconsin, there's a link to the right. Click on it to get to "Vote Yes" website.
HT: NeoConTastic
For the confused, the forlorn--and for those who wish to maintain a vestige of Natural Law here in Wisconsin, there's a link to the right. Click on it to get to "Vote Yes" website.
HT: NeoConTastic
Charlie Sykes: Gullible? Kind? Nice?
Charlie's a very kind guy, I guess.
In the last few weeks, the gay-marriage crowd has been running a commercial with a bucolic scene. The text is very sparse, but what it does say, '...vote NO and nothing will change...' is deceptive in the extreme.
Over the weekend, a blogger told me that a number of conservatives are under the impression that they should vote "no" to prevent gay "marriage." He's been trying to spread the word through the blogs.
This morning, Charlie Sykes took up the question. He acknowledged that the ad is "brilliant," "clever," and "deceptive."
But he just can't bring himself to say what is true: the ad is deceptive because that's the only way "Fair Wisconsin" can WIN!!
Along the same lines, and regarding the ad, P-Mac observed that "...yes, nothing will change...for about 10 minutes."
In the last few weeks, the gay-marriage crowd has been running a commercial with a bucolic scene. The text is very sparse, but what it does say, '...vote NO and nothing will change...' is deceptive in the extreme.
Over the weekend, a blogger told me that a number of conservatives are under the impression that they should vote "no" to prevent gay "marriage." He's been trying to spread the word through the blogs.
This morning, Charlie Sykes took up the question. He acknowledged that the ad is "brilliant," "clever," and "deceptive."
But he just can't bring himself to say what is true: the ad is deceptive because that's the only way "Fair Wisconsin" can WIN!!
Along the same lines, and regarding the ad, P-Mac observed that "...yes, nothing will change...for about 10 minutes."
VOTE YES!!
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Abp Dolan's Faith Problem: It's In the Next-Door Office
Terry knows how to find the collusive vermin, and puts some light into the dark corners.
We happen to think that Rome already has a fax prepared accepting Bp. Sklba's resignation. Maybe the Vatican should send it, whether Sklba does the right thing or not.
It's not just Cooper, Mich, Massingale and Schramm.
And, by the way, it wasn't just Sklba's oblique "approval" of wimminpriests which delayed his consecration as a Bishop.
We happen to think that Rome already has a fax prepared accepting Bp. Sklba's resignation. Maybe the Vatican should send it, whether Sklba does the right thing or not.
It's not just Cooper, Mich, Massingale and Schramm.
And, by the way, it wasn't just Sklba's oblique "approval" of wimminpriests which delayed his consecration as a Bishop.
Will PRC Take Out Kim?
I happen to think that Red China likes having Kim around, running North Korea. He's a great foil, and keeps US attention away from Red China as they busy themselves becoming a hegemonic power in the Western Pacific. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if PRC were actually pulling Kim's strings.
But there's another view, expressed here by Random 10, who always posts heady stuff.
But there's another view, expressed here by Random 10, who always posts heady stuff.
JS Headline Editor Is Moonbat Lefty (Picture Here)
Yah, they actually have such a creature as a "headline editor." In fact, at one time, the "headline editor" was a fellow who was a classmate of mine--the same class as that of Pete Bock, now married to Kate Falk.
In the mind of the "headline editor," Jim Doyle is a Moderate. That tells you all you need to know about the Headline Editor's "mind."
Jessica has the rest of the story.
"You're Going to Hell"
Mozart. Great singers. Great staging.
The Commandatore scene from Don Giovanni (Don Juan)--as the Commandatore drags Don Giovanni to Hell (avenging Giovanni's rape and murder of the Commandatore's daughter.)
It's in Italian--but you don't need to know a syllable of the language to get the idea--which is exactly how really Good Stuff in music works.
Commandatore's almost single-note singing is insistent--imperious...Giovanni's punchy pleading...and near the end, the voices of the damned...and the descending (heh) scales...
And in D minor (also used by Mozart for the Dies Irae in the Requiem.)
HT: Captain's Quarters.
The Commandatore scene from Don Giovanni (Don Juan)--as the Commandatore drags Don Giovanni to Hell (avenging Giovanni's rape and murder of the Commandatore's daughter.)
It's in Italian--but you don't need to know a syllable of the language to get the idea--which is exactly how really Good Stuff in music works.
Commandatore's almost single-note singing is insistent--imperious...Giovanni's punchy pleading...and near the end, the voices of the damned...and the descending (heh) scales...
And in D minor (also used by Mozart for the Dies Irae in the Requiem.)
HT: Captain's Quarters.
Internet Video v. Cable--It's the Money, Honey
If you think for five seconds that ATT's proposed internet video offering is going to happen quickly...
Think again.
Your municipality wants some money. In fact, they want a LOT of money. They already get that from the cable companies. In return, the municipals provide "protection" for the cable companies. Think of Milk Carton Tommy with a violin case.
Local officials are debating whether AT&T Corp.'s planned Internet video service would interfere with cable TV franchises that now reap millions of dollars for municipal treasuries. It's part of a nationwide struggle between telecommunications giants that is already being fought in Congress and over the airwaves, and that is swiftly working its way into city and village halls, state legislatures and perhaps the courts.
Interesting phrase there: "would interfere with"...
Here's the trick the municipalities are playing with:
A Washington, D.C., law firm has given Milwaukee city officials a legal opinion that says U-Verse [the AT&T video offering] would meet city ordinances' definition of cable television service, the "one-way transmission of video programming or other programming services," Leonhardt says.
How MUCH money?
Time Warner Cable is paying Milwaukee $3.7 million this year, rising to $3.8 million next year, said Patrick Curley, Mayor Tom Barrett's chief of staff.
Of course, if AT&T provides better services for less money, then Time Warner loses subscribers. When that happens, Time-Warner's "contribution" to the City's coffers goes down, down, down.
How can the City stop AT&T? One way: make their equipment installations illegal:
Unlike satellite television or streaming video, however, U-Verse uses the public right-of-way, and lots of it, Curley said. Project Lightspeed has already started installing metal boxes more than 5 feet high near curbs and alleys and in boulevard medians in Milwaukee and elsewhere, to provide interfaces between fiber-optic cables and copper telephone wires, Bentoff said. Each box is expected to serve 300 to 400 homes.
Local officials fear the boxes could be unsightly and might block drivers' view of pedestrians and other cars. Downtown Ald. Bob Bauman has introduced an ordinance to give aldermen limited veto rights over boxes in their districts. Kenosha has slapped a one-year moratorium on the boxes.
Bentoff said AT&T has the right to install the boxes, under the laws governing telephone poles.
Can the municipalities get their pound of flesh? Will Gary Grunau's Time Warner cable monlith become yesterday's news and wither away? Will AT&T, with its "more service for less money" promise, prevail?
Will YOU get better service for less?
Not if the municipalities have their way. They LOVE 'hidden-tax' revenues, which is exactly what the cable companies give them in return for 'protection.' And your Gummint will fight tooth and nail to keep the money.
Think again.
Your municipality wants some money. In fact, they want a LOT of money. They already get that from the cable companies. In return, the municipals provide "protection" for the cable companies. Think of Milk Carton Tommy with a violin case.
Local officials are debating whether AT&T Corp.'s planned Internet video service would interfere with cable TV franchises that now reap millions of dollars for municipal treasuries. It's part of a nationwide struggle between telecommunications giants that is already being fought in Congress and over the airwaves, and that is swiftly working its way into city and village halls, state legislatures and perhaps the courts.
Interesting phrase there: "would interfere with"...
Here's the trick the municipalities are playing with:
A Washington, D.C., law firm has given Milwaukee city officials a legal opinion that says U-Verse [the AT&T video offering] would meet city ordinances' definition of cable television service, the "one-way transmission of video programming or other programming services," Leonhardt says.
How MUCH money?
Time Warner Cable is paying Milwaukee $3.7 million this year, rising to $3.8 million next year, said Patrick Curley, Mayor Tom Barrett's chief of staff.
Of course, if AT&T provides better services for less money, then Time Warner loses subscribers. When that happens, Time-Warner's "contribution" to the City's coffers goes down, down, down.
How can the City stop AT&T? One way: make their equipment installations illegal:
Unlike satellite television or streaming video, however, U-Verse uses the public right-of-way, and lots of it, Curley said. Project Lightspeed has already started installing metal boxes more than 5 feet high near curbs and alleys and in boulevard medians in Milwaukee and elsewhere, to provide interfaces between fiber-optic cables and copper telephone wires, Bentoff said. Each box is expected to serve 300 to 400 homes.
Local officials fear the boxes could be unsightly and might block drivers' view of pedestrians and other cars. Downtown Ald. Bob Bauman has introduced an ordinance to give aldermen limited veto rights over boxes in their districts. Kenosha has slapped a one-year moratorium on the boxes.
Bentoff said AT&T has the right to install the boxes, under the laws governing telephone poles.
Can the municipalities get their pound of flesh? Will Gary Grunau's Time Warner cable monlith become yesterday's news and wither away? Will AT&T, with its "more service for less money" promise, prevail?
Will YOU get better service for less?
Not if the municipalities have their way. They LOVE 'hidden-tax' revenues, which is exactly what the cable companies give them in return for 'protection.' And your Gummint will fight tooth and nail to keep the money.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Milwaukee Priests' Disgruntled and/or Dissenters' List
Below we mentioned that Fr. Davey Cooper printed a dissent from the teaching of the Milwaukee Archbishop in his parish bulletin. "Affirming" the dissent is the Milwaukee Area Priests' Alliance, a group of twittering and simpering adolescents who are on the payroll (or pension-roll) of the Milwaukee Archdiocese.
Turns out that Fr. Davey is the President of the group.
Cooper's last brush with infamy occurred when he invited a "wimmin's ordination" wacko to speak on parish grounds. He was forced to write an apology and dis-invite the speaker. Evidently Fr. Davey didn't get the message.
Other illustrious members of the MAPA include:
Dick Aiken (he doesn't use his honorific--why should I?) Aiken was the celebrant of a non-Mass I attended at St. Sebastian's parish. Yes, it was Sunday. Yes, it was in a Catholic church. But it wasn't a Mass. Dick, who obviously knows more than the Roman Congregation for Divine Worship, "improved" on the rubrics and texts so much that his "Mass" was invalid.
Here's the rest of the list, direct from their website:
Richard Abert, SJ, Dennis Ackeret, John Aiello, Steve Amann, Joseph Anderson, Joseph Aufdermauer, Ken Augustine, Steve Avella, Mike Barrett, John Baumgartner, Robert Betz, James Brady, Allen Bratkowski, John Brophy, Todd Budde, Daniel Budzynski, William Burkert, Gregory Chycinski, Charlie Conley, Michael Crosby, OFM Cap, James Dammeir, Paul Daniels, Michael Dineen, Gene Doda, Peter Drenzek, Steve Dunn, Thomas Eichenberger, John Endejan, Michael Erwin, Ed Eschweiler, Paul Esser, David Filut, George Fleischmann, Curt Frederick, Joseph Frederick, George Gajdos, Robert Gloudeman, Robert Gosma, Ron Gramza, Mike Grellinger, Ralph Gross, Joseph Haas, Howard Haase, Jeffrey Haines, Chuck Hanel, Gerald Hauser, Quintin Heck, Art Heinze, Patrick Heppe, Gerald Hessel, Joseph Hornacek, Jerry Hudziak, Terrance Huebner, Joseph Juknialis, Alan Jurkus, Robert Katorski, Niles Kauffman, OFM Cap., Jack Kern, Bill Keyand, James Kimla, Stanley Klauck, Anthony Klink, Ken Knippel, Vince Kobida, William Kohler, Ed Kornath, Kevin Kowalske, Ron Kowalski, Joe Koyickal, Michael Krejci, Daniel Lasecki, Carl Last (Rector, St. John's Cathedral), Tom LeMieux, Dennis Lewis, Paul Lipper,t Jim Loehr, Bob Lotz, Brian Mason, Robert Massey, Bryan Massingale, Tony McCarthy, Michael McLernon, David Meinholz, Kenneth Mich, Mike Michalski, Richard Mirsberger, Mark Molling, Richard Molter, Mike Moran, John Michael Murphy, Andrew Nelson, Eugene Newman, Robert Novotny, Gary Nowicki, Patrick O'Loughlin, Luis Pacheco-Sanchez, Andre Papineau, Dan Pekarske, SDS, Eugene Pocernich, John Pulice, Paul Raczynski, George Rebatzki, Philip Reifenberg, Dave Reith, Robert Richter, Dick Robinson, Anthony Russo, SCJ, Mick Savio, Richard Schlenker, Karl Schneider, Chuck Schramm, John Schreiter, Larry Sepich [sic], Greg Serwa, Allan Somme,r Bill Stanfield, Mark Stangel, Paul Stanosz (ex-blogger), Robert Stiefvater, Steve Stradinger, Michael Sturm, Thomas Suriano, Tom Sweetser, SJ, (ex-faculty, Marquette High), John Theisen, Jeff Thielen, Donald Thimm, Walter Vogel, James Vojtik, Gordon Weber, Dennis Weis, Patrick Wendt, Laurin Wenig, Charlie Wester, Edward Wieland, Mike Witczak, Tom Wittliff, Joe Wolf, Charles Zabler, Tony Zimmer.
I know more than a few of these guys. If they'd spend less time playing "union" and more time in their vocation as priests,....
Aaahh....what's the use?
Turns out that Fr. Davey is the President of the group.
Cooper's last brush with infamy occurred when he invited a "wimmin's ordination" wacko to speak on parish grounds. He was forced to write an apology and dis-invite the speaker. Evidently Fr. Davey didn't get the message.
Other illustrious members of the MAPA include:
Dick Aiken (he doesn't use his honorific--why should I?) Aiken was the celebrant of a non-Mass I attended at St. Sebastian's parish. Yes, it was Sunday. Yes, it was in a Catholic church. But it wasn't a Mass. Dick, who obviously knows more than the Roman Congregation for Divine Worship, "improved" on the rubrics and texts so much that his "Mass" was invalid.
Here's the rest of the list, direct from their website:
Richard Abert, SJ, Dennis Ackeret, John Aiello, Steve Amann, Joseph Anderson, Joseph Aufdermauer, Ken Augustine, Steve Avella, Mike Barrett, John Baumgartner, Robert Betz, James Brady, Allen Bratkowski, John Brophy, Todd Budde, Daniel Budzynski, William Burkert, Gregory Chycinski, Charlie Conley, Michael Crosby, OFM Cap, James Dammeir, Paul Daniels, Michael Dineen, Gene Doda, Peter Drenzek, Steve Dunn, Thomas Eichenberger, John Endejan, Michael Erwin, Ed Eschweiler, Paul Esser, David Filut, George Fleischmann, Curt Frederick, Joseph Frederick, George Gajdos, Robert Gloudeman, Robert Gosma, Ron Gramza, Mike Grellinger, Ralph Gross, Joseph Haas, Howard Haase, Jeffrey Haines, Chuck Hanel, Gerald Hauser, Quintin Heck, Art Heinze, Patrick Heppe, Gerald Hessel, Joseph Hornacek, Jerry Hudziak, Terrance Huebner, Joseph Juknialis, Alan Jurkus, Robert Katorski, Niles Kauffman, OFM Cap., Jack Kern, Bill Keyand, James Kimla, Stanley Klauck, Anthony Klink, Ken Knippel, Vince Kobida, William Kohler, Ed Kornath, Kevin Kowalske, Ron Kowalski, Joe Koyickal, Michael Krejci, Daniel Lasecki, Carl Last (Rector, St. John's Cathedral), Tom LeMieux, Dennis Lewis, Paul Lipper,t Jim Loehr, Bob Lotz, Brian Mason, Robert Massey, Bryan Massingale, Tony McCarthy, Michael McLernon, David Meinholz, Kenneth Mich, Mike Michalski, Richard Mirsberger, Mark Molling, Richard Molter, Mike Moran, John Michael Murphy, Andrew Nelson, Eugene Newman, Robert Novotny, Gary Nowicki, Patrick O'Loughlin, Luis Pacheco-Sanchez, Andre Papineau, Dan Pekarske, SDS, Eugene Pocernich, John Pulice, Paul Raczynski, George Rebatzki, Philip Reifenberg, Dave Reith, Robert Richter, Dick Robinson, Anthony Russo, SCJ, Mick Savio, Richard Schlenker, Karl Schneider, Chuck Schramm, John Schreiter, Larry Sepich [sic], Greg Serwa, Allan Somme,r Bill Stanfield, Mark Stangel, Paul Stanosz (ex-blogger), Robert Stiefvater, Steve Stradinger, Michael Sturm, Thomas Suriano, Tom Sweetser, SJ, (ex-faculty, Marquette High), John Theisen, Jeff Thielen, Donald Thimm, Walter Vogel, James Vojtik, Gordon Weber, Dennis Weis, Patrick Wendt, Laurin Wenig, Charlie Wester, Edward Wieland, Mike Witczak, Tom Wittliff, Joe Wolf, Charles Zabler, Tony Zimmer.
I know more than a few of these guys. If they'd spend less time playing "union" and more time in their vocation as priests,....
Aaahh....what's the use?
"Fathers" Cooper, Schramm, Aufdermauer, Mich, Massingale, and the Gays, Part One
Not content with the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on the question of homosex "marriage," a well-known rebel priest decides to run an opposing opinion in his St. Matthias parish bulletin. The Milwaukee Priests' Alliance (a union-wannabe bunch of priests) issued a press release concurring with the dissent. Fr. "Chuck" Schramm (whose picture is missing something...) of St Mary's/Hales Corners, also ran the piece with the parish bulletin. We are told that Fr Aufdermauer ran it with the St Aloysius/West Allis bulletin on October 22.
The author of the dissent is none other than Fr. Massingale, who (as you will see shortly) is a master of dissembling. He's a colleague of Dan Maguire, a revolting little heretic, and on the payroll of Marquette University, just like Maguire.
In essence, Massingale commits the intellectual sin of failing to recognize a hierarchy of values. Of course, it's possible that he simply 'forgot' about such distinctions...but knowing that he's on staff with Maguire, that's not likely.
The amendment’s second clause is: “. . .and a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.”
...
This is the part which makes many Catholics pause, for it raises troubling concerns. Many fear that this clause could endanger laws and other arrangements which extend medical coverage (among other benefits) to unmarried households
Actually, "Father," the clause does NOT "endanger" such arrangements when they are voluntarily provided by an employer. Informed legal opinion attests to this. And your circle of friends is not "many" Catholics. It is, in reality, "many" dissidents.
Fr. Massingale brings up "the Levada exception" in San Francisco, which is about as germane as is the question of Space Aliens--but it serves Massingale's purpose of spreading foofoodust.
So he summarizes with the standard deception:
The first clause upholds one aspect of Catholic teaching, while the second part jeopardizes other Catholic principles (a right to healthcare.)
Some try to resolve this dilemma by saying that the proposed amendment does not automatically nullify existing laws or necessarily compel a court to do so in the future. This is true. But respected legal scholars agree that this is a risk or possibility. The amendment opens the door for such an outcome. In effect, this amendment requires us to take a human
rights gamble.
