The official spin (seen in lotsa 'instructions' from Bishops about Summorum Pontificum) is that the document was written in order to lure SSPX members back to the Church.
Pish-posh.
A lack of respect for the norms for celebrating the Mass after the Second Vatican Council contributed to Pope Benedict XVI's decision to grant wider permission for the celebration of the Tridentine Mass, a Vatican official said.
"There is a certain tendency to interpret the post-conciliar liturgical reform using 'creativity' as the rule," said Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
....umnnnnhhhh....what were we saying (below)?
HT: TNLM
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Rome to Seminaries: Teach the Old Rite
Makes sense to me.
According to Italian news agency Adnkronos, the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" will soon publish an order addressed to seminaries "in which it is required that the celebration of the Latin Mass be taught to future priests":
"According to what has been learned from authoritative sources, the dicastery presided by Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos (among the main supporters of the return of the Mass according to the pre-Conciliar rite) would be considering a circular addressed to seminarians which, in practice, is aimed directly to those bishops who [are] 'disobeying' the Pope's motu proprio (...)."
It is not entirely clear from the report if the order will be an exclusive document or if it will be part of the general document of clarification of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum which will be published shortly (according to several news agencies and sources).
Would be nice if priests in Milwaukee were taught how to celebrate the NEW Rite, as well. You know, using radical concepts like "Say the black, do the red."
HT: CustosFidei
According to Italian news agency Adnkronos, the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" will soon publish an order addressed to seminaries "in which it is required that the celebration of the Latin Mass be taught to future priests":
"According to what has been learned from authoritative sources, the dicastery presided by Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos (among the main supporters of the return of the Mass according to the pre-Conciliar rite) would be considering a circular addressed to seminarians which, in practice, is aimed directly to those bishops who [are] 'disobeying' the Pope's motu proprio (...)."
It is not entirely clear from the report if the order will be an exclusive document or if it will be part of the general document of clarification of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum which will be published shortly (according to several news agencies and sources).
Would be nice if priests in Milwaukee were taught how to celebrate the NEW Rite, as well. You know, using radical concepts like "Say the black, do the red."
HT: CustosFidei
Embryonic Stem-Cells? So '90's, Man...
Another silver cross through the heart of ESCR.
Scientists have made ordinary human skin cells take on the chameleon-like powers of embryonic stem cells, a startling breakthrough that might someday deliver the medical payoffs of embryo cloning without the controversy
Fortunately, Wisconsin is in this race:
...the Science paper is from a team led by Junying Yu, working in the lab of in stem-cell pioneer James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, which holds three patents for Thomson's work, is applying for patents involving his new research, a spokeswoman said. Two of the four genes he used were different from Yamanaka's recipe.
Congrats to Prof. Thompson!
Scientists have made ordinary human skin cells take on the chameleon-like powers of embryonic stem cells, a startling breakthrough that might someday deliver the medical payoffs of embryo cloning without the controversy
Fortunately, Wisconsin is in this race:
...the Science paper is from a team led by Junying Yu, working in the lab of in stem-cell pioneer James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, which holds three patents for Thomson's work, is applying for patents involving his new research, a spokeswoman said. Two of the four genes he used were different from Yamanaka's recipe.
Congrats to Prof. Thompson!
"A Failure....to Collect-icate"
Well, there's another $million gone...
27 News has found despite a state law requiring internet cigarette retailers and other direct marketers of cigarettes to register with the state and agree to collect state taxes, not one business has done so since the law's inception in 2005. (Duhhhh.)
"We have no submissions," wrote Department of Revenue Deputy Tax Division Administrator Lili Best Crane, in response to a request from 27 News for information on the permits required to directly market cigarettes in Wisconsin. (Duhhhh.)
Wisconsin's cigarette tax is slated to increase by $1 to $1.77 per pack. Trade group representatives for merchants selling cigarettes at retail outlets have predicted the increase would motivate some purchasers to defect to the internet in an attempt to avoid paying sales tax. (Duhhh.)
In 2004, Department of Revenue Auditor Christopher Roy projected sales tax collections as a result of requiring direct cigarette marketers to obtain permits and submit taxes on their sales would total $1.1 million by 2007. (Whaddya wanna bet that that "projection" has been SPENT already?)
Anyone 'thinking' that cigarette buyers are going to patronize the high-priced places is nuts. When DarthDoyle moves to force US internet retailers into compliance, the cigarette buyers will patronize off-shore vendors.
Too bad, Brandon.
27 News has found despite a state law requiring internet cigarette retailers and other direct marketers of cigarettes to register with the state and agree to collect state taxes, not one business has done so since the law's inception in 2005. (Duhhhh.)
"We have no submissions," wrote Department of Revenue Deputy Tax Division Administrator Lili Best Crane, in response to a request from 27 News for information on the permits required to directly market cigarettes in Wisconsin. (Duhhhh.)
