A Catholic theologian who opposes Church teaching on divorce and supports creating a betrothal ceremony for cohabitating couples just led a colloquium to assist US bishops with writing a pastoral letter on marriage.
The colloquium, which ended yesterday, was sponsored by the US Bishops' Committee on Marriage and Family and hosted by the Center for Marriage and Family at Creighton University in Omaha. It featured theologians and social scientist and had as its theme, "Promoting and Sustaining Marriage as a Community of Life and Love." According to a press release, the colloquium was a "major step" toward developing "a pastoral letter on marriage" and was "intended for the current and incoming members and advisors of the Marriage and Family Committee."
The director of Creighton's Center on Marriage and Family, Michael J. Lawler, served as the colloquium's chief facilitator. Lawler is well known for his heterodox views on divorce and cohabitation. A review of Lawler's book, "Marriage and the Catholic Church: Disputed Questions," in the left-of-center Catholic magazine "America", explains Lawler's take on divorce: "The governing agenda is to show how divorce and remarriage can be justified historically, canonically and theologically. Lawler argues that the sacramental character of marriage depends on personal faith. Therefore (contrary to canon law and current official teaching), sacramentality cannot attend the union of two persons, even two baptized persons, who do not intend, or who cease to experience, a mutual love that in faith makes God and Christ present." According to the review, Lawler also "proposes a formal betrothal ceremony to recognize and legitimize [cohabitation] and to provide an opportunity for marriage preparation."
Courtesy Culture of Life Foundation, NYC, Newsletter
We have remarked that the USCC seems to have lost the Faith due to lackadaisical management from the current President (Bp. Skylstad), and to the untimely loss of an excellent staffer. Bp. Gregory has declared the ephebophilia problem to be "history," as well.
Oremus.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
UPDATE!!!! 87 to Steal Honor
As of this moment, 87 people have signed up to hold candles and sing KumBaYah in the Milwaukee area tonight. That was this morning. Now it's 190. Wow. 190 of approx. 1.3 million in Milwaukee metro.
Expect some real fun at the War Memorial Center as the WTMJ radio people leave at the same time as the opportunists arrive (about 1830 hours)
Here's the website with info: http://political.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=29&search_distance=20&search_zip=53045&submit=Search
HT: Xoff. Whatta guy, heh?
Expect some real fun at the War Memorial Center as the WTMJ radio people leave at the same time as the opportunists arrive (about 1830 hours)
Here's the website with info: http://political.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=29&search_distance=20&search_zip=53045&submit=Search
HT: Xoff. Whatta guy, heh?
One Achilles' Heel
From The Counterterrorism Blog:
There are alarming signs that Nigeria, West Africa's leader, one of the world's leading oil producers and is on the brink of chaos. In an unusual admission for a tight-lipped government, a senior security official publicly acknowledged the presence of up to 10,000 illegal armed men in a variety of militias in the Niger Delta, where almost all of Nigeria's 2.5 million barrels a day of light, sweet crude, are pumped. Many of these groups, according to the director general of the National Intelligence Agency, have ties to al Qaeda linked groups such as the Algerian Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). The full interview with Uche Okeke by Nigeria's Vanguard newspaper can be read here.
Okeke also stated a truth that is often forgotten in dealing with West Africa's ties to radical Islamist terrorist: Nigeria was listed by Osama bin Laden as on of the five "apostate states" ripe for Islamic revolution, and the only one of the five not to suffer a major al Qaeda attack. Nigerians have shown up in Afghanistan, Iraq, and with the GSPC. Both wahhbis from Saudi Arabia and Shi'ites from Iran are vying to set up radical mosques in the north. Sharia law is already the law of the land in almost one-third of the country.
Nigeria's situation is complicated and delicate. A weak elected government, trying to root out the legacy of decades of ruthless and blindingly corrupt military rule while at the same time balancing the needs of an increasingly militant Islamic majority in the north, Christians in the south, ethnic unrest and entrenched political bosses who steal far more than the state takes in. Weapons in the Niger Delta, including sophisticated and new weapons from the former Soviet bloc are, are cheap and easily available.