Let's unpack that. That marriage is a one-man/one-woman institution is simply non-negotiable. Our Bishops have made that clear, simply re-affirming Natural Law. Massingale would have us believe that the right to health-care takes precedence over the affirmation of Natural Law in marriage. He's wrong. Like abortion, this is a non-negotiable position. Healthcare is secondary (but certainly should not be ignored.) Here's a news report from the Vatican from October 18th, 2006:
Benedict XVI reminded politicians, particularly Catholics, that their choices and programs... it is necessary to address with "determination and clarity the risk of political and legislative options that go against fundamental values and anthropological and ethical principles rooted in the human being's nature." The Pope pointedly referred "to the defense of human life in all its phases, from its conception to natural death, and the promotion of the family founded on marriage." This implies avoiding the introduction "in public ordering of other forms of union that will contribute to destabilize [the family], obscuring its peculiar character and irreplaceable social role," he said cannot go against human life or the family.
The Pope's remarks underline the priorities: human life and marriage. Clear and succinct.
Massingale whines on and on and on without the least regard for priorities for a while, then slaps the authors of The Amendment:
One wonders why our legislators crafted an amendment which seems to go beyond the purpose of keeping a unique status for heterosexual unions.
Evidently Massingale never heard of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
He attempts to wrap up this smelly package of stones masquerading as "teaching":
Since same-sex marriage is already illegal in Wisconsin and prohibited by church law, a “no”vote changes nothing. Gay marriages would remain illegal; the current unique status of heterosexual marriage remains unaltered; no one’s health care access is endangered.
A line directly from the Homosexual Collective's playbook. (This comes as no surprise.)
It is always disappointing, (but not surprising) to see the Intellectualoids attempting to re-write Natural Law.
However, for a priest to openly slap his Bishop by printing this load of manure in a parish bulletin--that's not just disappointing. It's outright rebellion. Tomas deTorquemada, call home!!
NEXT: I've been told that the Homosexual Collective is also fund-raising on the grounds of Milwaukee-area parishes. When the documentation arrives, you'll see it here!
The author of the dissent is none other than Fr. Massingale, who (as you will see shortly) is a master of dissembling. He's a colleague of Dan Maguire, a revolting little heretic, and on the payroll of Marquette University, just like Maguire.
In essence, Massingale commits the intellectual sin of failing to recognize a hierarchy of values. Of course, it's possible that he simply 'forgot' about such distinctions...but knowing that he's on staff with Maguire, that's not likely.
The amendment’s second clause is: “. . .and a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.”
...
This is the part which makes many Catholics pause, for it raises troubling concerns. Many fear that this clause could endanger laws and other arrangements which extend medical coverage (among other benefits) to unmarried households
Actually, "Father," the clause does NOT "endanger" such arrangements when they are voluntarily provided by an employer. Informed legal opinion attests to this. And your circle of friends is not "many" Catholics. It is, in reality, "many" dissidents.
Fr. Massingale brings up "the Levada exception" in San Francisco, which is about as germane as is the question of Space Aliens--but it serves Massingale's purpose of spreading foofoodust.
So he summarizes with the standard deception:
The first clause upholds one aspect of Catholic teaching, while the second part jeopardizes other Catholic principles (a right to healthcare.)
Some try to resolve this dilemma by saying that the proposed amendment does not automatically nullify existing laws or necessarily compel a court to do so in the future. This is true. But respected legal scholars agree that this is a risk or possibility. The amendment opens the door for such an outcome. In effect, this amendment requires us to take a human
rights gamble.
Let's unpack that. That marriage is a one-man/one-woman institution is simply non-negotiable. Our Bishops have made that clear, simply re-affirming Natural Law. Massingale would have us believe that the right to health-care takes precedence over the affirmation of Natural Law in marriage. He's wrong. Like abortion, this is a non-negotiable position. Healthcare is secondary (but certainly should not be ignored.) Here's a news report from the Vatican from October 18th, 2006:
Benedict XVI reminded politicians, particularly Catholics, that their choices and programs... it is necessary to address with "determination and clarity the risk of political and legislative options that go against fundamental values and anthropological and ethical principles rooted in the human being's nature." The Pope pointedly referred "to the defense of human life in all its phases, from its conception to natural death, and the promotion of the family founded on marriage." This implies avoiding the introduction "in public ordering of other forms of union that will contribute to destabilize [the family], obscuring its peculiar character and irreplaceable social role," he said cannot go against human life or the family.
The Pope's remarks underline the priorities: human life and marriage. Clear and succinct.
Massingale whines on and on and on without the least regard for priorities for a while, then slaps the authors of The Amendment:
One wonders why our legislators crafted an amendment which seems to go beyond the purpose of keeping a unique status for heterosexual unions.
Evidently Massingale never heard of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
He attempts to wrap up this smelly package of stones masquerading as "teaching":
Since same-sex marriage is already illegal in Wisconsin and prohibited by church law, a “no”vote changes nothing. Gay marriages would remain illegal; the current unique status of heterosexual marriage remains unaltered; no one’s health care access is endangered.
A line directly from the Homosexual Collective's playbook. (This comes as no surprise.)
It is always disappointing, (but not surprising) to see the Intellectualoids attempting to re-write Natural Law.
However, for a priest to openly slap his Bishop by printing this load of manure in a parish bulletin--that's not just disappointing. It's outright rebellion. Tomas deTorquemada, call home!!
NEXT: I've been told that the Homosexual Collective is also fund-raising on the grounds of Milwaukee-area parishes. When the documentation arrives, you'll see it here!
SHOCK!! Clintonoid Leaks National Security Docs
About time Hoekstra grew a pair:
The leaker of a classified National Intelligence Estimate to the New York Times has been identified as a Democrat staffer named Larry Hanauer. No other info is available on this cretin but he would seem to be this Larry Hanauer. A Clinton staffer in Department of Defense who was punted shortly after President Bush came into office
When Jane Harmon (wife of Harmon-Cardon zillionaire) objects, Hoekstra writes back:
"It has become clear to me, by your continuing and unauthorized releases of information received and maintained by the Committee, that Democrats are not willing to protect committee information, and that you are politicizing intelligence for purposes not reflecting national security values."
HT: RedStateBlog
(A letter addressing the situation)
The leaker of a classified National Intelligence Estimate to the New York Times has been identified as a Democrat staffer named Larry Hanauer. No other info is available on this cretin but he would seem to be this Larry Hanauer. A Clinton staffer in Department of Defense who was punted shortly after President Bush came into office
When Jane Harmon (wife of Harmon-Cardon zillionaire) objects, Hoekstra writes back:
"It has become clear to me, by your continuing and unauthorized releases of information received and maintained by the Committee, that Democrats are not willing to protect committee information, and that you are politicizing intelligence for purposes not reflecting national security values."
HT: RedStateBlog
(A letter addressing the situation)
The Economy in '08...
Disgruntled Car Salesman is a bit more disgruntled than usual. This could be a harbinger for the '08 elections, too:
...I knew it would and have been talking about it for quite some time. ...How many times can you roll inequity ["upside-down equity in your car] before it’s one too many? How much [negative equity] did you finance into that new car loan for 96 months? 115%? 125%? 140%? How much depreciation can you handle in one year? 30%? 40%? Dare I say 50%? (That’s for those of you in Neons, Cavaliers and old body style Suburbans/Tahoes.)
...We were down roughly 40% last month form September, 2005. September is a huge month. This month doesn’t look too much better. This isn’t just my shop, this is everywhere.
(Chrysler is advertising "$12,000. off" list-price on some of its truck models. That's a BIG number.)
When the auto industry sneezes, Wisconsin has generally caught pneumonia, and the Upper Midwest in general takes it on the chops. Added to the auto-industry problem, Cat warned the other day, meaning that Deere and Case/IH may not be far behind.
This is a sign worth tracking.
...I knew it would and have been talking about it for quite some time. ...How many times can you roll inequity ["upside-down equity in your car] before it’s one too many? How much [negative equity] did you finance into that new car loan for 96 months? 115%? 125%? 140%? How much depreciation can you handle in one year? 30%? 40%? Dare I say 50%? (That’s for those of you in Neons, Cavaliers and old body style Suburbans/Tahoes.)
...We were down roughly 40% last month form September, 2005. September is a huge month. This month doesn’t look too much better. This isn’t just my shop, this is everywhere.
(Chrysler is advertising "$12,000. off" list-price on some of its truck models. That's a BIG number.)
When the auto industry sneezes, Wisconsin has generally caught pneumonia, and the Upper Midwest in general takes it on the chops. Added to the auto-industry problem, Cat warned the other day, meaning that Deere and Case/IH may not be far behind.
This is a sign worth tracking.
Hugo Chavez: Escalating?
Here's an interesting little-known fact:
A particularly interesting note was the report's discussion of Venezuela's current policy of freely issuing identity documents. Thousands of cedulas (the Venezuelan equivalent of social security cards) have reportedly been issued to non-Venezuelans - including Cubans, Columbians, Middle Easterners, and Pakistanis. Combined with Hugo's belligerent rhetoric and close relationship with Iran this is extremely worrisome.
...In fairness, even for Hugo, directly supporting terror attacks against the U.S. may be a bit much (although maybe not). This is more likely crime plus. That is - corruption and criminal activity - permitted by Hugo's regime as a revenue source with the added bonus of causing trouble for the United States.
Regardless it presents a serious security problem.
The report in question?
US Representative Michael McCaul (TX - 10), Chairman of the Subcommittee for Investigations of the House Homeland Security Committee just released a major report A Line in the Sand: Confronting the Threat at the Southwest Border.
Among other things, the report deals with the history and future risk of terrorists entering the US along with the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants entering this country along the US-Mexican border annually.
Those who natter and yap about 'cruelly and heartlessly' CLOSING the southern border never seem to pay much attention to the growing security problem. Whether Hugo's tactic is facilitating terrorist entry to the US, or facilitating the entry of criminals (drugs, e.g.) to the US is irrelevant.
A particularly interesting note was the report's discussion of Venezuela's current policy of freely issuing identity documents. Thousands of cedulas (the Venezuelan equivalent of social security cards) have reportedly been issued to non-Venezuelans - including Cubans, Columbians, Middle Easterners, and Pakistanis. Combined with Hugo's belligerent rhetoric and close relationship with Iran this is extremely worrisome.
...In fairness, even for Hugo, directly supporting terror attacks against the U.S. may be a bit much (although maybe not). This is more likely crime plus. That is - corruption and criminal activity - permitted by Hugo's regime as a revenue source with the added bonus of causing trouble for the United States.
Regardless it presents a serious security problem.
The report in question?
US Representative Michael McCaul (TX - 10), Chairman of the Subcommittee for Investigations of the House Homeland Security Committee just released a major report A Line in the Sand: Confronting the Threat at the Southwest Border.
Among other things, the report deals with the history and future risk of terrorists entering the US along with the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants entering this country along the US-Mexican border annually.
Those who natter and yap about 'cruelly and heartlessly' CLOSING the southern border never seem to pay much attention to the growing security problem. Whether Hugo's tactic is facilitating terrorist entry to the US, or facilitating the entry of criminals (drugs, e.g.) to the US is irrelevant.
On Iraq
Clay Cramer is NOT a "cut-and-run" guy. He tells us that his wife is growing tired of seeing the daily carnage in Iraq. (So is any sentient American.)
So he penned an outline of his "what would YOU do"? response:
Here's his prelude and strategic overview:
As I have explained in the past, democracy in the Middle East may be the last real hope to avoid a direct clash of Islam vs. the rest of the world. That confrontation is one that we can win--but only by nuking hundreds of millions of the world's Muslims, which is morally repugnant, and with probably millions of dead in the non-Muslim world.
Now for the tactics:
It appears at this time that little serious effort is being made to shut off the importation of both al-Qaeda fighters (largely across the Syrian and Saudi borders) and more importantly, the explosives that are being used in the IEDs. At the start, the IEDs were often made from artillery shells, but accounts that I have been reading indicate that increasingly there is nothing improvised about these weapons, and there is almost certainly Iranian government involvement. There are several thousand miles of border. Define a 10 kilometer free fire zone inside the Iraqi border. Declare that anyone crossing the border into Iraq except at the small number of controlled border crossing is liable to be shot on sight. Air patrols would be relatively low risk of American deaths compared to patrols in Baghdad or Ramadi--and shutting off the importation of more fighters and explosives would eventually cool off some of the chaos--perhaps to a point where the Iraqi government could handle this themselves.
I am becoming convinced that our military needs to withdraw completely from urban settings, and primarily exist to provide air cover and emergency reserve support for Iraqi forces chasing the terrorists. It sounds like the Iraqis still aren't up to an operational state on this--but if this much time hasn't gotten them to that state, maybe they aren't going to be to that state.
At least part of the economic problems of Iraq are a shortage of money. Why? Because they are having a hard time exporting oil, because terrorists keeping blowing up the pipelines and port facilities. It would look bad (like the invasion was about oil), but Coalition forces might be better spent protecting those parts of the system that are under attack. Once Iraq is exporting ten million barrels a day, they will have enough money to put every Iraqi young man to work rebuilding the country.
While I don't think that many of the native-born terrorists are launching these vicious attacks because they are just unemployed, I do think that enhancing the economic status of the average Iraqi worker has the potential to make those who may be giving cover or assistance to the native-born terrorists less willing to do so.
In sum: close the borders, become a "reserve" and oil-facilities guard force, get some cash into the country's coffers, and tell the Iraqis to stand up and run their own defense.
So he penned an outline of his "what would YOU do"? response:
Here's his prelude and strategic overview:
As I have explained in the past, democracy in the Middle East may be the last real hope to avoid a direct clash of Islam vs. the rest of the world. That confrontation is one that we can win--but only by nuking hundreds of millions of the world's Muslims, which is morally repugnant, and with probably millions of dead in the non-Muslim world.
Now for the tactics:
It appears at this time that little serious effort is being made to shut off the importation of both al-Qaeda fighters (largely across the Syrian and Saudi borders) and more importantly, the explosives that are being used in the IEDs. At the start, the IEDs were often made from artillery shells, but accounts that I have been reading indicate that increasingly there is nothing improvised about these weapons, and there is almost certainly Iranian government involvement. There are several thousand miles of border. Define a 10 kilometer free fire zone inside the Iraqi border. Declare that anyone crossing the border into Iraq except at the small number of controlled border crossing is liable to be shot on sight. Air patrols would be relatively low risk of American deaths compared to patrols in Baghdad or Ramadi--and shutting off the importation of more fighters and explosives would eventually cool off some of the chaos--perhaps to a point where the Iraqi government could handle this themselves.
I am becoming convinced that our military needs to withdraw completely from urban settings, and primarily exist to provide air cover and emergency reserve support for Iraqi forces chasing the terrorists. It sounds like the Iraqis still aren't up to an operational state on this--but if this much time hasn't gotten them to that state, maybe they aren't going to be to that state.
At least part of the economic problems of Iraq are a shortage of money. Why? Because they are having a hard time exporting oil, because terrorists keeping blowing up the pipelines and port facilities. It would look bad (like the invasion was about oil), but Coalition forces might be better spent protecting those parts of the system that are under attack. Once Iraq is exporting ten million barrels a day, they will have enough money to put every Iraqi young man to work rebuilding the country.
While I don't think that many of the native-born terrorists are launching these vicious attacks because they are just unemployed, I do think that enhancing the economic status of the average Iraqi worker has the potential to make those who may be giving cover or assistance to the native-born terrorists less willing to do so.
In sum: close the borders, become a "reserve" and oil-facilities guard force, get some cash into the country's coffers, and tell the Iraqis to stand up and run their own defense.
Is It the Water in Washington State?
There are some very strange folks out there:
A Spanaway man believed to be the first person in the state charged under Washington's new bestiality law bailed out of the Pierce County Jail this morning.
Pierce County prosecutors say 26-year-old Michael Patrick McPhail was caught by his wife on Wednesday night having intercourse on the back porch with their four-year-old female pit bull terrier.
The wife took photos with a cell phone and called police.
Not very smart to allow the wife to take pictures...
A Spanaway man believed to be the first person in the state charged under Washington's new bestiality law bailed out of the Pierce County Jail this morning.
Pierce County prosecutors say 26-year-old Michael Patrick McPhail was caught by his wife on Wednesday night having intercourse on the back porch with their four-year-old female pit bull terrier.
The wife took photos with a cell phone and called police.
Not very smart to allow the wife to take pictures...
Democratic Abortion Machine Exposed
Here's a right-to-the-point radio ad being run by America's PAC:
"Black babies are terminated at triple the rate of white babies," a female announcer in one of the ads says, as rain, thunder, and a crying infant are heard in the background. "The Democratic Party supports these abortion laws that are decimating our people, but the individual's right to life is protected in the Republican platform. Democrats say they want our vote.Why don't they want our lives?"
So who's "America's PAC"? Herman Cain is involved. So is J Patrick Rooney.
When Rooney ran Golden Rule insurance, they simply did not cover abortions.
"Black babies are terminated at triple the rate of white babies," a female announcer in one of the ads says, as rain, thunder, and a crying infant are heard in the background. "The Democratic Party supports these abortion laws that are decimating our people, but the individual's right to life is protected in the Republican platform. Democrats say they want our vote.Why don't they want our lives?"
So who's "America's PAC"? Herman Cain is involved. So is J Patrick Rooney.
When Rooney ran Golden Rule insurance, they simply did not cover abortions.
Cargill: Spineless Twits
Like marriage?
Don't be too enthusiastic about it. Cargill management takes offense.
A Virginia man claims he was fired from his job because a message on the window of his pickup truck supported a proposed state constitutional amendment on marriage.
Luis Padilla, who worked in the human resources office at Cargill, the international provider of food and agricultural products and services, wrote on his vehicle's rear window, "Please, vote for marriage on Nov. 7."
Virginia's proposed amendment would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
An attorney for Cargill, Al Sufka, says Padilla was dismissed for insubordination, because he did not remove the message, which company officials say could be considered harassment, the Harrisonburg Daily News Record in Virginia reported.
Pure BS.
Padilla said he parked in the company parking lot for two days before he heard of a complaint about the message, the Daily News Record reported.
He complied when a supervisor told him to remove the message. The next day, Padilla put the message back on his truck and parked outside the company gate. But later he was told the company owns the land where he parked.
"When ordered to do something relatively simple – remove from his truck two signs that other employees could have reasonably construed as a show of hostility and intolerance toward homosexuals – Mr. Padilla decided to ignore the warning and disobey the order.
So by the logic of this twit, those who OPPOSE the amendment are "showing hostility and intolerance toward married heterosexuals..."???
"By refusing to obey the order, he demonstrated that he could not be trusted to enforce and promote our employment policies because his personal beliefs mattered more to him."
Look for the Cargill label. Then buy the other brand.
Don't be too enthusiastic about it. Cargill management takes offense.
A Virginia man claims he was fired from his job because a message on the window of his pickup truck supported a proposed state constitutional amendment on marriage.
Luis Padilla, who worked in the human resources office at Cargill, the international provider of food and agricultural products and services, wrote on his vehicle's rear window, "Please, vote for marriage on Nov. 7."
Virginia's proposed amendment would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
An attorney for Cargill, Al Sufka, says Padilla was dismissed for insubordination, because he did not remove the message, which company officials say could be considered harassment, the Harrisonburg Daily News Record in Virginia reported.
Pure BS.
Padilla said he parked in the company parking lot for two days before he heard of a complaint about the message, the Daily News Record reported.
He complied when a supervisor told him to remove the message. The next day, Padilla put the message back on his truck and parked outside the company gate. But later he was told the company owns the land where he parked.
"When ordered to do something relatively simple – remove from his truck two signs that other employees could have reasonably construed as a show of hostility and intolerance toward homosexuals – Mr. Padilla decided to ignore the warning and disobey the order.