Wisconsin's cigarette tax is slated to increase by $1 to $1.77 per pack. Trade group representatives for merchants selling cigarettes at retail outlets have predicted the increase would motivate some purchasers to defect to the internet in an attempt to avoid paying sales tax. (Duhhh.)
In 2004, Department of Revenue Auditor Christopher Roy projected sales tax collections as a result of requiring direct cigarette marketers to obtain permits and submit taxes on their sales would total $1.1 million by 2007. (Whaddya wanna bet that that "projection" has been SPENT already?)
Anyone 'thinking' that cigarette buyers are going to patronize the high-priced places is nuts. When DarthDoyle moves to force US internet retailers into compliance, the cigarette buyers will patronize off-shore vendors.
Too bad, Brandon.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Bp. Serratelli, Chairman, USCC Liturgy Committee
Bp. Serratelli's chairmanship will be notably different than that of his predecessor (whose name rhymes with Fish-person.)
...St. Luke ends his gospel with the Emmaus story in which the two disciples recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:30-32). He begins Acts of the Apostles with this picture of the infant Church: “These remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Clearly for the evangelist, the Eucharist is the Presence of the Risen Lord building up the Church in the unity of faith and love.
(Note the fact that they 'recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. That's significant.)
...To every priest is given the great privilege of celebrating the Eucharist by virtue of his ordination. The priest presides at the Eucharist in persona Christi.
Therefore, every priest has the obligation to celebrate the Liturgy in such a way that he provides a witness of faith to the sacredness of the gift given to the Church by her Lord. He is to be faithful to the Church’s norms for the Liturgy so as to be at the service of communion, not only for the community directly taking part in the celebration, but also for the whole Church. [And so that 'Christ may be recognized in that celebration...] The Mystery of the Eucharist “is too great for anyone to permit himself to treat it according to his own whim, so that its sacredness and its universal ordering would be obscured” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 52).
...In each particular Church, the diocesan bishop has a most serious responsibility before God for the faithful celebration of the liturgy.
...Recognizing this serious duty placed upon me, I ask every priest in this diocese to follow The General Instruction of the Roman Missal as well as Redemptionis Sacramentum, issued in 2004 by the mandate of Pope John Paul II.
...Since the people of God have the right to the Liturgy as the Church has established, both instructions are to be followed in their entirety.
...and so on.
Moving from Trautman to Serratelli will be like going from b/w to color TV. Big, Wonderful, difference!
HT: Fr Z
...St. Luke ends his gospel with the Emmaus story in which the two disciples recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:30-32). He begins Acts of the Apostles with this picture of the infant Church: “These remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Clearly for the evangelist, the Eucharist is the Presence of the Risen Lord building up the Church in the unity of faith and love.
(Note the fact that they 'recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. That's significant.)
...To every priest is given the great privilege of celebrating the Eucharist by virtue of his ordination. The priest presides at the Eucharist in persona Christi.
Therefore, every priest has the obligation to celebrate the Liturgy in such a way that he provides a witness of faith to the sacredness of the gift given to the Church by her Lord. He is to be faithful to the Church’s norms for the Liturgy so as to be at the service of communion, not only for the community directly taking part in the celebration, but also for the whole Church. [And so that 'Christ may be recognized in that celebration...] The Mystery of the Eucharist “is too great for anyone to permit himself to treat it according to his own whim, so that its sacredness and its universal ordering would be obscured” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 52).
...In each particular Church, the diocesan bishop has a most serious responsibility before God for the faithful celebration of the liturgy.
...Recognizing this serious duty placed upon me, I ask every priest in this diocese to follow The General Instruction of the Roman Missal as well as Redemptionis Sacramentum, issued in 2004 by the mandate of Pope John Paul II.
...Since the people of God have the right to the Liturgy as the Church has established, both instructions are to be followed in their entirety.
...and so on.
Moving from Trautman to Serratelli will be like going from b/w to color TV. Big, Wonderful, difference!
HT: Fr Z
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Wisconsin Bishops v. Bp. Vasa on "Plan B"
Well, it had to happen sometime.
The Wisconsin Bishops issued a "nolo contendere" regarding the Legislative initiatives to require "Plan B" abortifacients. There are a few quibbles (page 2 of the document) but they basically caved on this Planned Parenthood initiative.
They cite the Ethical and Religious Directives of the USCC:
" A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception....
if after appropriate testing...there is no evidence that conception has occurred...., she may be treated with medications that prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization.
"It is not permissible...to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum."
Yah, well...