There are alarming signs that Nigeria, West Africa's leader, one of the world's leading oil producers and is on the brink of chaos. In an unusual admission for a tight-lipped government, a senior security official publicly acknowledged the presence of up to 10,000 illegal armed men in a variety of militias in the Niger Delta, where almost all of Nigeria's 2.5 million barrels a day of light, sweet crude, are pumped. Many of these groups, according to the director general of the National Intelligence Agency, have ties to al Qaeda linked groups such as the Algerian Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). The full interview with Uche Okeke by Nigeria's Vanguard newspaper can be read here.
Okeke also stated a truth that is often forgotten in dealing with West Africa's ties to radical Islamist terrorist: Nigeria was listed by Osama bin Laden as on of the five "apostate states" ripe for Islamic revolution, and the only one of the five not to suffer a major al Qaeda attack. Nigerians have shown up in Afghanistan, Iraq, and with the GSPC. Both wahhbis from Saudi Arabia and Shi'ites from Iran are vying to set up radical mosques in the north. Sharia law is already the law of the land in almost one-third of the country.
Nigeria's situation is complicated and delicate. A weak elected government, trying to root out the legacy of decades of ruthless and blindingly corrupt military rule while at the same time balancing the needs of an increasingly militant Islamic majority in the north, Christians in the south, ethnic unrest and entrenched political bosses who steal far more than the state takes in. Weapons in the Niger Delta, including sophisticated and new weapons from the former Soviet bloc are, are cheap and easily available.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
The Raid That Failed
Yesterday's 10PM news included clips of a bomb blast in Baghdad outside a hotel. You saw them--again and again. Too bad--the raid was really a failure, except in PR value.
This from a US officer in Baghdad:
The media sources I have seen breathlessly point out the spectacular nature of the attack and show the video clip over and over. They do not seem, however, to be pointing out that the Iraqi Police were instrumental in repelling the assault. They did receive some assistance from the US quick reaction force that arrived later, but the real story here is that the Islamic terrorists in Iraq are incapable of even seizing, let alone holding, a hotel full of journalists. Meanwhile, the Iraqi security forces continue to get stronger and more capable by the day.
During my last couple of months in theater, I interacted with various US units that have been working more and more closely with the Iraqis in order to bring about the transition of military responsibility from the coalition. Across the board, the US troops are impressed with the progress being made by their Iraqi counterparts. That progress was demonstrated under fire during successful operations in Tall Afar last month, where a majority of the troops that defeated the terrorists in that area and destroyed their operational safe havens were Iraqi.
Thanks to Powerline
This from a US officer in Baghdad:
The media sources I have seen breathlessly point out the spectacular nature of the attack and show the video clip over and over. They do not seem, however, to be pointing out that the Iraqi Police were instrumental in repelling the assault. They did receive some assistance from the US quick reaction force that arrived later, but the real story here is that the Islamic terrorists in Iraq are incapable of even seizing, let alone holding, a hotel full of journalists. Meanwhile, the Iraqi security forces continue to get stronger and more capable by the day.
During my last couple of months in theater, I interacted with various US units that have been working more and more closely with the Iraqis in order to bring about the transition of military responsibility from the coalition. Across the board, the US troops are impressed with the progress being made by their Iraqi counterparts. That progress was demonstrated under fire during successful operations in Tall Afar last month, where a majority of the troops that defeated the terrorists in that area and destroyed their operational safe havens were Iraqi.
Thanks to Powerline
Brewers: GIMME!!!
Not Surprising News file:
Rivera, who sits on the Finance Committee, said he planned to vote in favor of the project because more than 75% of baseball franchises have or plan to install the boards by opening day next year.
McKeithan, who is not on the Finance Committee, had backed the plan as a member of the Operations Committee. He said he planned to meet with Walker on the matter.
BREWERS DEMAND
MORE SUBSIDY;
"Everybody ELSE Has One"
The question of the day: will Scott Walker FIRE the bozo he appointed before the bozo votes to tax us more?
Walker said last week that he had asked his appointees - Perfecto Rivera and Jack McKeithan - to vote against the plan.