So by the logic of this twit, those who OPPOSE the amendment are "showing hostility and intolerance toward married heterosexuals..."???
"By refusing to obey the order, he demonstrated that he could not be trusted to enforce and promote our employment policies because his personal beliefs mattered more to him."
Look for the Cargill label. Then buy the other brand.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Bp Morlino to McCabe: Jam It!
Well, OK, that's not a precise quote--but that's the general idea.
As you recall, a pompous self-promoter named McCabe, professionally kvetching for a group called "Wisconsin Democracy Campaign" formally complained about brochures distributed in the Madison diocese firmly instructing Catholics to vote "YES" on the "Marriage Amendment."
McCabe maintains complete secrecy on his group's donors, and has loudly proclaimed his group's OPPOSITION to the Marriage Amendment. So besides the obvious conflict of interest, there's this little "secrecy" thing
KUDOS to Bp. Morlino:
Morlino says he doesn't have a problem with the law. In fact, he would gladly register with the state Elections Board if he was distributing information in a way that would require him to do so, but he's not. "I cannot allow the state to become involved with how I teach my parishioners and my churches because that curtails our free exercise of religion and that's a principle that's far more valuable in the long run than any other."
The Wisconsin Catholic Conference has registered with the state for electioneering, but Morlino doesn't think it would be a good idea for his diocese to register just to avoid this hassle. "Well, I wouldn't want to set that precedent because that means that I somehow have to get involved with the state when I teach the basics of my faith inside my own churches, and I don't want to give that much. I'd rather fight something out in the Supreme Court than give that much because our freedom of religion has been eroded terribly."
Obiter dicta:
He says people have a right to marry, but don't have a right to redefine marriage. He says allowing other arrangements simulating marriage would protect the use of the word marriage and not protect the institution of marriage
Let us know when the lawyers want money, Bishop.
Keep up the work of the Founders' First Amendment!!
As you recall, a pompous self-promoter named McCabe, professionally kvetching for a group called "Wisconsin Democracy Campaign" formally complained about brochures distributed in the Madison diocese firmly instructing Catholics to vote "YES" on the "Marriage Amendment."
McCabe maintains complete secrecy on his group's donors, and has loudly proclaimed his group's OPPOSITION to the Marriage Amendment. So besides the obvious conflict of interest, there's this little "secrecy" thing
KUDOS to Bp. Morlino:
Morlino says he doesn't have a problem with the law. In fact, he would gladly register with the state Elections Board if he was distributing information in a way that would require him to do so, but he's not. "I cannot allow the state to become involved with how I teach my parishioners and my churches because that curtails our free exercise of religion and that's a principle that's far more valuable in the long run than any other."
The Wisconsin Catholic Conference has registered with the state for electioneering, but Morlino doesn't think it would be a good idea for his diocese to register just to avoid this hassle. "Well, I wouldn't want to set that precedent because that means that I somehow have to get involved with the state when I teach the basics of my faith inside my own churches, and I don't want to give that much. I'd rather fight something out in the Supreme Court than give that much because our freedom of religion has been eroded terribly."
Obiter dicta:
He says people have a right to marry, but don't have a right to redefine marriage. He says allowing other arrangements simulating marriage would protect the use of the word marriage and not protect the institution of marriage
Let us know when the lawyers want money, Bishop.
Keep up the work of the Founders' First Amendment!!
Positive Muslim Response to Benedict's Speech
We all know about the burnings, riots, etc., which followed Benedict XVI's Regensburg speech.
However, that was not the only effect:
One month after his lecture at the University of Regensburg, Benedict XVI received an “open letter” signed by 38 Muslim personalities from various countries and of different outlooks, which discusses point by point the views on Islam expressed by the pope in that lecture.
The letter came to pope Joseph Ratzinger through the Vatican nunciature in Amman, to which it was delivered by one of the signatories, prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, special advisor to the king of Jordan, Abdullah II.
...The authors of the letter welcome and appreciate without reservation the clarifications made by Benedict XVI after the wave of protests that issued from the Muslim world a few days after the lecture in Regensburg, and in particular the speech that the pope addressed to ambassadors from Muslim countries on September 25, and also the reference made by cardinal secretary of state Tarcisio Bertone, in a note issued on September 16, to the conciliar document “Nostra Aetate.”
And not only that. They condemn with very strong words the assassination that took place in Somalia, in Muslim Mogadishu, of sister Leonella Sgorbati, thereby linking this to the protests that were at their peak at the time: “We must state that the murder on September 17th of an innocent Catholic nun in Somalia – and any other similar acts of wanton individual violence – 'in reaction to' the lecture at the University of Regensburg, is completely un-Islamic, and we totally condemn such acts.”
...The authors of the letter appreciate Benedict XVI’s desire for dialogue and take very seriously his theses. “Applaud” pope's “efforts to oppose the dominance of positivism and materialism in human life,” while contest him on other points, adding their reasons for their opposition. In this sense, the letter signed by the 38 – together with the preceding essay by Aref Ali Nayed, previewed by www.chiesa on October 4 – goes towards what the pope meant to accomplish with his audacious lecture in Regensburg: to encourage, within the Muslim world as well, public reflection that would separate faith from violence and link it to reason instead.
Because, in the pope’s view, it is precisely the “reasonableness” of the faith that is the natural terrain of encounter between Christianity and the various other religions and cultures.
Just maybe this is going someplace...
However, that was not the only effect:
One month after his lecture at the University of Regensburg, Benedict XVI received an “open letter” signed by 38 Muslim personalities from various countries and of different outlooks, which discusses point by point the views on Islam expressed by the pope in that lecture.
The letter came to pope Joseph Ratzinger through the Vatican nunciature in Amman, to which it was delivered by one of the signatories, prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, special advisor to the king of Jordan, Abdullah II.
...The authors of the letter welcome and appreciate without reservation the clarifications made by Benedict XVI after the wave of protests that issued from the Muslim world a few days after the lecture in Regensburg, and in particular the speech that the pope addressed to ambassadors from Muslim countries on September 25, and also the reference made by cardinal secretary of state Tarcisio Bertone, in a note issued on September 16, to the conciliar document “Nostra Aetate.”
And not only that. They condemn with very strong words the assassination that took place in Somalia, in Muslim Mogadishu, of sister Leonella Sgorbati, thereby linking this to the protests that were at their peak at the time: “We must state that the murder on September 17th of an innocent Catholic nun in Somalia – and any other similar acts of wanton individual violence – 'in reaction to' the lecture at the University of Regensburg, is completely un-Islamic, and we totally condemn such acts.”
...The authors of the letter appreciate Benedict XVI’s desire for dialogue and take very seriously his theses. “Applaud” pope's “efforts to oppose the dominance of positivism and materialism in human life,” while contest him on other points, adding their reasons for their opposition. In this sense, the letter signed by the 38 – together with the preceding essay by Aref Ali Nayed, previewed by www.chiesa on October 4 – goes towards what the pope meant to accomplish with his audacious lecture in Regensburg: to encourage, within the Muslim world as well, public reflection that would separate faith from violence and link it to reason instead.
Because, in the pope’s view, it is precisely the “reasonableness” of the faith that is the natural terrain of encounter between Christianity and the various other religions and cultures.
Just maybe this is going someplace...
Grandiose Assertions of Legal Positivists: Hamdan
P-Mac finds a wonderful little nugget with a very familiar theme:
“In Hamdan, the court moved to sweep aside decades of law and practice so as to forge a grand new role for the courts to open their doors to enemy war prisoners. Led by John Paul Stevens and abetted by Anthony Kennedy, the majority ignored or creatively misread the court's World War II precedents. The approach catered to the legal academy, whose tastes run to swashbuckling assertions of judicial supremacy and radical innovations, rather than hewing to wise but boring precedents."
It would also be "boring" for me to pull up all my posts warning of the Positivist Revolution endorsed and promoted by the Lawyer Class (but not shared by all of them.) However, the local examples (Screechin'Shirley & Co.) were highlighted by none other than Diane Sykes. Another localized example is the Mass Supreme Court, which found against natural law to positively approve homosexual relations.
Nationally, we still have the single most perverse Positivism--Roe v. Wade. It's hard to beat that one, war or no war.
“In Hamdan, the court moved to sweep aside decades of law and practice so as to forge a grand new role for the courts to open their doors to enemy war prisoners. Led by John Paul Stevens and abetted by Anthony Kennedy, the majority ignored or creatively misread the court's World War II precedents. The approach catered to the legal academy, whose tastes run to swashbuckling assertions of judicial supremacy and radical innovations, rather than hewing to wise but boring precedents."
It would also be "boring" for me to pull up all my posts warning of the Positivist Revolution endorsed and promoted by the Lawyer Class (but not shared by all of them.) However, the local examples (Screechin'Shirley & Co.) were highlighted by none other than Diane Sykes. Another localized example is the Mass Supreme Court, which found against natural law to positively approve homosexual relations.
Nationally, we still have the single most perverse Positivism--Roe v. Wade. It's hard to beat that one, war or no war.
The Sorry State of Gretchen Schuldt
Ms Schuldt achieves notoriety by suggesting that Tom Reynolds "is paying his utility bills" with campaign contributions.
She's also famous for this one:
Gretchen Schuldt, co-chairman of Citizens Allied for Sane Highways, said [I-894/45/I-94] interchange reconstruction costs should be paid by research park and medical center businesses "because they developed to the point where the freeways couldn't handle it, when they knew the freeways couldn't handle it."
Mr Sullivan certainly has some interesting allies and backers, no?
She's also famous for this one:
Gretchen Schuldt, co-chairman of Citizens Allied for Sane Highways, said [I-894/45/I-94] interchange reconstruction costs should be paid by research park and medical center businesses "because they developed to the point where the freeways couldn't handle it, when they knew the freeways couldn't handle it."
Mr Sullivan certainly has some interesting allies and backers, no?
Thursday, October 19, 2006
State Democrat War Plan: Illegal?
Opinions on the matter vary.
The Pubbies have their own, of course:
"Our reading of 11.06(7)(a) of Wi Statutes and ElBD 1.42(4) ....leads us to the conclusion...that the collusion...between State Senate Democratic Committee and Progressive Majority Wisconsin is prohibited by law..."
The letter was sent today to Dunst, the Election Board Counsel.
Only a passing reference to the Capitol's Xerox machine...
The Pubbies have their own, of course:
"Our reading of 11.06(7)(a) of Wi Statutes and ElBD 1.42(4) ....leads us to the conclusion...that the collusion...between State Senate Democratic Committee and Progressive Majority Wisconsin is prohibited by law..."
The letter was sent today to Dunst, the Election Board Counsel.
Only a passing reference to the Capitol's Xerox machine...
Mark Green: Re-Org DNR
Dear Cong. Green,
Please take this advice seriously:
It makes sense to assign one group to focus on true pollution enforcement, while others manage our land and water to preserve the outdoor way of life of our citizens.
(From your own campaign literature, quoted by Random10)
Send "enforcement" to the Attorney-General's office.
Please take this advice seriously:
It makes sense to assign one group to focus on true pollution enforcement, while others manage our land and water to preserve the outdoor way of life of our citizens.
(From your own campaign literature, quoted by Random10)
Send "enforcement" to the Attorney-General's office.
God's Out. There Are Consequences
Stolen from Neo-Con*Tastic
Dear God,
Why didn't you save the school children at:
Moses Lake, Washington 2/2/96, Bethel, Alaska 2/19/97, Pearl, Mississippi 10/1/97, West Paducah, Kentucky 12/1/97, Stamp, Arkansas 12/15/97, Jonesboro, Arkansas 3/24/98, Edinboro, Pennsylvania 4/24/98, Fayetteville, Tennessee 5/19/98, Springfield, Oregon 5/21/98, Richmond, Virginia 6/15/98, Littleton, Colorado 4/20/99, Taber, Alberta, Canada 5/28/99, Conyers, Georgia 5/20/99, Deming, New Mexico 11/19/99, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 12/6/99, Santee, California 3/ 5/01 and El Cajon, California 3/22/01?
Sincerely,
Concerned StudentReply:
My Sweet Child,
I am not allowed in schools.
Sincerely,
God
Slightly more serious: note that all these events occurred about one generation after Roe v Wade?
Just co-incidence, of course.
Dear God,
Why didn't you save the school children at:
Moses Lake, Washington 2/2/96, Bethel, Alaska 2/19/97, Pearl, Mississippi 10/1/97, West Paducah, Kentucky 12/1/97, Stamp, Arkansas 12/15/97, Jonesboro, Arkansas 3/24/98, Edinboro, Pennsylvania 4/24/98, Fayetteville, Tennessee 5/19/98, Springfield, Oregon 5/21/98, Richmond, Virginia 6/15/98, Littleton, Colorado 4/20/99, Taber, Alberta, Canada 5/28/99, Conyers, Georgia 5/20/99, Deming, New Mexico 11/19/99, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 12/6/99, Santee, California 3/ 5/01 and El Cajon, California 3/22/01?
Sincerely,
Concerned StudentReply:
My Sweet Child,
I am not allowed in schools.
Sincerely,
God
Slightly more serious: note that all these events occurred about one generation after Roe v Wade?
Just co-incidence, of course.
One Shot, One Kill: 4,000+ Feet
It's the "instinctively" part that causes respect:
Gazing through the telescopic sight of his M-24 rifle, Army Staff Sgt. Jim Gilliland, leader of Shadow sniper team, fixed his eye on the Iraqi insurgent who had just killed an American soldier.
His quarry stood nonchalantly in the fourth-floor bay window of a hospital in battle-torn Ramadi, still clasping a long-barreled Kalashnikov. Instinctively allowing for wind speed and bullet drop, Shadow's commander aimed 12 feet high.
A single shot hit the Iraqi in the chest and killed him instantly. It had been fired from a range of more than three-quarters of a mile, well beyond the capacity of the powerful Leupold sight, accurate to 3,300 feet.
"I believe it is the longest confirmed kill in Iraq with a 7.62mm rifle," said Sgt. Gilliland, 28, who hunted squirrels in Double Springs, Ala., from the age of 5 before progressing to deer -- and then to insurgents and terrorists.
Another good reason for squirrels!
Gazing through the telescopic sight of his M-24 rifle, Army Staff Sgt. Jim Gilliland, leader of Shadow sniper team, fixed his eye on the Iraqi insurgent who had just killed an American soldier.
His quarry stood nonchalantly in the fourth-floor bay window of a hospital in battle-torn Ramadi, still clasping a long-barreled Kalashnikov. Instinctively allowing for wind speed and bullet drop, Shadow's commander aimed 12 feet high.
A single shot hit the Iraqi in the chest and killed him instantly. It had been fired from a range of more than three-quarters of a mile, well beyond the capacity of the powerful Leupold sight, accurate to 3,300 feet.
"I believe it is the longest confirmed kill in Iraq with a 7.62mm rifle," said Sgt. Gilliland, 28, who hunted squirrels in Double Springs, Ala., from the age of 5 before progressing to deer -- and then to insurgents and terrorists.
Another good reason for squirrels!
McCabe: A Slime-Coated Jackass
There are definitely better words to describe Mr. McCabe and his group of twits, but there are other venues which are more appropriate.
The Slime-Coated Jackass has now filed a complaint against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madistan:
A [self-inflated self-anointed] watchdog group accused the Catholic Diocese of Madison of failing to publicly disclose its attempts to influence a Nov. 7 referendum on gay marriage.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign asked the state Elections Board to take enforcement action against the diocese for failing to register its activities in support of a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions.
The group cited a flier prepared by the diocese and distributed outside a Catholic church in Madison.
"A YES vote upholds the Catholic teaching that marriage is a union between a man and a woman," the flier said.
"We've got disclosures for a reason in this state," McCabe told 27 News.
"The public deserves to know who's trying to sway the vote on any issue, on any campaign."
McCabe asserts that State law requires "registration" of any group spending more than $25.00 to promote a position on an amendment to the Constitution. IF he is correct, the law should be changed, right now, to exempt churches.
Somehow, however, McCabe managed to miss this one:
But William Bartz, pastor of Monona Oaks Community Church, said he doubted the registration requirement applies to churches. He has urged his members to vote for the amendment and left letters urging its passage at hundreds of homes.
The theory that "registration" creates "clean campaigns" is ridiculous--except for pompous asses like McCabe and other such examples (Feingold (D-AlQuaeda) comes to mind.) One needs look no further than "registered" groups such as McCabe's bunch. Exactly WHO contributes to THEM? (hint: it's a secret)
HT: York (whose take is far more humorous than mine)
The Slime-Coated Jackass has now filed a complaint against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madistan:
A [self-inflated self-anointed] watchdog group accused the Catholic Diocese of Madison of failing to publicly disclose its attempts to influence a Nov. 7 referendum on gay marriage.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign asked the state Elections Board to take enforcement action against the diocese for failing to register its activities in support of a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions.
The group cited a flier prepared by the diocese and distributed outside a Catholic church in Madison.
"A YES vote upholds the Catholic teaching that marriage is a union between a man and a woman," the flier said.
"We've got disclosures for a reason in this state," McCabe told 27 News.
"The public deserves to know who's trying to sway the vote on any issue, on any campaign."
McCabe asserts that State law requires "registration" of any group spending more than $25.00 to promote a position on an amendment to the Constitution. IF he is correct, the law should be changed, right now, to exempt churches.
Somehow, however, McCabe managed to miss this one:
But William Bartz, pastor of Monona Oaks Community Church, said he doubted the registration requirement applies to churches. He has urged his members to vote for the amendment and left letters urging its passage at hundreds of homes.
The theory that "registration" creates "clean campaigns" is ridiculous--except for pompous asses like McCabe and other such examples (Feingold (D-AlQuaeda) comes to mind.) One needs look no further than "registered" groups such as McCabe's bunch. Exactly WHO contributes to THEM? (hint: it's a secret)
HT: York (whose take is far more humorous than mine)
IE 7's Out There
Downloaded this for one of the chilluns. Tabs are nice, and they even have a "phishing-sensor" in the package.
Microsoft today released the final version of Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP and made it available for free download at the Internet Explorer 7 site.
IE7 is a significant upgrade to IE6, and offers tabbed browsing, an anti-phishing toolbar, a redesigned interface, and a variety of security features, including increased protection against rogue ActiveX controls. It's Microsoft's first launch of an all new browser since the release of IE6 in 2001.
Have fun!
Microsoft today released the final version of Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP and made it available for free download at the Internet Explorer 7 site.
IE7 is a significant upgrade to IE6, and offers tabbed browsing, an anti-phishing toolbar, a redesigned interface, and a variety of security features, including increased protection against rogue ActiveX controls. It's Microsoft's first launch of an all new browser since the release of IE6 in 2001.
Have fun!
Darth Doyle Lies (Who KNEW?)
Darth's not happy when people call him out, so he simply lies. The NRA's Executive Director thought he'd set the record straight:
The Doyle campaign says we’re lying when we tell you that Doyle opposed Wisconsin’s constitutional amendment to keep and bear arms. The Doyle campaign says “The Governor supported the constitutional amendment, and he continues to support the right to hunt, fish, and trap.” This is a classic case of bait-and-switch. The state constitutional amendment to keep and bear arms and the state constitutional amendment to hunt, fish and trap are two different things. And when it came to the amendment guaranteeing the right to keep and bear arms, Doyle called it, “an extremely radical proposal” and had one of his Justice Department flunkies testify against it in a legislative hearing. Does that sound like support to you? Doyle’s the one lying about his record, not us.
In Darth's world, only the Gummint folks have the 'right to keep and bear arms.'