Bishop Vasa of Oregon has a more critical take:
...Nothing is to be done which impedes the natural progress of a child already conceived. This principle, at least in the ideal, is understood and practiced in Catholic hospitals. There is a huge difficulty with Plan B. If a pregnancy is confirmed by way of a standard pregnancy test then Plan B is neither warranted nor needed since such a readily identified pregnancy would not be the result of a very recent sexual assault. If the standard pregnancy test returns a negative for pregnancy then this only proves that the woman was not pregnant prior to the assault. The critical question, which must be answered with very great care, is whether the assaulted woman has already conceived a child as a result of the assault.The answer to this question may not be able to be given with certainty and I maintain that it must be given with certainty in order to proceed with Plan B. The utilization of Plan B without this certainty runs the unjustifiable risk of destroying new life while ostensibly intending to prevent the assault from engendering that life. It turns an uncaring eye to the new life which may have already begun.
Bp. Vasa goes on to explain further:
Using a bit of verbal engineering allows the proponents to assure us that the product prevents “conception” and does not disrupt “pregnancy.” A closer look reveals that when proponents of Plan B use terms like conception or pregnancy they almost always mean an already implanted, growing baby in the womb of his or her mother. Most proponents of Plan B would maintain that pregnancy begins at implantation whereas it is much more honest to affirm that pregnancy begins at conception. Thus, though the language is the language of protecting a woman from a pregnancy as a result of sexual assault the truth is that the desire to protect a woman from such a pregnancy extends even to destroying the newly conceived child if necessary.
In other words, the pregnancy test is not really capable of determinining whether conception has occurred within 24 (or less) hours of the assault. And in the case where the question cannot be answered with moral certainty, the correct path is NOT to proceed with "Plan B."
Bp. Vasa happens to base his opinion on solid medical testimony AND on an understanding of the moral law (as enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath, before that became irrelevant...) "First thing, DO NO HARM."
It would be useful for Abp. Dolan to take action correcting the Wisconsin Catholic Conference's position--sooner rather than later.
HT: Jester and Terry
The Wisconsin Bishops issued a "nolo contendere" regarding the Legislative initiatives to require "Plan B" abortifacients. There are a few quibbles (page 2 of the document) but they basically caved on this Planned Parenthood initiative.
They cite the Ethical and Religious Directives of the USCC:
" A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception....
if after appropriate testing...there is no evidence that conception has occurred...., she may be treated with medications that prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization.
"It is not permissible...to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum."
Yah, well...
Bishop Vasa of Oregon has a more critical take:
...Nothing is to be done which impedes the natural progress of a child already conceived. This principle, at least in the ideal, is understood and practiced in Catholic hospitals. There is a huge difficulty with Plan B. If a pregnancy is confirmed by way of a standard pregnancy test then Plan B is neither warranted nor needed since such a readily identified pregnancy would not be the result of a very recent sexual assault. If the standard pregnancy test returns a negative for pregnancy then this only proves that the woman was not pregnant prior to the assault. The critical question, which must be answered with very great care, is whether the assaulted woman has already conceived a child as a result of the assault.The answer to this question may not be able to be given with certainty and I maintain that it must be given with certainty in order to proceed with Plan B. The utilization of Plan B without this certainty runs the unjustifiable risk of destroying new life while ostensibly intending to prevent the assault from engendering that life. It turns an uncaring eye to the new life which may have already begun.
Bp. Vasa goes on to explain further:
Using a bit of verbal engineering allows the proponents to assure us that the product prevents “conception” and does not disrupt “pregnancy.” A closer look reveals that when proponents of Plan B use terms like conception or pregnancy they almost always mean an already implanted, growing baby in the womb of his or her mother. Most proponents of Plan B would maintain that pregnancy begins at implantation whereas it is much more honest to affirm that pregnancy begins at conception. Thus, though the language is the language of protecting a woman from a pregnancy as a result of sexual assault the truth is that the desire to protect a woman from such a pregnancy extends even to destroying the newly conceived child if necessary.
In other words, the pregnancy test is not really capable of determinining whether conception has occurred within 24 (or less) hours of the assault. And in the case where the question cannot be answered with moral certainty, the correct path is NOT to proceed with "Plan B."
Bp. Vasa happens to base his opinion on solid medical testimony AND on an understanding of the moral law (as enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath, before that became irrelevant...) "First thing, DO NO HARM."
It would be useful for Abp. Dolan to take action correcting the Wisconsin Catholic Conference's position--sooner rather than later.
HT: Jester and Terry
"Praise Music"? Not for Catholics
A good synopsis of the issue:
God is not glorified by bodies swaying with arms raised in affective intoxication. Rather, He is glorified when man understands who God is and who he is. God is glorified by man’s holiness which is only possible through His grace, i.e. cooperative communion with God. It takes much effort on fallen man’s part. He must soak himself in grace and cooperate with it such that he is able to become “virtuous,” from the Latin term which perhaps could be equated with St. Irenaeus’ dictum.
The Mass is the starting place for practicing self possession. It is the place for moving away from the noise of the world which distracts us from the emptiness we have inside because we are not yet what we were made to be. It is the place to move toward God in silent, communal self-gift which is enabled by self-possession and self-mastery. Praise and worship may be fine for prayer meetings. Hymnody is perhaps better placed in other venues such as the Liturgy of the Hours. But for the Mass, we must return to the foundation of chant and sacred polyphony and require that future developments in liturgical must must arise organically from these venerable traditions.