Rivera, who sits on the Finance Committee, said he planned to vote in favor of the project because more than 75% of baseball franchises have or plan to install the boards by opening day next year.
McKeithan, who is not on the Finance Committee, had backed the plan as a member of the Operations Committee. He said he planned to meet with Walker on the matter.
At this point, Rivera should be looking for a new job.
Monday, October 24, 2005
What the Synod ACTUALLY Said
There are reports from various MSM sources that the Synod of Bishops is 'pleased' with the liturgical reforms which began at the end of the Second Vatican Council.
But that's not exactly what the Synod's document said:
Forty years after the Second Vatican Council we wanted to examine to what extent the mysteries of the faith are adequately expressed and celebrated in our liturgical assemblies. The Synod reaffirms that the Second Vatican Council provided the necessary basis for an authentic liturgical renewal. It is necessary now to cultivate the positive fruits of this reform, and to correct abuses that have crept into liturgical practice. We are convinced that respect for the sacred character of the liturgy is transmitted by genuine fidelity to liturgical norms of legitimate authority. No one should consider himself master of the Church’s liturgy. Living faith that recognizes the presence of the Lord is the first condition for beautiful liturgical celebrations, which give a genuine “Amen” to the glory of God.
The part bolded here is Rome-speak for "we are not really pleased."
HT: Musica Sacra Blog
But that's not exactly what the Synod's document said:
Forty years after the Second Vatican Council we wanted to examine to what extent the mysteries of the faith are adequately expressed and celebrated in our liturgical assemblies. The Synod reaffirms that the Second Vatican Council provided the necessary basis for an authentic liturgical renewal. It is necessary now to cultivate the positive fruits of this reform, and to correct abuses that have crept into liturgical practice. We are convinced that respect for the sacred character of the liturgy is transmitted by genuine fidelity to liturgical norms of legitimate authority. No one should consider himself master of the Church’s liturgy. Living faith that recognizes the presence of the Lord is the first condition for beautiful liturgical celebrations, which give a genuine “Amen” to the glory of God.
The part bolded here is Rome-speak for "we are not really pleased."
HT: Musica Sacra Blog
ChurchLady Blues
Sykes is "no." Belling is "no." Powerline, Southern Appeal, Coulter--all "no."
But Fr. Richard Neuhaus, loyal to the end (we know not why,) thinks Miers ought to be a Supreme--or at least that George Will should not say such nasty things, or something.
Frankly, Father, to argue that conclusions which are right, although lacking rational foundation, are good things is, well, irrational. For then, conclusions which are WRONG, arrived at while bereft of the use of reason, are also "good things."
The predicate matters.
Nothing will destroy the Rule of Law faster than Law without Rules.
But Fr. Richard Neuhaus, loyal to the end (we know not why,) thinks Miers ought to be a Supreme--or at least that George Will should not say such nasty things, or something.
Frankly, Father, to argue that conclusions which are right, although lacking rational foundation, are good things is, well, irrational. For then, conclusions which are WRONG, arrived at while bereft of the use of reason, are also "good things."
The predicate matters.
Nothing will destroy the Rule of Law faster than Law without Rules.
People Who Really Need a Life
Two easy nominations for the above award:
1) Fr. John Dear, SJ, who declares that the US Government is "far worse than Hitler."
2) The Lefty Gaggle of Morons who convened at the election fraud hearings in Milwaukee to voice disapproval of Common Sense.
We have no idea what Fr. Dear does for a living. We have some idea that the Gaggle does NOTHING for a living.
1) Fr. John Dear, SJ, who declares that the US Government is "far worse than Hitler."
2) The Lefty Gaggle of Morons who convened at the election fraud hearings in Milwaukee to voice disapproval of Common Sense.
We have no idea what Fr. Dear does for a living. We have some idea that the Gaggle does NOTHING for a living.
Tenacity, not "Rigidity"
The Catholic World News blog makes an excellent point, demonstrating once again that he who defines the terms determines the 'winner' in debate.