Doyle tried to get legislation passed that would have banned almost every firearm and all ammunition in Wisconsin. But here’s the truth. Doyle asked a state senator to introduce a bill that would have done exactly that
I recall that kerfuffle. The provision which essentially banned ALL AMMO was carefully crafted and buried in the bill.
HT: Boots & Sabers
The Doyle campaign says we’re lying when we tell you that Doyle opposed Wisconsin’s constitutional amendment to keep and bear arms. The Doyle campaign says “The Governor supported the constitutional amendment, and he continues to support the right to hunt, fish, and trap.” This is a classic case of bait-and-switch. The state constitutional amendment to keep and bear arms and the state constitutional amendment to hunt, fish and trap are two different things. And when it came to the amendment guaranteeing the right to keep and bear arms, Doyle called it, “an extremely radical proposal” and had one of his Justice Department flunkies testify against it in a legislative hearing. Does that sound like support to you? Doyle’s the one lying about his record, not us.
In Darth's world, only the Gummint folks have the 'right to keep and bear arms.'
Doyle tried to get legislation passed that would have banned almost every firearm and all ammunition in Wisconsin. But here’s the truth. Doyle asked a state senator to introduce a bill that would have done exactly that
I recall that kerfuffle. The provision which essentially banned ALL AMMO was carefully crafted and buried in the bill.
HT: Boots & Sabers
Dog Ate Sen. Miller's Playbook
State Senator (!!) Miller says that his campaign playbook was stolen by furtive GOP operative who watched cloakroom, waiting for Miller to leave it there. He did NOT claim that the GOP operative was hidden inside a coat, or was hiding inside the copying machine from which the document was actually taken.
When I arrive at work at the Capitol daily, I routinely place my coat, hat, and bags in a commonly shared room that includes a coat rack and copy machine. I have reason to believe this binder along with other personal belongings may have been in that room for at least some period of time. This room is accessible to both employees of the Capitol building and the public.
That raises serious questions regarding how these private materials came into the possession of the Republican Party. It is truly disappointing to think someone, possibly a state employee, may have dug through the personal belongings of a State Senator.
Anyone familiar with me knows that I demand high personal integrity from myself and my staff.
Yada, yada, yada.
When I arrive at work at the Capitol daily, I routinely place my coat, hat, and bags in a commonly shared room that includes a coat rack and copy machine. I have reason to believe this binder along with other personal belongings may have been in that room for at least some period of time. This room is accessible to both employees of the Capitol building and the public.
That raises serious questions regarding how these private materials came into the possession of the Republican Party. It is truly disappointing to think someone, possibly a state employee, may have dug through the personal belongings of a State Senator.
Anyone familiar with me knows that I demand high personal integrity from myself and my staff.
Yada, yada, yada.
More Taxes, Says Gimbel
There's no such thing as "enough" when taking money from taxpayers.
So the Midwest Center wants more money:
Planners say there are no immediate signs of a large convention being booked for Milwaukee in the next couple of years. In the meantime, the city is losing business to other cities, including Chicago, according to Doug Neilson, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, the city's convention and visitors bureau.
That's why Gimbel is thinking expansion, an idea he has supported for years
.
"Expansion is something we have to revisit with some level of greater intensity than we have had in the past," Gimbel said. "To expand, we are going to need some help out of Madison. That means the state Legislature is going to have to visit whether or not they want to give us increased taxing authority."
Gimbel complains that the Midwest Center can't book "large" conventions.
I guess he missed the NRA's national convention. Maybe he was locked in Milk-Carton's office assisting the Mayor with the Pout About Guns.
So the Midwest Center wants more money:
Planners say there are no immediate signs of a large convention being booked for Milwaukee in the next couple of years. In the meantime, the city is losing business to other cities, including Chicago, according to Doug Neilson, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, the city's convention and visitors bureau.
That's why Gimbel is thinking expansion, an idea he has supported for years
.
"Expansion is something we have to revisit with some level of greater intensity than we have had in the past," Gimbel said. "To expand, we are going to need some help out of Madison. That means the state Legislature is going to have to visit whether or not they want to give us increased taxing authority."
Gimbel complains that the Midwest Center can't book "large" conventions.
I guess he missed the NRA's national convention. Maybe he was locked in Milk-Carton's office assisting the Mayor with the Pout About Guns.
Mel and Jimmuh
So what was it that Gibson said while inebriated?
Was it that Israel maintains “a system of apartheid, with two peoples occupying the same land but completely separated from each other, with Israelis totally dominant and suppressing violence by depriving Palestinians of their basic human rights.”
Or that “Israel’s continued control and colonization of Palestinian land have been the primary obstacles to a comprehensive peace agreement in the Holy Land.”
Or was it “Because of powerful political, economic, and religious forces in the United States, Israeli government decisions are rarely questioned or condemned,”
You're right. That wasn't Mel Inebriated.
That's Jimmuh--excerpts from his upcoming book "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid."
Was it that Israel maintains “a system of apartheid, with two peoples occupying the same land but completely separated from each other, with Israelis totally dominant and suppressing violence by depriving Palestinians of their basic human rights.”
Or that “Israel’s continued control and colonization of Palestinian land have been the primary obstacles to a comprehensive peace agreement in the Holy Land.”
Or was it “Because of powerful political, economic, and religious forces in the United States, Israeli government decisions are rarely questioned or condemned,”
You're right. That wasn't Mel Inebriated.
That's Jimmuh--excerpts from his upcoming book "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid."
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
WI Democrats' "Silent Partner"--Progressive Majority Wisconsin
Yah, well, we're not supposed to know that Progressive Majority Wisconsin is co-ordinating its campaign activities with the Democrats.
Here's a list (with pix) of the PMW staff. They carefully FAIL to note that one of them was convicted of illegal campaign activities.
Hint: Look for the ex-Chvala critter.
HT: Texas Hold'em and Boots & Sabers
Here's a list (with pix) of the PMW staff. They carefully FAIL to note that one of them was convicted of illegal campaign activities.
Hint: Look for the ex-Chvala critter.
HT: Texas Hold'em and Boots & Sabers
"Outing" or Extortion on Sen. Craig
Hot stuff, fresh from Redstate:
Several months ago, we noted this story, which involved a threat by Mike Rogers of BlogActive to out a closeted United States Senator if he voted the wrong way on Alito. Rogers at the time promised that he would wait until a politically opportune time to out the individual in question.
Several months ago, we noted this story, which involved a threat by Mike Rogers of BlogActive to out a closeted United States Senator if he voted the wrong way on Alito. Rogers at the time promised that he would wait until a politically opportune time to out the individual in question.
d) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person any money or other thing
of value, knowingly so deposits or causes to be delivered, as aforesaid, any
communication, with or without a name or designating mark subscribed thereto,
addressed to any other person and containing any threat to injure the property
or reputation of the addressee or of another, or the reputation of a deceased
person, or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
If such a communication is addressed to a United States judge, a Federal law
enforcement officer, or an official who is covered by section 1114 [18 USCS §
1114], the individual shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than
10 years, or both.
18 USCS § 876 (d)According to this Kos diary, Rogers has followed through on his extortionary threat, and apparently outed Senator Larry Craig (R-ID)
Sure would like to know how to turn OFF the damn "quotes" on Blogger...
Marquette's Fr. Wild: "I Can't HEAR You!"
The Warrior finds that Fr. Wild is evasive, disingenuous, and artsy with word-selection.
Isn't that the meaning of the initials "S.J."?
Isn't that the meaning of the initials "S.J."?
McCann('t) Was Busy Elsewhere!
Some Milwaukee County residents wonder why E Michael McCann didn't prosecute criminals.
Here's your answer:
Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann, filing on behalf of the state, had asked Hansher [a Circuit Court judge] to compel the county to buy or build a facility where Morford [sex-offender] could be housed after a committee appointed by the Legislature to recommend suitable locations failed in 2005.
So what's the big deal? HERE'S the big deal:
Department of Health and Family Services spokesman Jason Helgerson said his agency never disputed its responsibility and was not party to the petition filed by McCann.
"We didn't think the case had merit," Helgerson said. "We think the law is clear on who's responsible for finding placement under Chapter 980."
A small problem remains, according to Hansher:
" . . . until a facility to house these Chapter 980 detainees is built here in Milwaukee, he (Morford) is accepted elsewhere in the state on a permanent basis or the present placement criteria and requirements of Chapter 980 are changed by the Legislature," there is "nothing more this court can do."
Well, Mike McCann's going to have plenty of time soon. Maybe Billy Morford could move in with Mike, who could serve as his watchdog.
Here's your answer:
Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann, filing on behalf of the state, had asked Hansher [a Circuit Court judge] to compel the county to buy or build a facility where Morford [sex-offender] could be housed after a committee appointed by the Legislature to recommend suitable locations failed in 2005.
So what's the big deal? HERE'S the big deal:
Department of Health and Family Services spokesman Jason Helgerson said his agency never disputed its responsibility and was not party to the petition filed by McCann.
"We didn't think the case had merit," Helgerson said. "We think the law is clear on who's responsible for finding placement under Chapter 980."
A small problem remains, according to Hansher:
" . . . until a facility to house these Chapter 980 detainees is built here in Milwaukee, he (Morford) is accepted elsewhere in the state on a permanent basis or the present placement criteria and requirements of Chapter 980 are changed by the Legislature," there is "nothing more this court can do."
Well, Mike McCann's going to have plenty of time soon. Maybe Billy Morford could move in with Mike, who could serve as his watchdog.
Cedarburg School Board Holds its Ground
The fact that some State of Wisconsin-arbitrator-twit decided that "teen porn" and "stock quotes" are similar doesn't deter the Cedarburg Board of Education from attempting to get its cyber-Peeping-Tom off the payroll.
Good for the Board.
As for WEAC--you really don't want to be defending Peeping Toms who like Teenage Skin, do you?
Good for the Board.
As for WEAC--you really don't want to be defending Peeping Toms who like Teenage Skin, do you?
The Hildebeeste's Spending Problem
Bill Clinton's wife thought it was necessary for US taxpayers to "assist victims" in New York after the 9/11 event. She must have been right--US taxpayers coughed up enormous sums to the American Red Cross (among other charities) to assist New York victims, their survivors, the police and firemen.
But the Hildebeeste had other victims in mind.
Hildebeeste and Chucky Shumer demanded $20 billion for New York. Bush rolled over and gave it to them. Of the $20 billion, “about $500 million is being funneled in grants to 145 big corporations that promise not to quit downtown. By comparison, thousands of families struggling to pay their rent and mortgage have received less than $75 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.” according to a New York Daily News investigation.
And whaddya know about this: One beneficiary of this federal largess was Goldman Sachs, a global investment banking and securities firm. Ranking forty-first on the Fortune 500 in 2006, Goldman Sachs is worth $43.3 billion and turned a $5.6 billion profit in 2005.
Goldman Sachs received a $25 million grant in 2005 from the Job Creation and Retention program. According to the Daily News, Goldman Sachs “agreed to stay downtown only after forcing Governor Pataki to abandon a West St. tunnel near the entrance to Goldman’s planned $2.4 billion headquarters across from Ground Zero.”
So tell me--was Goldman going to leave NYC? Or was this just ransom?
Do you like your refrigerator? Your air conditioner? Vacuum cleaner?
Another boondoggle was the September 11 clean air program. This scheme apparently made every last New Yorker eligible to receive up to $1,750 in federal funds to purchase air conditioners, purifiers, and vacuum cleaners. Hillary, from her seat on the senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, supported the program. The program, originally estimated at $15 million, ended up costing at least $129.7 million.
Only 5,000 New Yorkers were expected to participate, but 118,591 ultimately won approval for free appliances, including 5,211 applicants in Flushing, Elmhust, Hillcrest, and Rego Park in Central Queens—areas that the plume of noxious air from the blasts did not reach—were approved to get $6.3 million in appliances. Eight miles from Ground Zero in Starrett City, where residents were likewise unaffected by soot, one in every ten households applied for clean-air freebies. In that city, a total of residents hauled in $633,495 from federal taxpayers.
HUD also made grants in the national interest:
$30 million to enhance sixteen city parks
$19 million for an “I Love NY” tourism campaign
$4 million for the beautification of four blocks on Broadway’s Canyon of Heroes
$3 million to promote fifteen museums
$3 million for actor Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival
The Hildebeeste would be President some day--she thinks. Her staff already took out one rival by spreading rumors about a 'zipper problem.' She's perfectly willing to purchase votes.
Pay attention...
But the Hildebeeste had other victims in mind.
Hildebeeste and Chucky Shumer demanded $20 billion for New York. Bush rolled over and gave it to them. Of the $20 billion, “about $500 million is being funneled in grants to 145 big corporations that promise not to quit downtown. By comparison, thousands of families struggling to pay their rent and mortgage have received less than $75 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.” according to a New York Daily News investigation.
And whaddya know about this: One beneficiary of this federal largess was Goldman Sachs, a global investment banking and securities firm. Ranking forty-first on the Fortune 500 in 2006, Goldman Sachs is worth $43.3 billion and turned a $5.6 billion profit in 2005.
Goldman Sachs received a $25 million grant in 2005 from the Job Creation and Retention program. According to the Daily News, Goldman Sachs “agreed to stay downtown only after forcing Governor Pataki to abandon a West St. tunnel near the entrance to Goldman’s planned $2.4 billion headquarters across from Ground Zero.”
So tell me--was Goldman going to leave NYC? Or was this just ransom?
Do you like your refrigerator? Your air conditioner? Vacuum cleaner?
Another boondoggle was the September 11 clean air program. This scheme apparently made every last New Yorker eligible to receive up to $1,750 in federal funds to purchase air conditioners, purifiers, and vacuum cleaners. Hillary, from her seat on the senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, supported the program. The program, originally estimated at $15 million, ended up costing at least $129.7 million.
Only 5,000 New Yorkers were expected to participate, but 118,591 ultimately won approval for free appliances, including 5,211 applicants in Flushing, Elmhust, Hillcrest, and Rego Park in Central Queens—areas that the plume of noxious air from the blasts did not reach—were approved to get $6.3 million in appliances. Eight miles from Ground Zero in Starrett City, where residents were likewise unaffected by soot, one in every ten households applied for clean-air freebies. In that city, a total of residents hauled in $633,495 from federal taxpayers.
HUD also made grants in the national interest:
$30 million to enhance sixteen city parks
$19 million for an “I Love NY” tourism campaign
$4 million for the beautification of four blocks on Broadway’s Canyon of Heroes
$3 million to promote fifteen museums
$3 million for actor Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival
The Hildebeeste would be President some day--she thinks. Her staff already took out one rival by spreading rumors about a 'zipper problem.' She's perfectly willing to purchase votes.
Pay attention...
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Owen V. Ingrid--Some Thoughts
Heard about 15 minutes in the car, and downloaded the audio for purposes of putting up a few thoughts.
Owen began with the beginning--that marriage, the institution, has been around since time immemorial and until very recently, was acknowledged by all as between a man and a woman. (It is still so in all the world, save Massachusetts.) He then made the salient point: that the courts, aided and abetted by lawyers, have begun to change 'the name of the game,' and that is why The Amendment must have a YES vote.
Ingrid's opening statement concentrated on the Second Sentence--no surprise, as one can spread a lot of confusion by concentrating on what is essentially a defense against Screechin'Shirley's Wisconsin Supreme gang.
She coyly asserted that "homosex marriage" is already illegal in Wisconsin. What she did NOT state, of course, is that the terms "husband" and "wife" used in the legislation are far more malleable than most people ever imagined. (See Screecin'Shirley, above.)
But Ingrid also used the occasion to bring up "other consequences," such as the elimination of "civil unions." On that specific, Owen agreed--recalling that in Vermont, another Supreme Court has ruled that "civil unions" are the equivalent of marriage.
Then Sykes asked "what other things might be banned..."
Ingrid mentioned 'hospital visitation rights, domestic-partner benefits' and stated that if the Amendment passes, these things would be "Banned." That's simply not true. She also brought up "domestic violence" problems in Ohio.
Owen nailed it when he said that there have been no Court rulings in any State which has 'taken away' domestic-partner benefits.' NONE.
In addition, Owen cited the Legislative attorney's opinion which clearly allowed for such benefits to be legislated into existence--without "marriage" as a pre-condition. In other words, one does not have to be "married" for the Legislature to allow hospital-visitation, power-of-attorney, or 'domestic-partner' benefits.
It was at this point that Ingrid went to the "Fair Wisconsin" script (see below) and personalized the discussion. No surprise. She was losing on the facts---
Then Sykes asked about Gay Adoption.
Owen opined that since we are dealing with "the best interests of the child," that perhaps a stable gay couple would be better parents than a single crack-mom. [This is a false dichotomy, of course--and his acquiescence was far too facile, for a number of reasons.] He did manage to re-state the obvious: that "adopting a child" does not make a couple "married."
Ingrid did not have a response, period. She wound up with noises about "lawsuits," and went to the default feelings argument that 'The Amendment' would deprive homosexuals of "rights."
Wrong argument...
Sykes then brought up "vague language," referring to the second sentence.
Owen slam-dunked that one, stating that ALL the terms in the Second Sentence are legally precise--in other words, that the smoke-and-mirrors argument was just that--smoke and mirrors, although he conceded that there would be lawsuits, as did Ingrid. His response: "So What?" That's what lawyers DO, after all...
Ingrid then skated onto very thin ice by endorsing the "Hawaii option" which cut the Courts out of the equasion (and leaving only the Legislature as the decider...) Owen confessed that he wasn't familiar with the Hawaii option...but a door was opened when he mentioned that "all the arguments made [by Ingrid] were arguments "for Gay Marriage," which is already illegal in Wisconsin...so why make all those arguments, Ingrid?
And Sykes then allowed Ingrid to become....ah...."disingenous."
After running a "Fair Wisconsin" ad, featuring a young man dissembling about the effects of the ad while allowing that gay people should be allowed to be married, Sykes tossed it to Ingrid, asking if Fair Wisconsin was really for "Gay marriage."
Ingrid meandered around for a while--and Sykes re-stated--"if it were just the FIRST sentence, would you vote against it?"--and Ingrid said she would oppose it, but the organization would not.
Owen nailed it--she was disingenuous.
Next, Sykes asked whether it was not, in fact, a GOOD thing to encourage "stable" gay marriages.
Owen, unfortunately, semi-contradicted his earlier faux pas (conceding that gay couples should be allowed to adopt) by bringing up the research indicating that the best environment for children is a monogamous heterosexual marriage. He recovered a bit by discussing the "dilution of language," and re-stating that "marriage" is simply not "marriage" when we include homosexual unions.
Curiously, Ingrid responded by saying "At this point we are not trying to re-define marriage...." again stating that Wisconsin law does not [seem] to allow "gay" marriage.
What's "At this point", Ingrid?
At any rate, Ingrid went right back to being.....ahh...disingenuous about the effects of the Second Sentence.
That's because it's really the only argument Ingrid has...disingenuity.
Owen simply quoted Constitutional theory to the effect that the Second Sentence is not severable from the first sentence--and said that The Amendment simply would NOT prevent legislative passage of laws allowing for the benefits described above.
Sykes asked whether Ingrid was prevented from anything under the law (aside from the obvious,) and Ingrid mentioned 'transferring a license plate,' and 'getting a fishing license.' Owen said it's a matter of culture, which judges should not forcibly change, and that the Libertarian argument (I'm OK, you're OK) is irrelevant to institutions like marriage--which is about more than just "love." [We will add that it's about more than just "sex."]