Therefore, we must not allow the “consumer” mentality to drive our liturgy. We must give people what they need, not what they think they want.
It's not hard to go from the above to the watchword of St. Pius X, that 'sacred music should elevate the minds AND hearts of the Faithful to God.' And, in fact, the author did exactly that:
...St. Ireneaus’ teaching that “the glory of God is man fully alive” (Against Heresies) means man fully himself. That is, man who is fully self-possessed such that he can give himself fully to God–traditionally we call this holiness.
Fully himself: mind AND heart. Yes, that means that the music cannot be "heartless," but it also cannot be "mindless," with the accompanying danger of satisfying concupiscience (that ain't just for sex, you know...)
Is this some sort of "intellectualoid" protest? Yes, in a way--but it does not take an "intellectualoid" to understand, nor be affected in BOTH ways, by Gregorian Chant and its derivatives.
God is not glorified by bodies swaying with arms raised in affective intoxication. Rather, He is glorified when man understands who God is and who he is. God is glorified by man’s holiness which is only possible through His grace, i.e. cooperative communion with God. It takes much effort on fallen man’s part. He must soak himself in grace and cooperate with it such that he is able to become “virtuous,” from the Latin term which perhaps could be equated with St. Irenaeus’ dictum.
The Mass is the starting place for practicing self possession. It is the place for moving away from the noise of the world which distracts us from the emptiness we have inside because we are not yet what we were made to be. It is the place to move toward God in silent, communal self-gift which is enabled by self-possession and self-mastery. Praise and worship may be fine for prayer meetings. Hymnody is perhaps better placed in other venues such as the Liturgy of the Hours. But for the Mass, we must return to the foundation of chant and sacred polyphony and require that future developments in liturgical must must arise organically from these venerable traditions.
Therefore, we must not allow the “consumer” mentality to drive our liturgy. We must give people what they need, not what they think they want.
It's not hard to go from the above to the watchword of St. Pius X, that 'sacred music should elevate the minds AND hearts of the Faithful to God.' And, in fact, the author did exactly that:
...St. Ireneaus’ teaching that “the glory of God is man fully alive” (Against Heresies) means man fully himself. That is, man who is fully self-possessed such that he can give himself fully to God–traditionally we call this holiness.
Fully himself: mind AND heart. Yes, that means that the music cannot be "heartless," but it also cannot be "mindless," with the accompanying danger of satisfying concupiscience (that ain't just for sex, you know...)
Is this some sort of "intellectualoid" protest? Yes, in a way--but it does not take an "intellectualoid" to understand, nor be affected in BOTH ways, by Gregorian Chant and its derivatives.
"Watchdogs" Yipping at Ghosts
To sum it all up: there's no "there" there.
But there are a couple of thousand words.
The JS schnauzers found that our Leggies claim per-diems of $88.00/day and on the same days, ALSO spend money from their re-election accounts for political activity.
The per-diem statute is clear:
Lawmakers "shall be entitled to an allowance for expenses incurred for food and lodging for each day that he or she is in Madison on legislative business."
The important word in that sentence is "shall."
So when Leggie Lew goes to Madistan and spends a day in session--and then goes out to a campaign-related event that evening, where he spends $50.00, it's clear to me that use of BOTH funds is perfectly fine. He should get a campaign-fund reimbursement for the $50.00 AND his per-diem for spending the day in Madistan on Legislative business.
Note well: the law as written requires the full $88.00 payment. There's no "splitting" allowed--i.e., charging $60.00 to the State for mileage and hotel and $50.00 to the political fund for dinner.
Look at it this way:
If Leggie Lew went to Madistan and spent a day in session and went to a campaign-related event that evening, and billed the WHOLE day to his campaign fund, what would the Schnauzers say?
I'll TELL you what they'd say:
"Gott im Himmel!!! Leggie Lew's political contributors financed Lew's day in Madison!!!"
See how that works?
But there are a couple of thousand words.
The JS schnauzers found that our Leggies claim per-diems of $88.00/day and on the same days, ALSO spend money from their re-election accounts for political activity.
The per-diem statute is clear:
Lawmakers "shall be entitled to an allowance for expenses incurred for food and lodging for each day that he or she is in Madison on legislative business."
The important word in that sentence is "shall."
So when Leggie Lew goes to Madistan and spends a day in session--and then goes out to a campaign-related event that evening, where he spends $50.00, it's clear to me that use of BOTH funds is perfectly fine. He should get a campaign-fund reimbursement for the $50.00 AND his per-diem for spending the day in Madistan on Legislative business.
Note well: the law as written requires the full $88.00 payment. There's no "splitting" allowed--i.e., charging $60.00 to the State for mileage and hotel and $50.00 to the political fund for dinner.