But beyond terminology, there's a solid reality:
The Church in the West has enjoyed a half-century of comparative ease, in which the agenda has largely been set by professorial Catholic clergy -- men who dress, dine, recreate, and vote in ways indistinguishable from their heathen faculty colleagues, men who have had almost no price to pay for their highly adaptive Catholicism. It's not surprising that they should be alarmed by "rigidity" in their juniors. It's not surprising to read Fr. Richard McBrien lamenting a survey of seminarians that finds "many students resist 'the learning enterprise' because it threatens their 'preconceived ideas about theology.'" Yet, with some few exceptions, it's the professoriate, not the students, that feel threatened, and the source of the threat is not the students' inflexible ideas about theology (indicating rigidity), but their stubborn adherence to Catholic doctrine (indicating tenacity). These aren't 18-year-olds arriving dewy-eyed from a 1950s high school sodality; they tend to be college grads, sometimes converts, with personal experience of the false promises of the secular world, who have made an existential alignment with Catholic teaching. Regardless of theological maturity or naiveté, they know what they're saying No to.
What McBrien and his cohort don't understand is that little passage from St Paul: "....hold fast to what is good..." The new seminarians simply cannot hold fast to ephemera, or chimeras.
But beyond terminology, there's a solid reality:
The Church in the West has enjoyed a half-century of comparative ease, in which the agenda has largely been set by professorial Catholic clergy -- men who dress, dine, recreate, and vote in ways indistinguishable from their heathen faculty colleagues, men who have had almost no price to pay for their highly adaptive Catholicism. It's not surprising that they should be alarmed by "rigidity" in their juniors. It's not surprising to read Fr. Richard McBrien lamenting a survey of seminarians that finds "many students resist 'the learning enterprise' because it threatens their 'preconceived ideas about theology.'" Yet, with some few exceptions, it's the professoriate, not the students, that feel threatened, and the source of the threat is not the students' inflexible ideas about theology (indicating rigidity), but their stubborn adherence to Catholic doctrine (indicating tenacity). These aren't 18-year-olds arriving dewy-eyed from a 1950s high school sodality; they tend to be college grads, sometimes converts, with personal experience of the false promises of the secular world, who have made an existential alignment with Catholic teaching. Regardless of theological maturity or naiveté, they know what they're saying No to.
What McBrien and his cohort don't understand is that little passage from St Paul: "....hold fast to what is good..." The new seminarians simply cannot hold fast to ephemera, or chimeras.
Brazilians Are Right, 2 to 1
Common sense is a 2-to-1 winner in Brazil; citizens there have voted NOT to ban guns.
All it took was a few ads to make them understand that 'dial 911' is not the answer.
Heh.
All it took was a few ads to make them understand that 'dial 911' is not the answer.
Heh.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Why Gregorian Chant SHOULD Be Sung--II
The proper Offertory for the 33rd Sunday of the (NO) year and for today in the Tridentine Rite is De Profundis (Out of the Depths.)
The setting is haunting--the incipit is in a minor key; the first phrase is really a 'moan,' similar to the "groan" of the orchestra in the very first few notes of Britten's War Requiem. The clamavi is 'double-topped,' with a halting rhythm and the ending of the second phrase, Domine, is barely higher than the first note.
We repeat Domine, now more insistent, followed by exaudi, even higher-pitched and again, insistent--then orationem meam--and meam lasts almost forever, again with the halting rhythm. Our prayer "from the depths" SHOULD last a long time--"pray always."
The first line repeats. Rare in Chant; the last word is Domine; fitting, eh?
The setting is haunting--the incipit is in a minor key; the first phrase is really a 'moan,' similar to the "groan" of the orchestra in the very first few notes of Britten's War Requiem. The clamavi is 'double-topped,' with a halting rhythm and the ending of the second phrase, Domine, is barely higher than the first note.
We repeat Domine, now more insistent, followed by exaudi, even higher-pitched and again, insistent--then orationem meam--and meam lasts almost forever, again with the halting rhythm. Our prayer "from the depths" SHOULD last a long time--"pray always."
The first line repeats. Rare in Chant; the last word is Domine; fitting, eh?