Sykes: Procreation?
Owen: also not a Government issue. We need to determine what is "marriage" and what is not.
Sykes: Civil unions? Why do we need an Amendment that bans civil unions?
Owen: If civil unions are just like marriage, then you have downgraded marriage.
Sykes: "Marriage-lite"? That's really a "civil union."
Ingrid: back to personalization. She states that the Amendment will ban civil unions.
Owen: If it's going to be identical to marriage, then it will be banned. But it does NOT take away the possibility of benefits through legislative action. Ingrid, instead, WANTS GAY MARRIAGE--not satisfied with 'half-measures.'
Sykes: I think the Amendment over-reaches. But Ingrid's group seems to want Gay Marriage, period--because she opposes the Amendment.
Ingrid: Well--that's presumpuous. Not all gays want marriage. Some want "civil unions."
[What's the difference, Ingrid??]
Ingrid goes back to fallback #2: cloud the meaning of English, followed by fallback #1--it's personal to me.
Owen: In fact, the homosexuals ARE suing all over the Country for "gay marriage." The Amendment simply prevents that.
Sykes: If it's up to the courts to define, why not three or more people?
Ingrid: That's an irrational argument. [Yah--Scalia is irrational...] Back to the personalization, "it's who I am, polygamy is not the question." But Sykes presses: but if it's just a "norm," then why can't we re-define ANY "norm."?
Owen: If we decide that the insitution of marriage is no longer valid, then what we have is an ambigous definition which could include anything we want. We cannot establish law based on "love" [or lust] between any two [or more] individuals.
Ingrid: let's get back to "gay marriage."
Then the summaries:
Owen: not about hate, not about bigotry--it's about changing a major civil institution. Once it's changed, you can't go back easily.
Ingrid: Sad that it picks on people who "mind their own business." Personalization, "I'm just like you are, mostly. We can agree that 'this goes too far.'"
I won't use National Forensics League scoring to judge the debate--in reality, it was not a "win/lose" discussion, and it was between two very nice people. They should be thanked for taking their time to present their arguments.
However, as Wigderson mentioned, it's clear that the "Vote No" folks are, in the end, all about Gay Marriage. They intend to get it in Wisconsin, and know that passage of The Amendment will stop them dead in their tracks.
That's why they "personalize" and spray foofoodust all around the room (regarding the Second Sentence) in the discussion. They are trying to find a way to get married, but can't possibly say so out loud. Thus, use emotions or simply lie about the effects of the Second Sentence.
Vote Yes. Let them sue.
Final note: No chairs were thrown, and no nastiness was evident. Apparently Sykes has acquired a large lion-tamer's chair and whip and keeps them handy.
Thanks, Charlie, for a good show.
Owen began with the beginning--that marriage, the institution, has been around since time immemorial and until very recently, was acknowledged by all as between a man and a woman. (It is still so in all the world, save Massachusetts.) He then made the salient point: that the courts, aided and abetted by lawyers, have begun to change 'the name of the game,' and that is why The Amendment must have a YES vote.
Ingrid's opening statement concentrated on the Second Sentence--no surprise, as one can spread a lot of confusion by concentrating on what is essentially a defense against Screechin'Shirley's Wisconsin Supreme gang.
She coyly asserted that "homosex marriage" is already illegal in Wisconsin. What she did NOT state, of course, is that the terms "husband" and "wife" used in the legislation are far more malleable than most people ever imagined. (See Screecin'Shirley, above.)
But Ingrid also used the occasion to bring up "other consequences," such as the elimination of "civil unions." On that specific, Owen agreed--recalling that in Vermont, another Supreme Court has ruled that "civil unions" are the equivalent of marriage.
Then Sykes asked "what other things might be banned..."
Ingrid mentioned 'hospital visitation rights, domestic-partner benefits' and stated that if the Amendment passes, these things would be "Banned." That's simply not true. She also brought up "domestic violence" problems in Ohio.
Owen nailed it when he said that there have been no Court rulings in any State which has 'taken away' domestic-partner benefits.' NONE.
In addition, Owen cited the Legislative attorney's opinion which clearly allowed for such benefits to be legislated into existence--without "marriage" as a pre-condition. In other words, one does not have to be "married" for the Legislature to allow hospital-visitation, power-of-attorney, or 'domestic-partner' benefits.
It was at this point that Ingrid went to the "Fair Wisconsin" script (see below) and personalized the discussion. No surprise. She was losing on the facts---
Then Sykes asked about Gay Adoption.
Owen opined that since we are dealing with "the best interests of the child," that perhaps a stable gay couple would be better parents than a single crack-mom. [This is a false dichotomy, of course--and his acquiescence was far too facile, for a number of reasons.] He did manage to re-state the obvious: that "adopting a child" does not make a couple "married."
Ingrid did not have a response, period. She wound up with noises about "lawsuits," and went to the default feelings argument that 'The Amendment' would deprive homosexuals of "rights."
Wrong argument...
Sykes then brought up "vague language," referring to the second sentence.
Owen slam-dunked that one, stating that ALL the terms in the Second Sentence are legally precise--in other words, that the smoke-and-mirrors argument was just that--smoke and mirrors, although he conceded that there would be lawsuits, as did Ingrid. His response: "So What?" That's what lawyers DO, after all...
Ingrid then skated onto very thin ice by endorsing the "Hawaii option" which cut the Courts out of the equasion (and leaving only the Legislature as the decider...) Owen confessed that he wasn't familiar with the Hawaii option...but a door was opened when he mentioned that "all the arguments made [by Ingrid] were arguments "for Gay Marriage," which is already illegal in Wisconsin...so why make all those arguments, Ingrid?
And Sykes then allowed Ingrid to become....ah...."disingenous."
After running a "Fair Wisconsin" ad, featuring a young man dissembling about the effects of the ad while allowing that gay people should be allowed to be married, Sykes tossed it to Ingrid, asking if Fair Wisconsin was really for "Gay marriage."
Ingrid meandered around for a while--and Sykes re-stated--"if it were just the FIRST sentence, would you vote against it?"--and Ingrid said she would oppose it, but the organization would not.
Owen nailed it--she was disingenuous.
Next, Sykes asked whether it was not, in fact, a GOOD thing to encourage "stable" gay marriages.
Owen, unfortunately, semi-contradicted his earlier faux pas (conceding that gay couples should be allowed to adopt) by bringing up the research indicating that the best environment for children is a monogamous heterosexual marriage. He recovered a bit by discussing the "dilution of language," and re-stating that "marriage" is simply not "marriage" when we include homosexual unions.
Curiously, Ingrid responded by saying "At this point we are not trying to re-define marriage...." again stating that Wisconsin law does not [seem] to allow "gay" marriage.
What's "At this point", Ingrid?
At any rate, Ingrid went right back to being.....ahh...disingenuous about the effects of the Second Sentence.
That's because it's really the only argument Ingrid has...disingenuity.
Owen simply quoted Constitutional theory to the effect that the Second Sentence is not severable from the first sentence--and said that The Amendment simply would NOT prevent legislative passage of laws allowing for the benefits described above.
Sykes asked whether Ingrid was prevented from anything under the law (aside from the obvious,) and Ingrid mentioned 'transferring a license plate,' and 'getting a fishing license.' Owen said it's a matter of culture, which judges should not forcibly change, and that the Libertarian argument (I'm OK, you're OK) is irrelevant to institutions like marriage--which is about more than just "love." [We will add that it's about more than just "sex."]
Sykes: Procreation?
Owen: also not a Government issue. We need to determine what is "marriage" and what is not.
Sykes: Civil unions? Why do we need an Amendment that bans civil unions?
Owen: If civil unions are just like marriage, then you have downgraded marriage.
Sykes: "Marriage-lite"? That's really a "civil union."
Ingrid: back to personalization. She states that the Amendment will ban civil unions.
Owen: If it's going to be identical to marriage, then it will be banned. But it does NOT take away the possibility of benefits through legislative action. Ingrid, instead, WANTS GAY MARRIAGE--not satisfied with 'half-measures.'
Sykes: I think the Amendment over-reaches. But Ingrid's group seems to want Gay Marriage, period--because she opposes the Amendment.
Ingrid: Well--that's presumpuous. Not all gays want marriage. Some want "civil unions."
[What's the difference, Ingrid??]
Ingrid goes back to fallback #2: cloud the meaning of English, followed by fallback #1--it's personal to me.
Owen: In fact, the homosexuals ARE suing all over the Country for "gay marriage." The Amendment simply prevents that.
Sykes: If it's up to the courts to define, why not three or more people?
Ingrid: That's an irrational argument. [Yah--Scalia is irrational...] Back to the personalization, "it's who I am, polygamy is not the question." But Sykes presses: but if it's just a "norm," then why can't we re-define ANY "norm."?
Owen: If we decide that the insitution of marriage is no longer valid, then what we have is an ambigous definition which could include anything we want. We cannot establish law based on "love" [or lust] between any two [or more] individuals.
Ingrid: let's get back to "gay marriage."
Then the summaries:
Owen: not about hate, not about bigotry--it's about changing a major civil institution. Once it's changed, you can't go back easily.
Ingrid: Sad that it picks on people who "mind their own business." Personalization, "I'm just like you are, mostly. We can agree that 'this goes too far.'"
I won't use National Forensics League scoring to judge the debate--in reality, it was not a "win/lose" discussion, and it was between two very nice people. They should be thanked for taking their time to present their arguments.
However, as Wigderson mentioned, it's clear that the "Vote No" folks are, in the end, all about Gay Marriage. They intend to get it in Wisconsin, and know that passage of The Amendment will stop them dead in their tracks.
That's why they "personalize" and spray foofoodust all around the room (regarding the Second Sentence) in the discussion. They are trying to find a way to get married, but can't possibly say so out loud. Thus, use emotions or simply lie about the effects of the Second Sentence.
Vote Yes. Let them sue.
Final note: No chairs were thrown, and no nastiness was evident. Apparently Sykes has acquired a large lion-tamer's chair and whip and keeps them handy.
Thanks, Charlie, for a good show.
Bend the Numbers and Make Up Stuff About Marriage!
Recently, an AFP release told us that "the number of traditional households with married couples at their core stood at slightly more than 55.2 million, or 49.8 percent of the total."
Not really. Not even close.
Perhaps you'll be surprised to learn that AFP seems to have an agenda?
The Census Bureau's document reveals there are only about 6 million unmarried couples living together in the United States not 36 million. Compared to these 6 million unmarried couple households, there are 30 million households with one person living alone and 55 million married couple households. There are an additional 19 million households headed by a single parent.
By the way, of those 6 million "unmarrieds," only 775,000 are homosexual couples.
The AFP story uses the study to make an argument that the Bush Administration's domestic policy promoting traditional family values and marriage is failing. It's not clear how 55 million married households compared to 6 million unmarried couple households supports that contention.
It's not clear how 55 million married households compared to 6 million unmarried couple households supports that contention. This is especially true when one looks at this page (here) of the Census Bureau's study which shows that out of 227 million adults over 15 years of age, 121 million are married now, and of the rest only 63 million have never been married.
Complete story with links is found on Misteramericano.
Not really. Not even close.
Perhaps you'll be surprised to learn that AFP seems to have an agenda?
The Census Bureau's document reveals there are only about 6 million unmarried couples living together in the United States not 36 million. Compared to these 6 million unmarried couple households, there are 30 million households with one person living alone and 55 million married couple households. There are an additional 19 million households headed by a single parent.
By the way, of those 6 million "unmarrieds," only 775,000 are homosexual couples.
The AFP story uses the study to make an argument that the Bush Administration's domestic policy promoting traditional family values and marriage is failing. It's not clear how 55 million married households compared to 6 million unmarried couple households supports that contention.
It's not clear how 55 million married households compared to 6 million unmarried couple households supports that contention. This is especially true when one looks at this page (here) of the Census Bureau's study which shows that out of 227 million adults over 15 years of age, 121 million are married now, and of the rest only 63 million have never been married.
Complete story with links is found on Misteramericano.
Trick Shots
This is not too easy. We are told that Annie Oakley did this as part of her show. But there's a difference: Annie used .38 slugs, giving her a 50% advantage over the .22 slugs used here.
Of course, we don't know at what distance from the cards these were fired. Annie reportedly sliced the cards from about 10 paces.
HT: Of Arms and the Man
(More links at the blog-site)
Of course, we don't know at what distance from the cards these were fired. Annie reportedly sliced the cards from about 10 paces.
HT: Of Arms and the Man
(More links at the blog-site)
Dump Masculinity!
The above-pictured J-school professor contributes the following Deep Thoughts:
We need to get rid of the whole idea of masculinity. It's time to abandon the claim that there are certain psychological or social traits that inherently come with being biologically male. [...]
I don't think the planet can long survive if the current conception of masculinity endures. We face political and ecological challenges that can't be met with this old model of what it means to be a man. At the more intimate level, the stakes are just as high. For those of us who are biologically male, we have a simple choice: We men can settle for being men, or we can strive to be human beings.
Perhaps HIS "masculinity" prevents him from being a human being. Then he should speak for himself, or whatever he actually is...
HT: Moonbattery
Homosex "Marriage" in Colorado
Wisconsin homosex-"marriage" hucksters and promoters insist the The Amendment is unnecessary--that homosexual marriage is already "banned" under Wisconsin law.
They also whine, loudly, that The Amendment would prevent same-sexers from legally obtaining some benefits (such as hospital-visitation rights, or dependent health insurance.) It has been demonstrated that this argument is void--in fact, it is a lie.
The State of Colorado's history is informative, because the real agenda--homosexual "marriage" is in play there, too.
This past Spring, the Colorado Legislature failed to pass a bill which would have streamlined access to those options for all adults ineligible to marry, including people caring for aging parents, not just homosexuals. It would have made it possible to care for unmarried Coloradans without redefining marriage.
Why did this bill fail?
...gay activists didn’t get behind that bill, so it failed.
Well, then, what do the homosexuals in Colorado WANT?
They want Referendum I which: overhauls Colorado marriage and family law. For instance, it stipulates that everywhere the terms “spouse” and “family” appear, they must be changed or redefined to include homosexual domestic partners. That would require at least 1,000 revisions to the Colorado statutes.
Should that pass, Referendum I gives a point-by-point listing of the marital benefits to be awarded to gay couples, including “child custody,” “dissolution” rights (i.e., divorce), adoption rights, as well as state-licensed certificates recognizing homosexual unions.
These certificates are to be verbatim replicates of Colorado marriage certificates except that the word “marriage” will be replaced by “domestic partnership.”
And if there were still any doubt that this equals marriage, Referendum I specifically states that domestic partners “shall have” the “benefits” and “protections” that “are granted to spouses.”
They want "marriage," because they know that the Judicial branch will rule (as in California) that the existence of domestic-partner benefits made a voter-approved ban on gay marriage null and void. Since the state had awarded domestic benefits to homosexuals, “there is no rational state interest in denying them the rites of marriage as well,” the court concluded.
The long and short: the Homosexual Collective intends to force States to 'bless' homosex-coupling as 'marriage.' The Collective will achieve this goal any way it can. The Colorado situation is merely another example (and another method.)
Only voting YES on The Amendment will prevent Homosex "marriage" in Wisconsin.
They also whine, loudly, that The Amendment would prevent same-sexers from legally obtaining some benefits (such as hospital-visitation rights, or dependent health insurance.) It has been demonstrated that this argument is void--in fact, it is a lie.
The State of Colorado's history is informative, because the real agenda--homosexual "marriage" is in play there, too.
This past Spring, the Colorado Legislature failed to pass a bill which would have streamlined access to those options for all adults ineligible to marry, including people caring for aging parents, not just homosexuals. It would have made it possible to care for unmarried Coloradans without redefining marriage.
Why did this bill fail?
...gay activists didn’t get behind that bill, so it failed.
Well, then, what do the homosexuals in Colorado WANT?
They want Referendum I which: overhauls Colorado marriage and family law. For instance, it stipulates that everywhere the terms “spouse” and “family” appear, they must be changed or redefined to include homosexual domestic partners. That would require at least 1,000 revisions to the Colorado statutes.
Should that pass, Referendum I gives a point-by-point listing of the marital benefits to be awarded to gay couples, including “child custody,” “dissolution” rights (i.e., divorce), adoption rights, as well as state-licensed certificates recognizing homosexual unions.
These certificates are to be verbatim replicates of Colorado marriage certificates except that the word “marriage” will be replaced by “domestic partnership.”
And if there were still any doubt that this equals marriage, Referendum I specifically states that domestic partners “shall have” the “benefits” and “protections” that “are granted to spouses.”
They want "marriage," because they know that the Judicial branch will rule (as in California) that the existence of domestic-partner benefits made a voter-approved ban on gay marriage null and void. Since the state had awarded domestic benefits to homosexuals, “there is no rational state interest in denying them the rites of marriage as well,” the court concluded.
The long and short: the Homosexual Collective intends to force States to 'bless' homosex-coupling as 'marriage.' The Collective will achieve this goal any way it can. The Colorado situation is merely another example (and another method.)
Only voting YES on The Amendment will prevent Homosex "marriage" in Wisconsin.
Criminally Derelict WI Legislature II
Frankly, I think our Legislators should be locked in a room with no food or sanitation until they increase the penalties available:
A 67-year-old Waukesha man was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for his eighth drunken driving conviction.
David T. Nelson also was ordered by Waukesha County Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez to serve three years of extended supervision after prison and to pay fines and court costs totaling $1,234.
In recommending the maximum sentence, which Ramirez imposed, Assistant District Attorney Barbara Michaels noted that Nelson had been involved in a fatal, alcohol-related crash in 1984. Ramirez told Nelson that his record showed it would be unwise to impose anything but the maximum term.
A few posts down, you note that the 12th DUI earns 4.5 years in prison.
A 67-year-old Waukesha man was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for his eighth drunken driving conviction.
David T. Nelson also was ordered by Waukesha County Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez to serve three years of extended supervision after prison and to pay fines and court costs totaling $1,234.
In recommending the maximum sentence, which Ramirez imposed, Assistant District Attorney Barbara Michaels noted that Nelson had been involved in a fatal, alcohol-related crash in 1984. Ramirez told Nelson that his record showed it would be unwise to impose anything but the maximum term.
A few posts down, you note that the 12th DUI earns 4.5 years in prison.
Monday, October 16, 2006
The Vatican's Computers Are Protected--
--but it ain't Norton.
Michael is the name of the firewall, or security computer, at the Vatican website. (They also have servers named Gabriel and Raphael. I think I detect a theme here.) According to a report from Catholic World News, it's been busy lately:
Islamic computer hackers tried to disrupt the Vatican web site earlier this week, but failed, according to a report in the ANSA news service.
In an online forum for militant Muslims, a group announced plans for an assault on the Vatican computer network, which was said to be a form of retribution for Pope Benedict's criticism of Islam in his Regensburg speech. Police later confirmed that there had been a concerted effort by hackers to penetrate the Vatican site, but computer-security experts were able to detect and repel the attack.
For those of you who are 'separated brethren,' St. Michael is the Archangel who was personally responsible for tossing Satan to the netherworld. Sts. Gabriel and Raphael are Archangels who are messengers...
Wonder if I could quit Norton....
At any rate, the Curt Jester has already written the prayer:
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us against Denial of Service attacks.
Be our protection against the bots and packets of black hats.
May thy firewall rebuke them, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosting Provider- by the Divine Power of God -
cast into digital hell, distributed attacks and all buffer overflows,
whose packets roam throughout the network seeking the downing of sites.