Look at it this way:
If Leggie Lew went to Madistan and spent a day in session and went to a campaign-related event that evening, and billed the WHOLE day to his campaign fund, what would the Schnauzers say?
I'll TELL you what they'd say:
"Gott im Himmel!!! Leggie Lew's political contributors financed Lew's day in Madison!!!"
See how that works?
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Where's That Stolen SUV?
Did someone steal your SUV?
Maybe you can find it ....in Syria!
The FBI's counterterrorism unit has launched a broad investigation of US-based theft rings after discovering that some of the vehicles used in deadly car bombings in Iraq, including attacks that killed US troops and Iraqi civilians, were probably stolen in the United States, according to senior government officials.
...The inquiry began after coalition troops raided a bomb-making factory in Fallujah last November and found a sport utility vehicle registered in Texas that was being prepared for a bombing mission.
Investigators said they are comparing several other cases where vehicles evidently stolen in the United States wound up in Syria or other Middle East countries and ultimately into the hands of Iraqi insurgent groups -- including Al Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian-born Abu Musab Al Zarqawi
So how do you spell "Chop-Shop" in Arabic?
HT: Clay Cramer
Maybe you can find it ....in Syria!
The FBI's counterterrorism unit has launched a broad investigation of US-based theft rings after discovering that some of the vehicles used in deadly car bombings in Iraq, including attacks that killed US troops and Iraqi civilians, were probably stolen in the United States, according to senior government officials.
...The inquiry began after coalition troops raided a bomb-making factory in Fallujah last November and found a sport utility vehicle registered in Texas that was being prepared for a bombing mission.
Investigators said they are comparing several other cases where vehicles evidently stolen in the United States wound up in Syria or other Middle East countries and ultimately into the hands of Iraqi insurgent groups -- including Al Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian-born Abu Musab Al Zarqawi
So how do you spell "Chop-Shop" in Arabic?
HT: Clay Cramer
PRChina: Economic Mouse? No More War??
Captain Ed cites a new report which plays a different tune than most.
China's economy is 40 percent smaller than most recent estimates, a US economist said Wednesday, citing data from the Asian Development Bank and guidelines from the World Bank.
Albert Keidel, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former US Treasury official and World Bank economist, made the comments in a report published by the US think tank and in a commentary in the Financial Times.
That economist also postulated that PRChina has been spending a lotta money on 'moving its population above the poverty line.'
Yah, well, maybe. PRChina's Commies-in-Charge have used bullets to reduce the number of impoverished peasants for well over 50 years, and there's no reason to believe that that particular method has fallen out of favor.
Of course, this report (if true) ALSO throws a large monkey-wrench into the FreeTraitor argument that 'PRChina is the largest consumer market in the Universe!!!!!' justifying moving production assets to that slave-labor/theft-of-patent-and-copyright Workers' Paradise.
The Captain fails to mention that angle.
Then the Captain, normally a level-headed type, starts buying into the peacenik flappayappa(!!):
It may also have some impact on long-term military planning here in the US, taking us from a near-panic mode to something more rational, allowing us to plan wisely for growth in our Pacific assets without provoking an arms race that neither country can afford.
So all that stuff the Pentagon's Intel people give us is what....propaganda?
China's economy is 40 percent smaller than most recent estimates, a US economist said Wednesday, citing data from the Asian Development Bank and guidelines from the World Bank.
Albert Keidel, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former US Treasury official and World Bank economist, made the comments in a report published by the US think tank and in a commentary in the Financial Times.
That economist also postulated that PRChina has been spending a lotta money on 'moving its population above the poverty line.'
Yah, well, maybe. PRChina's Commies-in-Charge have used bullets to reduce the number of impoverished peasants for well over 50 years, and there's no reason to believe that that particular method has fallen out of favor.
Of course, this report (if true) ALSO throws a large monkey-wrench into the FreeTraitor argument that 'PRChina is the largest consumer market in the Universe!!!!!' justifying moving production assets to that slave-labor/theft-of-patent-and-copyright Workers' Paradise.
The Captain fails to mention that angle.
Then the Captain, normally a level-headed type, starts buying into the peacenik flappayappa(!!):
It may also have some impact on long-term military planning here in the US, taking us from a near-panic mode to something more rational, allowing us to plan wisely for growth in our Pacific assets without provoking an arms race that neither country can afford.
So all that stuff the Pentagon's Intel people give us is what....propaganda?
Shall We Praise Vrakas for Increasing Spending?
Yada yada yada...
Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas on Thursday signaled his intention to approve a new $255 million county budget without vetoing any provision.
Citing the relatively low property tax increase of $1.8 million, Vrakas called it "one of the most conservative public sector budgets in the state."
An increase in the levy is an increase in the levy, Dan-o.
Sheriff's deputy patrols in public schools survived Tuesday in a $255 million budget for Waukesha County that also will boost spending next year on criminal rehabilitation programs.