Spit Out the Kofi
Corrupt on a scale unimagined by most 3rd-world bozos, and protected (indirectly) by the US military due to his location, Kofi Annan just keeps rolling up reasons for his immediate exile.
The latest:
THE United Nations withheld some of the most damaging allegations against Syria in its report on the murder of Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese Prime Minister, it emerged yesterday.
The names of the brother of Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria, and other members of his inner circle, were dropped from the report that was sent to the Security Council.
The confidential changes were revealed by an extraordinary computer gaffe because an electronic version distributed by UN officials on Thursday night allowed recipients to track editing changes.
---
[T]he furore over the doctoring of the report threatened to overshadow its damaging findings. It raised questions about political interference by Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary- General, who had promised not to make any changes in the report.
One crucial change, apparently made after the report was submitted to the UN chief, removed the name of President al-Assad’s brother, Maher, his brother-in-law, Assef al-Shawkat, and other high-ranking Syrian officials.
The final, edited version quoted a witness as saying that the plot to kill Mr Hariri was hatched by unnamed “senior Lebanese and Syrian officials”. But the undoctored version named those officials as “Maher al-Assad, Assef Shawkat, Hassan Khalil, Bahjat Suleyman and Jamal al-Sayyed”.
The deleted names represent the inner core of the Syrian regime.
Kofi's Kozy Korner welcomed such slime as Saddam (when he had money,) the current Murder King in Zimbabwe, and equally-murderous-but-more-subtle types as the International Planned Parenthood/Abort ALL Those Babies crowd. This at the same time he is actively ignoring the Muslim/Red Chinese slaughter in Sudan.
He oversees rape squads of "peacekeepers," and "three-monkey" morons in Bosnia/Herzegovina.
At the very least, the US should simply withhold its dues, using Kofi as grounds. A better solution would be to take him captive and ship his sorry ass back to Africa.
The latest:
THE United Nations withheld some of the most damaging allegations against Syria in its report on the murder of Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese Prime Minister, it emerged yesterday.
The names of the brother of Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria, and other members of his inner circle, were dropped from the report that was sent to the Security Council.
The confidential changes were revealed by an extraordinary computer gaffe because an electronic version distributed by UN officials on Thursday night allowed recipients to track editing changes.
---
[T]he furore over the doctoring of the report threatened to overshadow its damaging findings. It raised questions about political interference by Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary- General, who had promised not to make any changes in the report.
One crucial change, apparently made after the report was submitted to the UN chief, removed the name of President al-Assad’s brother, Maher, his brother-in-law, Assef al-Shawkat, and other high-ranking Syrian officials.
The final, edited version quoted a witness as saying that the plot to kill Mr Hariri was hatched by unnamed “senior Lebanese and Syrian officials”. But the undoctored version named those officials as “Maher al-Assad, Assef Shawkat, Hassan Khalil, Bahjat Suleyman and Jamal al-Sayyed”.
The deleted names represent the inner core of the Syrian regime.
Kofi's Kozy Korner welcomed such slime as Saddam (when he had money,) the current Murder King in Zimbabwe, and equally-murderous-but-more-subtle types as the International Planned Parenthood/Abort ALL Those Babies crowd. This at the same time he is actively ignoring the Muslim/Red Chinese slaughter in Sudan.
He oversees rape squads of "peacekeepers," and "three-monkey" morons in Bosnia/Herzegovina.
At the very least, the US should simply withhold its dues, using Kofi as grounds. A better solution would be to take him captive and ship his sorry ass back to Africa.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Does Hallowe'en Scare You?
Sykes has noted that there's a movement which wishes to dump the observance of Hallowe'en (the Eve of All Hallows.) He correctly surmises that there's something afoot. Yup.
A little history:
The celebration of the day is Celtic and Christian. It is the dying time of the year, with the harvest almost all in now, and even the green leaves of summer suddenly blazing into brilliant color and then dropping to the ground. The days are growing notably colder and shorter. It is the appropriate time to recall our dead, to think about, and to pray for the all the dead. The merry season of Christmas lies ahead. But, as the liturgical year winds down over the next 5 weeks, let us pause to recall death. It is the first of the Four Last Things, after all.