As for you inquiring-mind Separated Bretheren: you'll get the joke ONLY if and when you join the Church.
Michael is the name of the firewall, or security computer, at the Vatican website. (They also have servers named Gabriel and Raphael. I think I detect a theme here.) According to a report from Catholic World News, it's been busy lately:
Islamic computer hackers tried to disrupt the Vatican web site earlier this week, but failed, according to a report in the ANSA news service.
In an online forum for militant Muslims, a group announced plans for an assault on the Vatican computer network, which was said to be a form of retribution for Pope Benedict's criticism of Islam in his Regensburg speech. Police later confirmed that there had been a concerted effort by hackers to penetrate the Vatican site, but computer-security experts were able to detect and repel the attack.
For those of you who are 'separated brethren,' St. Michael is the Archangel who was personally responsible for tossing Satan to the netherworld. Sts. Gabriel and Raphael are Archangels who are messengers...
Wonder if I could quit Norton....
At any rate, the Curt Jester has already written the prayer:
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us against Denial of Service attacks.
Be our protection against the bots and packets of black hats.
May thy firewall rebuke them, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosting Provider- by the Divine Power of God -
cast into digital hell, distributed attacks and all buffer overflows,
whose packets roam throughout the network seeking the downing of sites.
As for you inquiring-mind Separated Bretheren: you'll get the joke ONLY if and when you join the Church.
Mexico's Smarter Than We Think
Yah--they banned a Personal Injury attorney from entering the country.
O!! were it a trend now beginning...
Jeffrey Anderson, an attorney who has made millions of dollars suing Cathoic Dioceses for alleged victims of sex abuse, has been banned from entering Mexico for five years. He illegally entered the country, along with SNAP director David Clohessy, under a tourist visa to conduct business in preparation of suing more Catholic Churches in Mexico.
And this from a country which is still somewhat anti-Catholic...
O!! were it a trend now beginning...
Jeffrey Anderson, an attorney who has made millions of dollars suing Cathoic Dioceses for alleged victims of sex abuse, has been banned from entering Mexico for five years. He illegally entered the country, along with SNAP director David Clohessy, under a tourist visa to conduct business in preparation of suing more Catholic Churches in Mexico.
And this from a country which is still somewhat anti-Catholic...
Illegals: The Cost Is in the Crimes
Generally, I take a dim view of measuring the illegal-alien problem in terms of "cost." First off, the "cost" argument is seriously tainted; it's also used to justify abortion. Secondly, one does not have to be an Econ Ph.D. to determine that many illegals actually contribute positively to the economy.
But there are "costs" which rise above the dollars-and-cents yappaflappa.
How about dead people? Raped women? Or drug-dealing?
Jessica McBride hits a grand-slam homer in this blog entry. Some highlights:
ROGELIO PROMOTOR never held a state driver's license and wasn't even supposed to be in this country. But that didn't stop him from racking up a series of citations and crimes over three years in Wisconsin.His behavior kept escalating - until four people lost their lives, three of them airline pilots and one a 14-year-old boy.
After CESAR FARIAS-MENDOZA allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, Theresa Kish, to death in the basement of a Milwaukee pregnancy help center in 2003, he was declared indigent and received a state-funded public defender, and he also needed a court interpreter, according to court records. Kish suffered 10 stab wounds, including one to her jugular vein. Farias-Mendoza was convicted. His case is still tying up the criminal justice system three years later. An appeals court ruled June 7 that Farias-Mendoza’s confession was inadmissible because police “illegally seized” him when they held him in a locked interview room for five hours.
Court records say the detectives left the room to find a Spanish-speaking detective to speak with Farias-Mendoza, a Mexican citizen.
LUIS TRUJILLO and JOSE SANTA MARIA, abducted and raped three women, including one who was carjacked outside the State Fair. She showed the men pictures of her children in a failed attempt to ward off the attack. Another woman, abducted on the East Side, left a trail of evidence behind because she thought the men were going to kill her and she wanted police to catch them. The news story at the time says one of the men came to America “to buy some livestock for the humble family farm back in El Salvador.”
MANUEL ARGUIJO, identified by federal authorities as an illegal immigrant, was finally sent to prison for cocaine dealing in 2003. By that time, he was already a habitual criminal and four-time felon in Wisconsin. He was identified as an illegal immigrant only after hitting prison.Arguijo was even released on $2,000 bail during the Dane County trial. The cocaine conviction was just his latest trouble with the law, and he was not turned over to ICE for the earlier crimes. Consider:*In 1999, Arguijo was convicted of three felonies for being a felon in possession of a firearm. And this is where it really gets interesting: According to CCAP, he was sentenced to probation in 2000 for those convictions. It was revoked in 2001.
Darth Doyle, willing to kill embryos for dollars, has never shown the LEAST interest in illegals until Mark Green raised the question. Then Darth went into a "high dudgeon" mode, blaming the Feds for not securing the border.
But in 12 years as Attorney General and 3.75 years as Governor, Darth wasn't interested.
The families and friends of the pilots, the raped women, the coke-addicts--THEY are interested.
And that interest should be shared by all Wisconsin citizens.
But there are "costs" which rise above the dollars-and-cents yappaflappa.
How about dead people? Raped women? Or drug-dealing?
Jessica McBride hits a grand-slam homer in this blog entry. Some highlights:
ROGELIO PROMOTOR never held a state driver's license and wasn't even supposed to be in this country. But that didn't stop him from racking up a series of citations and crimes over three years in Wisconsin.His behavior kept escalating - until four people lost their lives, three of them airline pilots and one a 14-year-old boy.
After CESAR FARIAS-MENDOZA allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, Theresa Kish, to death in the basement of a Milwaukee pregnancy help center in 2003, he was declared indigent and received a state-funded public defender, and he also needed a court interpreter, according to court records. Kish suffered 10 stab wounds, including one to her jugular vein. Farias-Mendoza was convicted. His case is still tying up the criminal justice system three years later. An appeals court ruled June 7 that Farias-Mendoza’s confession was inadmissible because police “illegally seized” him when they held him in a locked interview room for five hours.
Court records say the detectives left the room to find a Spanish-speaking detective to speak with Farias-Mendoza, a Mexican citizen.
LUIS TRUJILLO and JOSE SANTA MARIA, abducted and raped three women, including one who was carjacked outside the State Fair. She showed the men pictures of her children in a failed attempt to ward off the attack. Another woman, abducted on the East Side, left a trail of evidence behind because she thought the men were going to kill her and she wanted police to catch them. The news story at the time says one of the men came to America “to buy some livestock for the humble family farm back in El Salvador.”
MANUEL ARGUIJO, identified by federal authorities as an illegal immigrant, was finally sent to prison for cocaine dealing in 2003. By that time, he was already a habitual criminal and four-time felon in Wisconsin. He was identified as an illegal immigrant only after hitting prison.Arguijo was even released on $2,000 bail during the Dane County trial. The cocaine conviction was just his latest trouble with the law, and he was not turned over to ICE for the earlier crimes. Consider:*In 1999, Arguijo was convicted of three felonies for being a felon in possession of a firearm. And this is where it really gets interesting: According to CCAP, he was sentenced to probation in 2000 for those convictions. It was revoked in 2001.
Darth Doyle, willing to kill embryos for dollars, has never shown the LEAST interest in illegals until Mark Green raised the question. Then Darth went into a "high dudgeon" mode, blaming the Feds for not securing the border.
But in 12 years as Attorney General and 3.75 years as Governor, Darth wasn't interested.
The families and friends of the pilots, the raped women, the coke-addicts--THEY are interested.
And that interest should be shared by all Wisconsin citizens.
Folkbum--Please Don't Teach Math!
Folkie goes to some trouble to show us that the Republicans are just eeeeeeeevil.
Too bad he didn't consult with Dad29's short course in Economic Growth; he could have used it when in his "discussion" of the Honda plant.
Folkie states that Indiana coughed up $140+ million in aids to Honda, or about $70,500/job. He sprays the foofoodust around by telling us that "That's got to be more than the annual salary of those workers."--as though that were relevant.
It's not. Indiana gummint was thinking in the 20-year term.
Let's help Folkie with Econ Math 101, using the same approximations Dad29 used for Menard's. First, we'll imagine that the Honda plant was built in Wisconsin.
1) There will be 2,000 jobs. Let's say that each of those jobs pays $25K/year, or $50,000,000 annually in direct payroll (doesn't count benefits.)
2) Let's say that each of those workers paid 3% of their wages in State income tax. $1,500,000 annual State Income tax revenue.
3) Let's say that each of those workers also spent $10,000.00 on items subject to the Wisconsin Sales Tax. $1,000,000 annual Sales tax revenue.
And let's keep this REAL simple--we'll assume that there is NO local property-tax income.
What do we have? $2,500,000 in State revenues each year. Multiply that by 10 years--it's $25 million dollars before the commonly-accepted 3.2X economic multiplier.
If you multiply $25MM by 3.2, you get $80 Million Dollars.
It's a "loser" until year 20--after which it is a "winner."
And that's before ANY local tax impact.
Too bad he didn't consult with Dad29's short course in Economic Growth; he could have used it when in his "discussion" of the Honda plant.
Folkie states that Indiana coughed up $140+ million in aids to Honda, or about $70,500/job. He sprays the foofoodust around by telling us that "That's got to be more than the annual salary of those workers."--as though that were relevant.
It's not. Indiana gummint was thinking in the 20-year term.
Let's help Folkie with Econ Math 101, using the same approximations Dad29 used for Menard's. First, we'll imagine that the Honda plant was built in Wisconsin.
1) There will be 2,000 jobs. Let's say that each of those jobs pays $25K/year, or $50,000,000 annually in direct payroll (doesn't count benefits.)
2) Let's say that each of those workers paid 3% of their wages in State income tax. $1,500,000 annual State Income tax revenue.
3) Let's say that each of those workers also spent $10,000.00 on items subject to the Wisconsin Sales Tax. $1,000,000 annual Sales tax revenue.
And let's keep this REAL simple--we'll assume that there is NO local property-tax income.
What do we have? $2,500,000 in State revenues each year. Multiply that by 10 years--it's $25 million dollars before the commonly-accepted 3.2X economic multiplier.
If you multiply $25MM by 3.2, you get $80 Million Dollars.
It's a "loser" until year 20--after which it is a "winner."
And that's before ANY local tax impact.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Banning Homosex "Marriage" Does Have Benefits
Rick Esenberg is an attorney--he has credibility on the question.
So when the Gay "Marriage" types make ridiculous and unfounded claims, it's worth reading what Rick says on the question.
Homosexuals generally claim that the following "rights" will be impaired by passage of The Amendment:
1. Health insurance for partner and/or children
2. Ability to take family medical leave if partner and/or child is sick or dying
3. Adoption
4. Ability to take funeral leave if partner or child dies
5. Right to receive medical records of partner (careful here, HCPOA does not allow this)
6. Right to view educational rrecords of child (assuming not the bio[logical] child)
7. Default position of medical decision-making
8. Right to be considered "family" in Intensive Care Unit or other emergent [sic] health situations.
Esenberg simply states that "all of these" are possible under the terms of The Amendment.
Today, two people can accomplish much of this by simple agreement. If the law were changed to allow two people to "co-adopt" a child, that wouldn't make those two people "substantially married." If an employer decides to allow you to designate a co-beneficiary for your health insurance, that doesn't marry you either.
Precisely what I have maintained: that simple Legislative action can be taken which allows "partners" these requests.
Esenberg goes on to outline his objection to Homosex Marriage:
The reason I oppose that is because I think it will inevitably contribute to a changed social understanding of what marriage is about, i.e., that it is merely about facilitating a sexual relationship that is chosen and defined by the parties.
The common-sense solution, in Esenberg's opinion:
If there is a social need to create legal avenues for same sex couples to make certain agreements or have access to certain benefits, then we should provide the right for two people to make those agreements or share those benefits.
It's a lot easier than attempting to use Positive Law to contradict the laws of Nature.
Another note of particular interest in the debate was in this morning's JSOnline, which published a story about the principals in the debate.
Describing the tactics of the Homosex "Marriage" proponents, a key item is here:
The campaign has added other wrinkles: fund raising through house parties; training 1,800 speakers to tell their stories so the issue becomes personal;...
It is no small irony that "emotionalizing" the debate is among the tactics here, especially when the campaign's manager says:
"If I can get every voter to think for 15 seconds, I can win this election hands down," he says. "I'm not glib about that. Getting voters to think for 15 seconds is really hard ...
Actually, when "most voters" think is when the "Fair Wisconsin" campaign is in deep trouble.
So when the Gay "Marriage" types make ridiculous and unfounded claims, it's worth reading what Rick says on the question.
Homosexuals generally claim that the following "rights" will be impaired by passage of The Amendment:
1. Health insurance for partner and/or children
2. Ability to take family medical leave if partner and/or child is sick or dying
3. Adoption
4. Ability to take funeral leave if partner or child dies
5. Right to receive medical records of partner (careful here, HCPOA does not allow this)
6. Right to view educational rrecords of child (assuming not the bio[logical] child)
7. Default position of medical decision-making
8. Right to be considered "family" in Intensive Care Unit or other emergent [sic] health situations.
Esenberg simply states that "all of these" are possible under the terms of The Amendment.
Today, two people can accomplish much of this by simple agreement. If the law were changed to allow two people to "co-adopt" a child, that wouldn't make those two people "substantially married." If an employer decides to allow you to designate a co-beneficiary for your health insurance, that doesn't marry you either.
Precisely what I have maintained: that simple Legislative action can be taken which allows "partners" these requests.
Esenberg goes on to outline his objection to Homosex Marriage:
The reason I oppose that is because I think it will inevitably contribute to a changed social understanding of what marriage is about, i.e., that it is merely about facilitating a sexual relationship that is chosen and defined by the parties.
The common-sense solution, in Esenberg's opinion:
If there is a social need to create legal avenues for same sex couples to make certain agreements or have access to certain benefits, then we should provide the right for two people to make those agreements or share those benefits.
It's a lot easier than attempting to use Positive Law to contradict the laws of Nature.
Another note of particular interest in the debate was in this morning's JSOnline, which published a story about the principals in the debate.
Describing the tactics of the Homosex "Marriage" proponents, a key item is here:
The campaign has added other wrinkles: fund raising through house parties; training 1,800 speakers to tell their stories so the issue becomes personal;...
It is no small irony that "emotionalizing" the debate is among the tactics here, especially when the campaign's manager says:
"If I can get every voter to think for 15 seconds, I can win this election hands down," he says. "I'm not glib about that. Getting voters to think for 15 seconds is really hard ...
Actually, when "most voters" think is when the "Fair Wisconsin" campaign is in deep trouble.
Sell Short!!
There's a LITTLE time left...
Slowly, slowly, the Big Island of Hawaii is sinking toward its doom. From its palm-fringed beaches to the summit of Mauna Kea, 13,796 feet high, nothing will remain of that volcanic island but a small, stony lump on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean in the far northwest, thousands of miles from where it stands today.
And then it will disappear completely, swallowed into the Earth's heaving crust.
Best guess now is 80 million years.
Slowly, slowly, the Big Island of Hawaii is sinking toward its doom. From its palm-fringed beaches to the summit of Mauna Kea, 13,796 feet high, nothing will remain of that volcanic island but a small, stony lump on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean in the far northwest, thousands of miles from where it stands today.
And then it will disappear completely, swallowed into the Earth's heaving crust.
Best guess now is 80 million years.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Air America Weather Forecast: Dreary? Maybe Not!
No, silly, I don't do forecasts.
But Weather Central does.
Terry Kelly is a founder of Weather Central.
He's also listed on Air America's creditor sheet.
About $465K worth...
(There are two entries. One is at the bottom of the page linked above. The next one is near the end of the report.)
UPDATE: But that's not the end. In a very recent development, Kelly, along with Rob Glaser (who owned 1/3rd of Air America and is owed over $9 Million) and another AA Board member will provide Debtor-in-Possession financing to continue AA's operations to the tune of about $2.5 million.
Humor: ClearChannel's listed on the BK sheets, too--around $500K.
But Weather Central does.
Terry Kelly is a founder of Weather Central.
He's also listed on Air America's creditor sheet.
About $465K worth...
(There are two entries. One is at the bottom of the page linked above. The next one is near the end of the report.)
UPDATE: But that's not the end. In a very recent development, Kelly, along with Rob Glaser (who owned 1/3rd of Air America and is owed over $9 Million) and another AA Board member will provide Debtor-in-Possession financing to continue AA's operations to the tune of about $2.5 million.
Humor: ClearChannel's listed on the BK sheets, too--around $500K.
Federal Money--Who, What, Where
Yes, there IS a site which has organized a database to tell you how much the Feds hand out in contracts and grants--and to whom, where they are, and who their Congress-critter is.
Heh.
Check it out.
Heh.
Check it out.