The sheriff assigns deputies to Arrowhead, Hamilton and Kettle Moraine high schools, asking only voluntary contributions from the school districts to offset the cost.
Let me see if I get this straight. Waukesha County spends about $1.5 MILLION to watch the kiddies at 3 districts which have...umnnnnhhh...plenty of tax-base resources. What...there's no local cop-shop in Hartland? Delafield? Or those Districts cannot afford their own security services?
Puhleeeze...
...county supervisors boosted spending for a new Aging and Disability Resource Center, for a Waukesha freeway bypass development and for a courthouse remodeling project.
Tell you what, Dan. Take the air-conditioning out of the prisoners' area at the County Jail. That will pay for the "courthouse remodeling."
Tell Sheriff Dan that the prisoners can sweat.
As to Mr. Vrakas: did "LESS SPENDING" ever cross your radar-screen? Or is Scott Walker the only County Exec who gets it?
Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas on Thursday signaled his intention to approve a new $255 million county budget without vetoing any provision.
Citing the relatively low property tax increase of $1.8 million, Vrakas called it "one of the most conservative public sector budgets in the state."
An increase in the levy is an increase in the levy, Dan-o.
Sheriff's deputy patrols in public schools survived Tuesday in a $255 million budget for Waukesha County that also will boost spending next year on criminal rehabilitation programs.
The sheriff assigns deputies to Arrowhead, Hamilton and Kettle Moraine high schools, asking only voluntary contributions from the school districts to offset the cost.
Let me see if I get this straight. Waukesha County spends about $1.5 MILLION to watch the kiddies at 3 districts which have...umnnnnhhh...plenty of tax-base resources. What...there's no local cop-shop in Hartland? Delafield? Or those Districts cannot afford their own security services?
Puhleeeze...
...county supervisors boosted spending for a new Aging and Disability Resource Center, for a Waukesha freeway bypass development and for a courthouse remodeling project.
Tell you what, Dan. Take the air-conditioning out of the prisoners' area at the County Jail. That will pay for the "courthouse remodeling."
Tell Sheriff Dan that the prisoners can sweat.
As to Mr. Vrakas: did "LESS SPENDING" ever cross your radar-screen? Or is Scott Walker the only County Exec who gets it?
"Warrantless Search" or Common Sense Policework?
Drudge's headline on this is curious; he calls it "warrantless search" in Boston.
Ever the civil liberties guy I went to the story--and found something a little different.
Boston police are launching a program that will call upon parents in high-crime neighborhoods to allow detectives into their homes, without a warrant, to search for guns in their children's bedrooms.
Note that "parents" will be asked to "allow" cops into the homes. So far, so good.
The program, which is already raising questions about civil liberties, is based on the premise that parents are so fearful of gun violence and the possibility that their own teenagers will be caught up in it that they will turn to police for help, even in their own households.
In the next two weeks, Boston police officers who are assigned to schools will begin going to homes where they believe teenagers might have guns. The officers will travel in groups of three, dress in plainclothes to avoid attracting negative attention, and ask the teenager's parent or legal guardian for permission to search. If the parents say no, police said, the officers will leave.
If officers find a gun, police said, they will not charge the teenager with unlawful gun possession, unless the firearm is linked to a shooting or homicide.
Who in hell could object to THAT?
That's just a rhetorical question; you already know the answer.
"I just have a queasy feeling anytime the police try to do an end run around the Constitution," said Thomas Nolan, a former Boston police lieutenant who now teaches criminology at Boston University
College prof.
"Our biggest concern is the notion of informed consent," said Amy Reichbach, a racial justice advocate at the American Civil Liberties Union. "People might not understand the implications of weapons being tested or any contraband being found."
Anti-Catholic Libertines Union.
This isn't real difficult. The parent(s) allow the cops to take a look; the cops confiscate illegally-possessed guns. If the parents say "no," the cops go away.
Ever the civil liberties guy I went to the story--and found something a little different.
Boston police are launching a program that will call upon parents in high-crime neighborhoods to allow detectives into their homes, without a warrant, to search for guns in their children's bedrooms.
Note that "parents" will be asked to "allow" cops into the homes. So far, so good.
The program, which is already raising questions about civil liberties, is based on the premise that parents are so fearful of gun violence and the possibility that their own teenagers will be caught up in it that they will turn to police for help, even in their own households.
In the next two weeks, Boston police officers who are assigned to schools will begin going to homes where they believe teenagers might have guns. The officers will travel in groups of three, dress in plainclothes to avoid attracting negative attention, and ask the teenager's parent or legal guardian for permission to search. If the parents say no, police said, the officers will leave.
If officers find a gun, police said, they will not charge the teenager with unlawful gun possession, unless the firearm is linked to a shooting or homicide.
Who in hell could object to THAT?
That's just a rhetorical question; you already know the answer.