If part of thinking about it is reading old gothic ghost stories over a mug of mulled cider by candlelight in the privacy of one's study, or watching movies about ghosts, witches, vampires, werewolves, and monsters, or impressing the imagination of children by decorating a "haunted house" and handing out enough candy to make them spit out teeth the next day, or carving pumpkins in imitation of the Irish custom of the carved turnip of Jack of the Lantern, or burning leaves at night, there is no harm in it.
But the experience is made richer by remembering the saints of the Church on All Hallows' Day itself, and by praying for the dead, our dead, and the forgotten, unknown poor souls in Purgatory throughout November. And if dressing up as ghosts in bedsheets (I used the "Charlie Brown" costume once or twice as a kid) and going door to door like the people in Celtic villages who dressed up as those who had died during the year did to seek propitiary offerings, or those who, in Christian times, performed the luck-visit ritual of going a'souling, then it is a start. The important thing is to get people to start to remember the dead. Then build on that foundation. Just getting them to think of the dead as something other than inventory for a graveyard and an object of horror is a necessary start. We will all die, and will want to be remembered and prayed for. Purgatory is no easy thing, if we are lucky enough to get there. So remember the dead, and pray for them, because in time you may be that poor forgotten soul in Purgatory.
A little history:
The celebration of the day is Celtic and Christian. It is the dying time of the year, with the harvest almost all in now, and even the green leaves of summer suddenly blazing into brilliant color and then dropping to the ground. The days are growing notably colder and shorter. It is the appropriate time to recall our dead, to think about, and to pray for the all the dead. The merry season of Christmas lies ahead. But, as the liturgical year winds down over the next 5 weeks, let us pause to recall death. It is the first of the Four Last Things, after all.
If part of thinking about it is reading old gothic ghost stories over a mug of mulled cider by candlelight in the privacy of one's study, or watching movies about ghosts, witches, vampires, werewolves, and monsters, or impressing the imagination of children by decorating a "haunted house" and handing out enough candy to make them spit out teeth the next day, or carving pumpkins in imitation of the Irish custom of the carved turnip of Jack of the Lantern, or burning leaves at night, there is no harm in it.
But the experience is made richer by remembering the saints of the Church on All Hallows' Day itself, and by praying for the dead, our dead, and the forgotten, unknown poor souls in Purgatory throughout November. And if dressing up as ghosts in bedsheets (I used the "Charlie Brown" costume once or twice as a kid) and going door to door like the people in Celtic villages who dressed up as those who had died during the year did to seek propitiary offerings, or those who, in Christian times, performed the luck-visit ritual of going a'souling, then it is a start. The important thing is to get people to start to remember the dead. Then build on that foundation. Just getting them to think of the dead as something other than inventory for a graveyard and an object of horror is a necessary start. We will all die, and will want to be remembered and prayed for. Purgatory is no easy thing, if we are lucky enough to get there. So remember the dead, and pray for them, because in time you may be that poor forgotten soul in Purgatory.
I would quibble: the celebration is CATHOLIC.
Those who would denude ghosts and goblins from Hallowe'en are doing exactly what the Puritan/Whig "Reformers" did in the days of Elizabeth I--stripping the world of symbol. Those little ghosts and goblins remind us of the souls in Purgatory.
For that matter, the self-proclaimed "witches" and "warlocks" who are attempting to claim the day as their own would seem to have a better grasp of the history: the Devil is perfectly happy to transform these days into his own, as he is perfectly happy to ask of you only one thing: your soul.
The fact that this date has become Hershey's best day is mildly disturbing, yes. But not nearly so disturbing as the attempt to deprive us of remembrance of the dead--commemorated on November 1st (All Saints' (Hallows) Day) and November 2nd, All Souls' Day.
It's "For the Fans," Eh?
The Milwaukee Brewers now want the taxpayers to bend over, grab ankles, shut up, and enjoy it while contributing another $3.25 million toy for the Brewers' sandbox. The Brewers' mouthpiece:
Rick Schlesinger, a Brewers executive vice president, said the district and the team were obligated to maintain the stadium as a state-of-the-art facility. "The LED boards are a great fan enhancement, and frankly, based on our research, are fast becoming the standard for first-class facilities," Schlesinger said. "We think this is a legitimate and proper use of segregated reserve funds. We think the fans will find value from this expenditure."