Only a Few Stand After Collapse of Air America
BlameBush identifies the paltry numbers of the remaining Left-oriented media following the BK of Air America. The few, the brave:
Now all we progressives have left to counter the Right-Wing Noise Machine is
ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, TBS, NPR, CNN, BBC, HBO, HSN, MTV, VH1, Showtime, The Abortion Channel, Gore TV, Reuters, The Associated Press, Time Magazine, Newsweek, The New Republic, the Nation, The New Yorker, TV Guide, People Magazine, Teen People, Us Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Oprah Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, Woman’s Day, The Advocate, Esquire, Vogue, Cosmopolitian, Humpty Dumpty, Architectural Digest, Cat Fancy, Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler, Swank, Sugar Tits Quarterly, the Harvard Perspective, High Times, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Seattle Times, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Weekly, The Boston Globe, The Village Voice, The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Francisco Examiner, USA Today, The Washington Post, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Arizona Daily Star, The Anniston Star , The Decatur Daily, Montgomery Advertiser, The Tuscaloosa News, Anchorage Daily News Arkansas Time, Tuscon Daily Star, The Alameda Times-Star, Contra Costa Times, The Los Angeles Daily News, The Fresno Bee, Marin Independent Journal, Merced Sun-Star, The Modesto Bee, The Monterey County Herald, The Oakland Tribune, La Opinion, The Santa Rose Press Democrat, The Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News, San Mateo County Times, Santa Cruz Sentinel, The Valejo Times-Herald, The Eureka Times Standard, The Ventura County Star, Aspen Daily News, The Boulder Daily Camera, Durango Herald, Fort Collins Coloradoan, Greeley Daily Tribune, The Stamford Advocate, The Wilmington News Journal, Bradenton Herald, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Florida Today, The Gainesville Sun, The Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, The Palm Beach Post, St Petersburg Times, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Treasure Coast News/Press-Tribune, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Macon Telegraph, The Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Bonner County Daily Bee, The Idaho Statesman, Chicago Defender, Chicago Sun-Times, Edwardsville Intelligencer,Rockford Register, Lafayatte Journal and Courier, The Des Moines Register, Iowa City Press-Citizen, Quad City Times, The Storm Lake Tribune, The Hutchinson News, Lexington Herald-Leader, The Louisville Courier-Journal, Teen Lexington Herald-Leader, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, The Shreveport Times, Bangor Daily News. the Kennebec Journal, Portland Press Herald, The Baltimore Sun, The Berkshire Eagle, The Framingham MetroWest Daily News, Milford Daily News. The Springfield Republican, The New Bedford Standard-Times, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, The Argus-Press, The Bay City Times, The Battle Creek Enquirer, the Detroit Free Press, The Flint Journal, the Lansing State Journal, Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, The Muskegon Chronicle, Parasites Weekly, Petoskey News-Review, The Saginaw News, the Port Huron Times Herald, Traverse City Record-Eagle, Duluth News Tribune, The Mankato Free Press, St. Cloud Times, the Columbia Daily Tribune, The Kansas City Star, St. Louis American, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Springfield News-Leader, Billings Gazette, Las Vegas Mercury, the Las Vegas Sun, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Nevada Appeal, the Reno Gazette-Journal, the Concord Monitor, The Keene Sentinel, the Portsmouth Herald, The Nashua Telegraph, the Lebanon-Hanover Valley News, The Bergen Record, the Burlington County Times, the Bridgewater Courier News, the Camden Courier-Post, The Vineland Daily Journal, the Parsippany Daily Record, The Jersey Journal, The Gloucester County Times, The Hackensack Record, the Newark Star-Ledger The Trenton Times, the Albuquerque Tribune, The Santa Fe New Mexican, The Buffalo News: “News for Discerning Buffalo”, the Oneonta Daily Star, The Ithaca Journal The White Plains Journal-News, The Corning Leader, Newsday, The Glen Falls Post-Star, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the Elmira Star-Gazette, the Staten Island Advance, the Albany Times-Union, Willie the Wino’s Grand Central Station Restroom Scribblings, the Asheville Citizen Times, The Charlotte Observer, the Elizabeth City Daily Advance, The Greenville Daily Reflector, The Raleigh News & Observer, the Greensboro News & Record, The Southern Pines Pilot, the Wilimgton Star-News, The Bismarck Tribune, the Grand Forks Herald, the Akron Beacon Journal, The Toledo Blade, the Dayton Daily News, the Zanesville Times Recorder, The Daily Astorian, the East Oregonian, the Medford Mail Tribune, the Portland Oregonian, The Eugene Register-Guard, the Salem Statesman Journal, The Coos Bay World, The Beaver County Times, The Bucks County Courier Times, the Wilkes-BarreCitizen's Voice, The Doylestown Intelligencer, the Uniontown Herald-Standard, The Allentown Morning Call, the Washington Observer-Reporter, The Philadelphia Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Anderson Independent-Mail, The Myrtle Beach Sun News, The Memphis Commercial-Appeal, The Jackson Sun, Nashville Scene, The Tennessean, The Berkeley Daily Planet, Berkeley Voice, The Berkeleyan, ¡Berkemundo!, The Baytown Sun (11,374), the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, the Lone Star Iconoclast, the Longview News-Journal, The Lufkin Daily News, the Waco Tribune-Herald, the Bennington Banner, the Brattleboro Reformer, The Burlington Free Press, the Rutland Herald, The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, the Newport Daily Press, The Roanoke Times, The Virginian-Pilot, The Everett, The Olympian, The Tacoma News Tribune, The Bremerton Sun, the Tri-City Herald, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, the Boston Phoenix, the Charleston Gazette, the Huntington Herald-Dispatch, Howard Stern, the Madison Capital Times, The Green Bay News-Chronicle, the Racine Journal Times, the Kenosha News, the La Crosse Tribune, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Sheboygan Press, The Wausau Daily Herald, The Guardian, The Independent, the Paris Daily Snivel, Der Spiegel, Democracy Now. The Huffington Post, The Progressive Review, Alternet, Dissident Voice, AntiWar.com, Common Dreams, Truthout.org, MoveOn.org, TomPaine.com, Counterpunch, The People’s Kool-Aid, BlameBush!, Mother Jones, High Times, The Progressive, New Internationalist, Multinational Monitor, Covert Action Quarterly, The American Prospect, Dollars and Sense, The Progressive Populist, The Weekly Standard, New Left Review, Pacifica Radio, Progressive Mind, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, YouTube, Marvel Comics, The Weekly World News, Indymedia, DailyKos, Wonkette, DemocraticUnderground, The Prairie Home Companion, Coast to Coast with George Noory, Pravda, Granma, and Al Jazeera.
It's just not FAIR!!
Now all we progressives have left to counter the Right-Wing Noise Machine is
ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, TBS, NPR, CNN, BBC, HBO, HSN, MTV, VH1, Showtime, The Abortion Channel, Gore TV, Reuters, The Associated Press, Time Magazine, Newsweek, The New Republic, the Nation, The New Yorker, TV Guide, People Magazine, Teen People, Us Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Oprah Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, Woman’s Day, The Advocate, Esquire, Vogue, Cosmopolitian, Humpty Dumpty, Architectural Digest, Cat Fancy, Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler, Swank, Sugar Tits Quarterly, the Harvard Perspective, High Times, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Seattle Times, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Weekly, The Boston Globe, The Village Voice, The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Francisco Examiner, USA Today, The Washington Post, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Arizona Daily Star, The Anniston Star , The Decatur Daily, Montgomery Advertiser, The Tuscaloosa News, Anchorage Daily News Arkansas Time, Tuscon Daily Star, The Alameda Times-Star, Contra Costa Times, The Los Angeles Daily News, The Fresno Bee, Marin Independent Journal, Merced Sun-Star, The Modesto Bee, The Monterey County Herald, The Oakland Tribune, La Opinion, The Santa Rose Press Democrat, The Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News, San Mateo County Times, Santa Cruz Sentinel, The Valejo Times-Herald, The Eureka Times Standard, The Ventura County Star, Aspen Daily News, The Boulder Daily Camera, Durango Herald, Fort Collins Coloradoan, Greeley Daily Tribune, The Stamford Advocate, The Wilmington News Journal, Bradenton Herald, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Florida Today, The Gainesville Sun, The Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, The Palm Beach Post, St Petersburg Times, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Treasure Coast News/Press-Tribune, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Macon Telegraph, The Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Bonner County Daily Bee, The Idaho Statesman, Chicago Defender, Chicago Sun-Times, Edwardsville Intelligencer,Rockford Register, Lafayatte Journal and Courier, The Des Moines Register, Iowa City Press-Citizen, Quad City Times, The Storm Lake Tribune, The Hutchinson News, Lexington Herald-Leader, The Louisville Courier-Journal, Teen Lexington Herald-Leader, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, The Shreveport Times, Bangor Daily News. the Kennebec Journal, Portland Press Herald, The Baltimore Sun, The Berkshire Eagle, The Framingham MetroWest Daily News, Milford Daily News. 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It's just not FAIR!!
The WI. Legislature: Criminally Negligent About DUI
Thanks for the reminder, Patrick.
When the "sentence" was announced last night, I was incredulous--but I'll assume that the judge actually read the statutes before doing his best:
A West Bend man was sentenced Friday to 4 1/2 years in state prison for his 12th drunken driving offense by a judge who was the prosecutor in the man’s first brush with the law as a juvenile in 1979.
We are told that four and one-half years is the MAXIMUM sentence allowed for 12 DUI convictions.
This is not the Judge's fault.
This is squarely on the Legislature, which is clearly derelict in its duty to provide adequate jail-time for DUI's.
Not only derelict. It's damn near criminal dereliction of duty.
But we all know why: there are lots of members of the Legislature who are DUI--whether caught, or convicted, is another story.
When the "sentence" was announced last night, I was incredulous--but I'll assume that the judge actually read the statutes before doing his best:
A West Bend man was sentenced Friday to 4 1/2 years in state prison for his 12th drunken driving offense by a judge who was the prosecutor in the man’s first brush with the law as a juvenile in 1979.
We are told that four and one-half years is the MAXIMUM sentence allowed for 12 DUI convictions.
This is not the Judge's fault.
This is squarely on the Legislature, which is clearly derelict in its duty to provide adequate jail-time for DUI's.
Not only derelict. It's damn near criminal dereliction of duty.
But we all know why: there are lots of members of the Legislature who are DUI--whether caught, or convicted, is another story.
Another Vote for Lasee's Plan
Well, it's part of an interesting story:
Schools in Burleson, Texas are training students to fight back if a gunman threatens their schools, according to The Associated Press:
Youngsters in a suburban Fort Worth school district are being taught not to sit there like good boys and girls with their hands folded if a gunman invades the classroom, but to rush him and hit him with everything they got -- books, pencils, legs and arms.
"Getting under desks and praying for rescue from professionals is not a recipe for success," said Robin Browne, a major in the British army reserve and an instructor for Response Options, the company providing the training to the Burleson schools.
That kind of fight-back advice is all but unheard of among schools, and some fear it will get children killed.
How about another idea that is "unheard of among schools," one that might actually save lives -- arming teachers?
That rhetorical question is asked by the American Spectator's blogger, Paul Chesser.
Schools in Burleson, Texas are training students to fight back if a gunman threatens their schools, according to The Associated Press:
Youngsters in a suburban Fort Worth school district are being taught not to sit there like good boys and girls with their hands folded if a gunman invades the classroom, but to rush him and hit him with everything they got -- books, pencils, legs and arms.
"Getting under desks and praying for rescue from professionals is not a recipe for success," said Robin Browne, a major in the British army reserve and an instructor for Response Options, the company providing the training to the Burleson schools.
That kind of fight-back advice is all but unheard of among schools, and some fear it will get children killed.
How about another idea that is "unheard of among schools," one that might actually save lives -- arming teachers?
That rhetorical question is asked by the American Spectator's blogger, Paul Chesser.
Salvatorians Make a BIG Error
Something in this story smells REALLY fishy. Too bad.
Omar Oyangoren came to the United States from the Philippines to study for the religious life and serve his faith.
But it's been a long and bumpy road and now he faces deportation.
Father Joseph Lubrano, candidate director for the Society of the Divine Savior, commonly known as the Salvatorian[s]...shares his frustration and disappointment. He's also angry that in spite of good faith efforts to navigate the complicated immigration maze - and a misplaced reliance on a private immigration consultant - they have failed.
That's because of a major-league error.
Omar thinks he wants to be a priest and applies to the Diocese of Sacramento. They send him to the seminary in Oregon. He did not do well, and met a Salvatorian; they decide that perhaps Omar should be a brother, not a priest.
So he comes to Milwaukee to study.
Oyangoren came to Milwaukee and wanted to get his student visa status resolved. [Fr.] Lubrano [vocations director for the Salvatorians] said a priest friend referred them to Jan Sperry of Global Immigration, a Milwaukee consultant service. They went to see her in September.
"She told us that because his grandfather was a naturalized citizen, his citizenship could be transferred to Omar," Lubrano said. "She said all we needed to do was to get his grandfather's citizenship paperwork, send it in and it would be fine."
Frankly, Father, I don't believe your story. "Transfer" CITIZENSHIP? Are you smoking something? Even if Ms. Sperry actually said that, you should have the intellectual firepower to question that statement.
Meanwhile, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement became aware that Oyangoren's student visa had lapsed and called him in on March 1, Lubrano said.
"They told him he was out of status. That was the first time he knew he was not a U.S. citizen and not here lawfully," she said.
Really. Really??
Well, onward: the end is near.
According to immigration procedures, Oyangoren will next be given voluntary departure, or be put into removal proceedings, Graham said.
Omar Oyangoren came to the United States from the Philippines to study for the religious life and serve his faith.
But it's been a long and bumpy road and now he faces deportation.
Father Joseph Lubrano, candidate director for the Society of the Divine Savior, commonly known as the Salvatorian[s]...shares his frustration and disappointment. He's also angry that in spite of good faith efforts to navigate the complicated immigration maze - and a misplaced reliance on a private immigration consultant - they have failed.
That's because of a major-league error.
Omar thinks he wants to be a priest and applies to the Diocese of Sacramento. They send him to the seminary in Oregon. He did not do well, and met a Salvatorian; they decide that perhaps Omar should be a brother, not a priest.
So he comes to Milwaukee to study.
Oyangoren came to Milwaukee and wanted to get his student visa status resolved. [Fr.] Lubrano [vocations director for the Salvatorians] said a priest friend referred them to Jan Sperry of Global Immigration, a Milwaukee consultant service. They went to see her in September.
"She told us that because his grandfather was a naturalized citizen, his citizenship could be transferred to Omar," Lubrano said. "She said all we needed to do was to get his grandfather's citizenship paperwork, send it in and it would be fine."
Frankly, Father, I don't believe your story. "Transfer" CITIZENSHIP? Are you smoking something? Even if Ms. Sperry actually said that, you should have the intellectual firepower to question that statement.
Meanwhile, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement became aware that Oyangoren's student visa had lapsed and called him in on March 1, Lubrano said.
"They told him he was out of status. That was the first time he knew he was not a U.S. citizen and not here lawfully," she said.
Really. Really??
Well, onward: the end is near.
According to immigration procedures, Oyangoren will next be given voluntary departure, or be put into removal proceedings, Graham said.
No Crisis Here, Chapter 2965
Is this one #89? #90?
A 31-year-old paraplegic man was killed in his home on the 5800 block of N. 82nd St. about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. A woman was helping the victim, Michael E. McClendon, into a van outside his home when two people approached and dragged them into the house, demanding property, according to department spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz.
A 31-year-old paraplegic man was killed in his home on the 5800 block of N. 82nd St. about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. A woman was helping the victim, Michael E. McClendon, into a van outside his home when two people approached and dragged them into the house, demanding property, according to department spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz.
Kate Doesn't Get Law Enforcement (Surprise!!)
Kate Falk, who has never tried a criminal case in her life, wants to be Wisconsin's Attorney General.
But she demonstrates a mindset which is remarkably blase, if not downright naive. Denny Hastert has the same lacunae, but Denny is not trying to make himself into a Prosecutor.
When one of Kate's employees has a County-owned camera with 220+ pictures of the employee, at least some of them taken while the employee is naked, and some of those are of the employee's private parts, the Suspicion-O-Meter should hit the red zone.
Not Kate's. Nope.
SHE orders an internal "investigation" into what easily falls into a 'criminal' territory, and, when the conclusion of the investigation is that the employee's child took all those pix, AND the employee mysteriously quits, she agrees to force Dane County taxpayers to cough up 18 months' worth of County health insurance at a rate of $1,000./month or more.
We are NOT arguing with the conclusions the 'investigation' reached. We ARE arguing that an outside agency of the law-enforcement type should have been asked to do the work.
Kate argues that she is an 'experienced manager.'
Right. And that's about where her qualifications for AG end.
But she demonstrates a mindset which is remarkably blase, if not downright naive. Denny Hastert has the same lacunae, but Denny is not trying to make himself into a Prosecutor.
When one of Kate's employees has a County-owned camera with 220+ pictures of the employee, at least some of them taken while the employee is naked, and some of those are of the employee's private parts, the Suspicion-O-Meter should hit the red zone.
Not Kate's. Nope.
SHE orders an internal "investigation" into what easily falls into a 'criminal' territory, and, when the conclusion of the investigation is that the employee's child took all those pix, AND the employee mysteriously quits, she agrees to force Dane County taxpayers to cough up 18 months' worth of County health insurance at a rate of $1,000./month or more.
We are NOT arguing with the conclusions the 'investigation' reached. We ARE arguing that an outside agency of the law-enforcement type should have been asked to do the work.
Kate argues that she is an 'experienced manager.'
Right. And that's about where her qualifications for AG end.
Jonathan Becker Gets It
The State of Wisconsin's Ethics Board ruled that Atty. Maistelman's excruciatingly careful contacts with the Election Board on behalf of Darth Doyle were legal.
But the Ethics Board's attorney sees it differently:
Jonathan Becker, legal counsel for the Ethics Board, said he believed the contacts with Elections Board members made the public suspicious of their votes. Becker said he was speaking personally and that the Ethics Board had not taken a position on the matter.
You're right, Jonathan. But it's not their votes I suspect. It's Darth Doyle and Maistelman.
But the Ethics Board's attorney sees it differently:
Jonathan Becker, legal counsel for the Ethics Board, said he believed the contacts with Elections Board members made the public suspicious of their votes. Becker said he was speaking personally and that the Ethics Board had not taken a position on the matter.
You're right, Jonathan. But it's not their votes I suspect. It's Darth Doyle and Maistelman.
UW's Healthy Professors
So we find that UW professors take only 8/10ths of a day per year as "sick." This compares to other State of Wisconsin professionals taking between 5.6 and 8.9 days/year as "sick."
Why?
Because accumulated sick leave can be converted to health-insurance premiums for retirement, and in the case of UW professors, that can be very significant money--more than $200K--which is triple the amount taken by other State employees.
But the most important paragraph in the article is this one:
Mueller [a State auditor] recommended that the Legislature launch a review of the entire sick leave conversion credit program. The program is financially secure now, Mueller said. But there is growing concern across the country about the funding of post-retirement benefits for public employees. The federal government is tightening reporting requirements for the programs.
We could start with the whole concept of trading "sick time" for dollars at the end of one's career. Alternatives include simply trashing the program, reducing the number of paid "sick days" to some more realistic figure, or creating a tradeoff between current earnings and a future one-time payment.
It is well-known that public employees are (on average) better-compensated than private-sector employees for comparable work, when one considers the benefits available as part of "compensation."
It's about time that the State of Wisconsin make some adjustments.
Why?
Because accumulated sick leave can be converted to health-insurance premiums for retirement, and in the case of UW professors, that can be very significant money--more than $200K--which is triple the amount taken by other State employees.
But the most important paragraph in the article is this one:
Mueller [a State auditor] recommended that the Legislature launch a review of the entire sick leave conversion credit program. The program is financially secure now, Mueller said. But there is growing concern across the country about the funding of post-retirement benefits for public employees. The federal government is tightening reporting requirements for the programs.
We could start with the whole concept of trading "sick time" for dollars at the end of one's career. Alternatives include simply trashing the program, reducing the number of paid "sick days" to some more realistic figure, or creating a tradeoff between current earnings and a future one-time payment.
It is well-known that public employees are (on average) better-compensated than private-sector employees for comparable work, when one considers the benefits available as part of "compensation."
It's about time that the State of Wisconsin make some adjustments.
Friday, October 13, 2006
EU for Turkey? Nope.
France has attempted to make Turkey's bid to become part of the EU a dead letter.
And for good reason: The Ottomans and Turks have denied for years that there was an Armenian slaughter conducted by the Ottomans.
France has enacted a law that makes it a crime to deny that the Armenian Genocide occurred. Why the big deal? It was Adolph Hitler that commented that 'nobody remembers the Armenians' when planning the 'Final Solution' of the Jews.
During the tumult of the early 20th century, Ottoman Turks systematically exterminated 1.5 million plus Armenians from eastern Anatolia because they demanded 'religious rights' to practice their Christian faith. The Ottoman Turks were of course Muslim.
The politics behind this is that Turkey is seeking European Union (EU) membership and France is the most influential member of the EU. This issue of the Armenian Genocide touches on a larger issue and that is the lack of respect and freedom for Christian minorities in Muslim majority countries which is in sharp contrast to the lopsided freedoms given to Muslim minorities in (post-)Christian countries.
One "Good on Ya" for the Frogs.
HT: Custos Fidei
And for good reason: The Ottomans and Turks have denied for years that there was an Armenian slaughter conducted by the Ottomans.
France has enacted a law that makes it a crime to deny that the Armenian Genocide occurred. Why the big deal? It was Adolph Hitler that commented that 'nobody remembers the Armenians' when planning the 'Final Solution' of the Jews.
During the tumult of the early 20th century, Ottoman Turks systematically exterminated 1.5 million plus Armenians from eastern Anatolia because they demanded 'religious rights' to practice their Christian faith. The Ottoman Turks were of course Muslim.