"I just have a queasy feeling anytime the police try to do an end run around the Constitution," said Thomas Nolan, a former Boston police lieutenant who now teaches criminology at Boston University
College prof.
"Our biggest concern is the notion of informed consent," said Amy Reichbach, a racial justice advocate at the American Civil Liberties Union. "People might not understand the implications of weapons being tested or any contraband being found."
Anti-Catholic Libertines Union.
This isn't real difficult. The parent(s) allow the cops to take a look; the cops confiscate illegally-possessed guns. If the parents say "no," the cops go away.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Don't Like High Prices in Wisconsin?
If you're a resident of Wisconsin and do not like high prices, then pay attention to the news releases from the (R) side of the Legislature on Tuesday and/or Wednesday of next week.
Sources tell me that a bill which will eliminate ALL minimum markup requirements will be introduced.
ALL of them. Not just the 9%+ on gasoline. Not just the 6% on all retail goods which causes embarrassments like this. ALL of them.
Wanna see a reduction in the cost of living?
This might be fun.
Sources tell me that a bill which will eliminate ALL minimum markup requirements will be introduced.
ALL of them. Not just the 9%+ on gasoline. Not just the 6% on all retail goods which causes embarrassments like this. ALL of them.
Wanna see a reduction in the cost of living?
This might be fun.
God Acts Through Earthly Instruments
Heh.
A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was a vowed atheist and a member of the ACLU. One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, “God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I’ll give you exactly 15 minutes.”
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, “Here I am God. I’m still waiting.”
It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold.
The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, “What the hell is the matter with you? Why did you do that?”
The Marine calmly replied, “God was too busy today protecting America’s troops who are protecting your right to say stupid shit and act like an asshole. So, He sent me.”
Stolen from Cavey!
A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was a vowed atheist and a member of the ACLU. One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, “God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I’ll give you exactly 15 minutes.”
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, “Here I am God. I’m still waiting.”
It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold.
The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, “What the hell is the matter with you? Why did you do that?”
The Marine calmly replied, “God was too busy today protecting America’s troops who are protecting your right to say stupid shit and act like an asshole. So, He sent me.”
Stolen from Cavey!
Beagle's Things--Caninity in Hymnody
From the irrepressible Christus Vincit, the first draft of a certain hymn-text:
You who dwell in the kennel of the Lord
with your Alpo and Kibbles and Bits;
Sometimes it's Eukanuba;
sometimes it's Gravy Train.
(Refrain)And he shall speak to you of beagle's things,
rubber toys and chewy things;
Make you to sit in his lap
and pat you on the top of your head.
His collar, his wormer, his visit to the vet;
I want to take care of my pet.
When we come back from "walkies",
he'll get his doggie treat.
(to refrain)
The barking, the baying, the howling at the moon;
I hope that he stops it real soon.
It can be most annoying
when he's out of control.
(to refrain)
You who dwell in the kennel of the Lord
with your Alpo and Kibbles and Bits;
Sometimes it's Eukanuba;
sometimes it's Gravy Train.
(Refrain)And he shall speak to you of beagle's things,
rubber toys and chewy things;
Make you to sit in his lap
and pat you on the top of your head.
His collar, his wormer, his visit to the vet;
I want to take care of my pet.
When we come back from "walkies",
he'll get his doggie treat.
(to refrain)
The barking, the baying, the howling at the moon;
I hope that he stops it real soon.
It can be most annoying
when he's out of control.
(to refrain)
The Reality of Education
Of course, G K Chesterton said it.
WHEN society is in rather a futile fuss about the subjection of women, will no one say how much every man owes to the tyranny and privilege of women, to the fact that they alone rule education until education becomes futile?
For a boy is only sent to be taught at school when it is too late to teach him anything. The real thing has been done already, and thank God it is nearly always done by women. Every man is womanized, merely by being born.
They talk of the masculine woman; but every man is a feminized man. And if ever men walk to Westminster to protest against this female privilege, I shall not join their procession. --Orthodoxy
Of course, this raises the question about the nature and temperament of mothers in Milwaukee who raise gang-bangers and dope dealers...but then, the fickle finger points wherever...
WHEN society is in rather a futile fuss about the subjection of women, will no one say how much every man owes to the tyranny and privilege of women, to the fact that they alone rule education until education becomes futile?
For a boy is only sent to be taught at school when it is too late to teach him anything. The real thing has been done already, and thank God it is nearly always done by women. Every man is womanized, merely by being born.
They talk of the masculine woman; but every man is a feminized man. And if ever men walk to Westminster to protest against this female privilege, I shall not join their procession. --Orthodoxy
Of course, this raises the question about the nature and temperament of mothers in Milwaukee who raise gang-bangers and dope dealers...but then, the fickle finger points wherever...
Democrat Common Sense?
Well, ain't this interesting?
Three state lawmakers are asking for an audit of the University of Wisconsin athletic department's contract with the Big Ten Network.
In a letter sent to the co-chairs of the Joint Audit Committee last week, Reps. David Travis, D-Madison, Frank Boyle, D-Superior, and Mary Hubler, D-Rice Lake, asked for an audit of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the UW-Madison.
They asked the same question I did:
"How did Wisconsin get in the position that its public university can't televise its own games on public television?" Travis asked during an interview Thursday.
"Everybody is lateraling the ball here" by shifting the blame for the agreement, he said.
"Nobody is taking responsibility for it."
Duh...
Three state lawmakers are asking for an audit of the University of Wisconsin athletic department's contract with the Big Ten Network.
In a letter sent to the co-chairs of the Joint Audit Committee last week, Reps. David Travis, D-Madison, Frank Boyle, D-Superior, and Mary Hubler, D-Rice Lake, asked for an audit of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the UW-Madison.
They asked the same question I did:
"How did Wisconsin get in the position that its public university can't televise its own games on public television?" Travis asked during an interview Thursday.
"Everybody is lateraling the ball here" by shifting the blame for the agreement, he said.
"Nobody is taking responsibility for it."
Duh...
"Pollution Pact"---Politics As Usual
So, when you want coal to go away, can't really afford natural gas, and oil just won't do, how do you provide electricity?
Not Nukes.
And by the way, we like getting re-elected, so car-exhaust regs aren't here, either.
Nuclear power, which generates no greenhouse gas emissions, was deemed too divisive to include in an energy and climate-change platform that 11 Midwestern governors endorsed Thursday.
...nuclear power was "too controversial" to include in the regional plan, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said. Also absent: regulations that would regulate emissions of global warming gases from vehicle tailpipes.
So the ways to make pollution disappear?
1) Squash industrials.
2) Pray for lotsa wind.
Not Nukes.
And by the way, we like getting re-elected, so car-exhaust regs aren't here, either.
Nuclear power, which generates no greenhouse gas emissions, was deemed too divisive to include in an energy and climate-change platform that 11 Midwestern governors endorsed Thursday.
...nuclear power was "too controversial" to include in the regional plan, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said. Also absent: regulations that would regulate emissions of global warming gases from vehicle tailpipes.
So the ways to make pollution disappear?
1) Squash industrials.
2) Pray for lotsa wind.
The Writers Strike Back
Heh.
The script-writers have a point, and they deliver it.
About 4 minutes, during which Hypocrisy is (brilliantly) revealed.
The script-writers have a point, and they deliver it.
About 4 minutes, during which Hypocrisy is (brilliantly) revealed.
Know Your News Source
It's common knowledge that the MSM leans (if not falls) Left, and that the Wall Street Journal is lefty on the news pages and right-ish on the editorial side, although a number of observers (myself included) are chary of the WSJ's corporate toady-ism.
Who knew that Dow Jones/WSJ is tight with a bunch of Islamists?
While the Wall Street Journal has recently published articles with criticism of politicians who link Islam to terrorism, the Wall Street Journal's financial reporting on Shariah finance seems to show no understanding of the political ideology of Islamism. An August 9, 2007 Wall Street Journal article clearly states WSJ's view of Shariah as "Islamic law" which "stems from the Quran and subsequent interpretations by scholars". Neither the Wall Street Journal nor Dow Jones addresses the role of Shariah as part of the Islamist political ideology, or the role of Islamist political ideology in promoting Jihad. The WSJ and Dow Jones efforts are effectively legitimizing the political Islamist ideology by defining Shariah as "Islamic law" and developing financial vehicles based on that ideology -- one that is not shared by Muslims that view Shariah law as neither "Islamic" nor compatible with the norms of modern society.
If you've heard Limbaugh lately, you know that the propaganda war is on. He's spent a lot of air-time yapping about the Wonders of the UAE...
HT: CounterTerrorism Blog
Who knew that Dow Jones/WSJ is tight with a bunch of Islamists?
While the Wall Street Journal has recently published articles with criticism of politicians who link Islam to terrorism, the Wall Street Journal's financial reporting on Shariah finance seems to show no understanding of the political ideology of Islamism. An August 9, 2007 Wall Street Journal article clearly states WSJ's view of Shariah as "Islamic law" which "stems from the Quran and subsequent interpretations by scholars". Neither the Wall Street Journal nor Dow Jones addresses the role of Shariah as part of the Islamist political ideology, or the role of Islamist political ideology in promoting Jihad. The WSJ and Dow Jones efforts are effectively legitimizing the political Islamist ideology by defining Shariah as "Islamic law" and developing financial vehicles based on that ideology -- one that is not shared by Muslims that view Shariah law as neither "Islamic" nor compatible with the norms of modern society.
If you've heard Limbaugh lately, you know that the propaganda war is on. He's spent a lot of air-time yapping about the Wonders of the UAE...
HT: CounterTerrorism Blog
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