The politics behind this is that Turkey is seeking European Union (EU) membership and France is the most influential member of the EU. This issue of the Armenian Genocide touches on a larger issue and that is the lack of respect and freedom for Christian minorities in Muslim majority countries which is in sharp contrast to the lopsided freedoms given to Muslim minorities in (post-)Christian countries.
One "Good on Ya" for the Frogs.
HT: Custos Fidei
Romney is NOT a "Conservative" and Mass. Same-Sex Marriages are Illegal?
Now and again we read that Mitt Romney is attempting to persuade Republicans that he should be their Presidential nominee in '08.
Good luck, Mitt. Likely you'll encounter resistance from actual Conservatives, who vote in the primaries, and here's why:
The basic argument is that the Mass. Supreme Judicial Court, contrary to popular belief, did not strike down Massachusett’s marriage laws that only permit one man and one woman to marry. Instead it changed the common law meaning of marriage to include same-sex marriage. This does not change the law nor does it change the state Constitution. Only a constitutional amendment can change the Constitutional meaning of the word “marriage.” The SJC as much as admitted this when it acknowledged that it could not change the law itself, but instead ordered the Legislature to act within 180 days “as it may deem appropriate.” That means that Legislature could have chosen not to change the law. Instead, the Legislature did nothing: it didn’t change the marriage statute, didn’t repeal it, and it didn’t amend the state Constitution. Thus, the law remains on the books.
At this point, on May 17, 2004, the same-sex marriage push should have died. Instead Romney ordered the Department of Public Health to print new marriage licenses removing the words “husband” and “wife” and “man” and “woman.” He then ordered all city and town clerks to begin issuing the licenses to gay and lesbian couples. Yet no new law had been passed. Same-sex marriage is still not legal and those marriage licenses handed out to same-sex couples aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.
Gee. That 'delete husband/wife' language seems vaguely familiar....
HT: DomBet
Good luck, Mitt. Likely you'll encounter resistance from actual Conservatives, who vote in the primaries, and here's why:
The basic argument is that the Mass. Supreme Judicial Court, contrary to popular belief, did not strike down Massachusett’s marriage laws that only permit one man and one woman to marry. Instead it changed the common law meaning of marriage to include same-sex marriage. This does not change the law nor does it change the state Constitution. Only a constitutional amendment can change the Constitutional meaning of the word “marriage.” The SJC as much as admitted this when it acknowledged that it could not change the law itself, but instead ordered the Legislature to act within 180 days “as it may deem appropriate.” That means that Legislature could have chosen not to change the law. Instead, the Legislature did nothing: it didn’t change the marriage statute, didn’t repeal it, and it didn’t amend the state Constitution. Thus, the law remains on the books.
At this point, on May 17, 2004, the same-sex marriage push should have died. Instead Romney ordered the Department of Public Health to print new marriage licenses removing the words “husband” and “wife” and “man” and “woman.” He then ordered all city and town clerks to begin issuing the licenses to gay and lesbian couples. Yet no new law had been passed. Same-sex marriage is still not legal and those marriage licenses handed out to same-sex couples aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.
Gee. That 'delete husband/wife' language seems vaguely familiar....
HT: DomBet
Crisis? Nope. Utter Stupidity
Milwaukee's murder situation, now 88 and counting for 2006, has been abetted by pure, unadulterated stupidity and benign neglect--by none other than Darth Doyle when he was Attorney-General and Governor.
Not to mention Nan Hegarty, her moronic predecessor, (Arthur "Sue You!!" Jones) and John Norquist. "Milk-Carton" can't really be blamed here--for two reasons. He wasn't in office all that long, and he DID order a study of the problem.
Now the study's results are in, and were highlighted (lowlighted?) by Jessica:
The Homicide Review Commission has found that:
-of the 2,500 of the 3,693 suspects arrested in July, 500 - 20% - were on probation or parole.
In other words, they were being supervised by the state.
-one of every 5 homicide suspects and victims is on "paper."
-two of the three suspects in this week's triple murder were on state supervision, not to mention the suspects in the murders of that Special Olympian and Good Samaritan.
Another conclusion not mentioned by Jess was that most murders occur near taverns late in the night. The MPD has actually assigned extra patrols near taverns as a result of the study.
Pardon me for asking, but what the Hell was the Police Department DOING before this? "Systems theory," which was the obvious predicate of this report, has been around for, oh, 50+ years. Nobody thought about using a pin-location chart? A time-line chart? Combining the two?
Do you mean to tell us that nobody in the cop-shop, DA's office, AG's office, or Corrections' Parole office figured out that murders occur near taverns late at night until NOW? Or that the best suspects were parolees convicted of other violent crimes?
Seems to me that Milwaukee's taxpayers have been taken for a long, long ride by their Police Department--not to mention Darth Doyle and his Department of Corrections. ALL these entities suck up huge percentages of tax dollars. None have delivered results.
And Jessica wrote a lenghty article on "the 20% problem" in 1999.
Not to mention Nan Hegarty, her moronic predecessor, (Arthur "Sue You!!" Jones) and John Norquist. "Milk-Carton" can't really be blamed here--for two reasons. He wasn't in office all that long, and he DID order a study of the problem.
Now the study's results are in, and were highlighted (lowlighted?) by Jessica:
The Homicide Review Commission has found that:
-of the 2,500 of the 3,693 suspects arrested in July, 500 - 20% - were on probation or parole.
In other words, they were being supervised by the state.
-one of every 5 homicide suspects and victims is on "paper."
-two of the three suspects in this week's triple murder were on state supervision, not to mention the suspects in the murders of that Special Olympian and Good Samaritan.
Another conclusion not mentioned by Jess was that most murders occur near taverns late in the night. The MPD has actually assigned extra patrols near taverns as a result of the study.
Pardon me for asking, but what the Hell was the Police Department DOING before this? "Systems theory," which was the obvious predicate of this report, has been around for, oh, 50+ years. Nobody thought about using a pin-location chart? A time-line chart? Combining the two?
Do you mean to tell us that nobody in the cop-shop, DA's office, AG's office, or Corrections' Parole office figured out that murders occur near taverns late at night until NOW? Or that the best suspects were parolees convicted of other violent crimes?
Seems to me that Milwaukee's taxpayers have been taken for a long, long ride by their Police Department--not to mention Darth Doyle and his Department of Corrections. ALL these entities suck up huge percentages of tax dollars. None have delivered results.
And Jessica wrote a lenghty article on "the 20% problem" in 1999.
More on Arming School Teachers
Dave Kopel anticipated Folkbum's indignation, and parries, raising him:
One reason why adult sociopaths so often choose to attack schools — schools to which they have no particular connection — is that schools are easy targets. It is not surprising that police stations, hunting-club meetings, stateside army bases, NRA offices, and similar locations known to contain armed adults are rarely attacked.
Because of the spread of concealed-handgun licensing laws, now in 40 out of 50 states, whenever you walk into a place with a large crowd of people — a restaurant, a theater, a shopping mall — you can safely assume that several people in the crowd will have a license to carry a concealed handgun, and some of them are currently carrying.
Schools are one of the few places in the United States where the government has guaranteed that there will be no licensed, trained adults with a concealed firearm that could be used to resist a would-be mass murderer.
Since this fact is apparently obvious to random psychopaths, it would be very dangerous to assume that the fact is not obvious to terrorists also. Beslan, Russia, shows that terrorists with al Qaeda connections consider schools to be good targets.
...Like many states, Utah enacted a concealed-handgun licensing law in 1995. Unlike most states, Utah did not make schools an exclusion zone for lawful carrying. Not only a teacher on duty, but also a parent coming to pick up a child from school, can lawfully carry a concealed handgun in a Utah school building — after, of course, passing a background check and safety training.
After eleven years of experience in Utah, we now have exactly zero reported problems of concealed handgun licensees misusing guns at school, or students stealing guns from teachers, or teachers using their licensed firearms to shoot or threaten students. During this same period, we also have had exactly zero mass murders in Utah schools...
Some people who do not like the idea of teachers being armed to protect students simply get indignant, or declare that armed teachers are inconsistent with a learning environment. I suggest that dead students — and the traumatic aftermath of a school attack — are far more inconsistent with a learning environment than is a math teacher having a concealed handgun.
...Pending legal reform, there are several steps that school districts can take to improve school safety. Almost all teachers spend several days a year in continuing professional education programs. Every school district should begin, at least, offering self-defense training as an option to teachers on “in-service” days.
A dose of common sense. Too bad that the typical left-oid reaction is to run, screaming, from the room.
One reason why adult sociopaths so often choose to attack schools — schools to which they have no particular connection — is that schools are easy targets. It is not surprising that police stations, hunting-club meetings, stateside army bases, NRA offices, and similar locations known to contain armed adults are rarely attacked.
Because of the spread of concealed-handgun licensing laws, now in 40 out of 50 states, whenever you walk into a place with a large crowd of people — a restaurant, a theater, a shopping mall — you can safely assume that several people in the crowd will have a license to carry a concealed handgun, and some of them are currently carrying.
Schools are one of the few places in the United States where the government has guaranteed that there will be no licensed, trained adults with a concealed firearm that could be used to resist a would-be mass murderer.
Since this fact is apparently obvious to random psychopaths, it would be very dangerous to assume that the fact is not obvious to terrorists also. Beslan, Russia, shows that terrorists with al Qaeda connections consider schools to be good targets.
...Like many states, Utah enacted a concealed-handgun licensing law in 1995. Unlike most states, Utah did not make schools an exclusion zone for lawful carrying. Not only a teacher on duty, but also a parent coming to pick up a child from school, can lawfully carry a concealed handgun in a Utah school building — after, of course, passing a background check and safety training.
After eleven years of experience in Utah, we now have exactly zero reported problems of concealed handgun licensees misusing guns at school, or students stealing guns from teachers, or teachers using their licensed firearms to shoot or threaten students. During this same period, we also have had exactly zero mass murders in Utah schools...
Some people who do not like the idea of teachers being armed to protect students simply get indignant, or declare that armed teachers are inconsistent with a learning environment. I suggest that dead students — and the traumatic aftermath of a school attack — are far more inconsistent with a learning environment than is a math teacher having a concealed handgun.
...Pending legal reform, there are several steps that school districts can take to improve school safety. Almost all teachers spend several days a year in continuing professional education programs. Every school district should begin, at least, offering self-defense training as an option to teachers on “in-service” days.
A dose of common sense. Too bad that the typical left-oid reaction is to run, screaming, from the room.
Folkbum's Not Up to Speed
Just checked Folkbum's blog.
No calls for any Democrat with Harry Reid (Slime-Nevada) money to resign or commit hara-kiri.
He must want to put that up on Saturday night when no one's looking.
No calls for any Democrat with Harry Reid (Slime-Nevada) money to resign or commit hara-kiri.
He must want to put that up on Saturday night when no one's looking.
Babysitter Credentials
So your babysitter--they can do elementary first aid, right?
How about handling a 7mm hunting rifle?
A northern Idaho baby sitter shot and killed a 422-pound black bear that broke into a backyard where three toddlers were playing.
The bear was likely drawn to the yard by the scent of food from a barbecue, said Idaho Department of Fish and Game Conservation Officer Greg Johnson....
Henslee said her 3-year-old daughter Brooklyn and twin 2-year-old sons Cleo and Charles were playing in the backyard of their home on the Canadian border early last week when Brooklyn alerted their aunt by shouting "Bear! Bear!"
Henslee said her sister looked up and saw the bear running out of the woods toward the backyard. She grabbed the three children from the yard and ran inside the house, shutting the door.
After taking the children into a bedroom, the woman loaded a 7mm hunting rifle and returned to the back door, where the bear had pawed the screen door and broken the door frame.When the bear looked away from the door, Henslee said her sister opened the door slightly and shot twice, killing the bear instantly.
Henslee said her sister had a valid Idaho bear hunting tag.
Damn good thing she had the tag. If she were in Wisconsin and did NOT have that tag, DNR would have her in jail already, no parole...
HT: Clayton Cramer
How about handling a 7mm hunting rifle?
A northern Idaho baby sitter shot and killed a 422-pound black bear that broke into a backyard where three toddlers were playing.
The bear was likely drawn to the yard by the scent of food from a barbecue, said Idaho Department of Fish and Game Conservation Officer Greg Johnson....
Henslee said her 3-year-old daughter Brooklyn and twin 2-year-old sons Cleo and Charles were playing in the backyard of their home on the Canadian border early last week when Brooklyn alerted their aunt by shouting "Bear! Bear!"
Henslee said her sister looked up and saw the bear running out of the woods toward the backyard. She grabbed the three children from the yard and ran inside the house, shutting the door.
After taking the children into a bedroom, the woman loaded a 7mm hunting rifle and returned to the back door, where the bear had pawed the screen door and broken the door frame.When the bear looked away from the door, Henslee said her sister opened the door slightly and shot twice, killing the bear instantly.
Henslee said her sister had a valid Idaho bear hunting tag.
Damn good thing she had the tag. If she were in Wisconsin and did NOT have that tag, DNR would have her in jail already, no parole...
HT: Clayton Cramer
Darth Doyle's New Friend from Chicago
After years of snickering and snarking about "Chicago politics," Wisconsin citizens are getting a big dose of them.
Right here inRiver City Madison. Oh, we got Trouble, trouble, trouble...
Actually, Darth Doyle, the Slime-in-Residence at the Governor's Mansion has the trouble, trouble, trouble...and it's name is "Individual B," (which rhymes with P, for Payoff...and Pizza?!?!)
If there's a person an incumbent governor in a tough re-election fight doesn't want to be linked to in any way, shape or form, it's someone whom the feds refer to in an indictment as "Individual B."
That's not someone a governor wants to be associated with.
But Gov. Jim Doyle finds himself in the company of just that sort of guy this week.
Chicago's U.S. attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, unsealed a couple of political indictments against Antoin Rezko, a top Democratic fund-raiser for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. A major player in the two bombshell indictments is Individual B, who, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, is really Blagojevich's top money man, Christopher Kelly.
...Kelly gave the maximum $10,000 donation to Doyle's campaign on June 24. Kelly was, according to news accounts, under investigation when he made the donation and remains under the federal microscope today.
Wonder why Kelly has such an interest in Wisconsin gummint? So do we...but Darth's New York City-style mouthpiece doesn't answer questions:
As for the governor's relation with Kelly, Kaye implied that there was none, though he did not say it point-blank. He declined to say whether he even bothered to ask Doyle this key question, instead replying repeatedly, "They may have been in the same room together."
Close enough to hand over a check, anyway...
Now here's the strangest bit of info:
Among other things, the grand jury alleges that Kelly:
Padded the financial figures for Rezko's Milwaukee-area Papa John's outlets while he was the controller for the group of restaurants owned by Rezko. Those documents were used to help secure loans from General Electric Capital Corp. in 2001. Kelly left the business a year later.
The SpiceBoyzzz tell us that Kelly is currently a "rich roofer." Interesting career. Pizza---Roofing.
Right here in
Actually, Darth Doyle, the Slime-in-Residence at the Governor's Mansion has the trouble, trouble, trouble...and it's name is "Individual B," (which rhymes with P, for Payoff...and Pizza?!?!)
If there's a person an incumbent governor in a tough re-election fight doesn't want to be linked to in any way, shape or form, it's someone whom the feds refer to in an indictment as "Individual B."
That's not someone a governor wants to be associated with.
But Gov. Jim Doyle finds himself in the company of just that sort of guy this week.
Chicago's U.S. attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, unsealed a couple of political indictments against Antoin Rezko, a top Democratic fund-raiser for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. A major player in the two bombshell indictments is Individual B, who, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, is really Blagojevich's top money man, Christopher Kelly.
...Kelly gave the maximum $10,000 donation to Doyle's campaign on June 24. Kelly was, according to news accounts, under investigation when he made the donation and remains under the federal microscope today.
Wonder why Kelly has such an interest in Wisconsin gummint? So do we...but Darth's New York City-style mouthpiece doesn't answer questions:
As for the governor's relation with Kelly, Kaye implied that there was none, though he did not say it point-blank. He declined to say whether he even bothered to ask Doyle this key question, instead replying repeatedly, "They may have been in the same room together."
Close enough to hand over a check, anyway...
Now here's the strangest bit of info:
Among other things, the grand jury alleges that Kelly:
Padded the financial figures for Rezko's Milwaukee-area Papa John's outlets while he was the controller for the group of restaurants owned by Rezko. Those documents were used to help secure loans from General Electric Capital Corp. in 2001. Kelly left the business a year later.
The SpiceBoyzzz tell us that Kelly is currently a "rich roofer." Interesting career. Pizza---Roofing.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Not Bomb Power---ENGINE Power
From a newsletter:
"Most farming irrigation systems run on diesel engines. The fruit and vegetables your family enjoys were probably not just transported by diesel power; they were likely watered with diesel power also," he reports. "This could soon change. An Iowa company called Hydrogen Engine Center, specializing in alternative fuel engines, has gone into partnership with Sawtelle & Rosprim, a California irrigation pump manufacturer. Together, they plan to introduce the first-ever ammonia-powered irrigation system. Anhydrous ammonia, or NH3, is rich in hydrogen and carbon free; because farmers have long used it for fertilizer, regulations, pipelines and distribution centers for ammonia are already in place. "
The technology would be especially attractive to California farmers, whoare under pressure to comply with increasingly strict emissions rules. Asuccessful test over the 2007 growing season could lead to commercialsales in 2008."
How long before Congress gives, say, Archer-Daniels-Midland a few zillion dollars to play with THIS solution? And will Luther Olsen make sure his little brother does well?
"Most farming irrigation systems run on diesel engines. The fruit and vegetables your family enjoys were probably not just transported by diesel power; they were likely watered with diesel power also," he reports. "This could soon change. An Iowa company called Hydrogen Engine Center, specializing in alternative fuel engines, has gone into partnership with Sawtelle & Rosprim, a California irrigation pump manufacturer. Together, they plan to introduce the first-ever ammonia-powered irrigation system. Anhydrous ammonia, or NH3, is rich in hydrogen and carbon free; because farmers have long used it for fertilizer, regulations, pipelines and distribution centers for ammonia are already in place. "
The technology would be especially attractive to California farmers, whoare under pressure to comply with increasingly strict emissions rules. Asuccessful test over the 2007 growing season could lead to commercialsales in 2008."
How long before Congress gives, say, Archer-Daniels-Midland a few zillion dollars to play with THIS solution? And will Luther Olsen make sure his little brother does well?
But...But...He was Vegetative!!!
Another case of confounded MDs--but this time, no corpse:
After 22 months in a coma-like existance young Devon Rivers woke up to the surprise of his doctors in Oregon. Young Devon collapsed during a P.E. class from which the doctors couldn't diagnose what happened but were certain that he had little hope for recovery.
Despite the doctors’ gloomy prognosis, eleven year-old Devon is now being prepared for occupational therapy to help him re-learn motor skills and is able to play with his siblings. Doctors cannot explain the reason either for his unexpected awakening or for his steady recovery.
I can explain it: God has plans for the young man.
HT: Custos Fidei
After 22 months in a coma-like existance young Devon Rivers woke up to the surprise of his doctors in Oregon. Young Devon collapsed during a P.E. class from which the doctors couldn't diagnose what happened but were certain that he had little hope for recovery.
Despite the doctors’ gloomy prognosis, eleven year-old Devon is now being prepared for occupational therapy to help him re-learn motor skills and is able to play with his siblings. Doctors cannot explain the reason either for his unexpected awakening or for his steady recovery.
I can explain it: God has plans for the young man.
HT: Custos Fidei