That's cute, Rick.
But we'll play your game. If it's really "For the Fans," then you can have your videoboards--if and only if all the revenue from the boards goes to pay off the bonds.
THAT would be "fan support", Rick.
Rick Schlesinger, a Brewers executive vice president, said the district and the team were obligated to maintain the stadium as a state-of-the-art facility. "The LED boards are a great fan enhancement, and frankly, based on our research, are fast becoming the standard for first-class facilities," Schlesinger said. "We think this is a legitimate and proper use of segregated reserve funds. We think the fans will find value from this expenditure."
That's cute, Rick.
But we'll play your game. If it's really "For the Fans," then you can have your videoboards--if and only if all the revenue from the boards goes to pay off the bonds.
THAT would be "fan support", Rick.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Kansas Supremes Do Legislation Tricks
The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that a Kansas law requiring more punishment for underage homosexual acts than for underage heterosexual acts, offers obiter dicta that is reprehensible and, frankly, stupid:
"The statute inflicts immediate, continuing and real injuries that outrun and belie any legitimate justification that may be claimed for it," Justice Marla Luckert wrote for the court. "Moral disapproval of a group cannot be a legitimate state interest."
"Moral disapproval " is the ONLY State interest in criminal or misdemeanor cases. The Judge-ette has confused civil with criminal jurisprudence, proving reasoning ability has little to do with her office.
"The statute inflicts immediate, continuing and real injuries that outrun and belie any legitimate justification that may be claimed for it," Justice Marla Luckert wrote for the court. "Moral disapproval of a group cannot be a legitimate state interest."
"Moral disapproval " is the ONLY State interest in criminal or misdemeanor cases. The Judge-ette has confused civil with criminal jurisprudence, proving reasoning ability has little to do with her office.
Pigs 82, Taxpayers 15
Yesterday the US Senate defeated Sen. Coburn's amendment, which would have eliminated $445 MILLION to build a bridge to a small island in Alaska. The same amount of money could have been used to purchase a LearJet for every inhabitant of the island, by the way.
One vote against the Pigs was Feingold.
Missing in action, by the way, was Senator John McCain, who did not vote.
One vote against the Pigs was Feingold.
Missing in action, by the way, was Senator John McCain, who did not vote.
The Solution to War
From BlameBush:
After the infamous genital-mocking incidents at Abu Ghraib prison, and the rampant Quran-mishandling atrocities at Gitmo, one would think that the U.S. military would be a little more careful not to offend radical muslim clerics and Democrat senators. While human decency requires that we mock and ridicule barbaric Christian traditions like monogamy and pre-marital abstinence, Islam is a rich tapestry of religious customs that must be respected and preserved. It's not too much to ask that troops take a little time out from their oh-so-busy schedule to sponge-bathe the bodies of those they've viciously slaughtered, bury them facing Mecca, and then dance around the sacred yak while a licensed union imam screeches like a wounded hyena through a ceremonial bullhorn. If soldiers would simply educate themselves about the Religion of Peace, then perhaps they'll come to respect other Muslim traditions as well - such as flying planes into buildings and sawing the heads off infidels.
It isn't rocket science, folks.
After the infamous genital-mocking incidents at Abu Ghraib prison, and the rampant Quran-mishandling atrocities at Gitmo, one would think that the U.S. military would be a little more careful not to offend radical muslim clerics and Democrat senators. While human decency requires that we mock and ridicule barbaric Christian traditions like monogamy and pre-marital abstinence, Islam is a rich tapestry of religious customs that must be respected and preserved. It's not too much to ask that troops take a little time out from their oh-so-busy schedule to sponge-bathe the bodies of those they've viciously slaughtered, bury them facing Mecca, and then dance around the sacred yak while a licensed union imam screeches like a wounded hyena through a ceremonial bullhorn. If soldiers would simply educate themselves about the Religion of Peace, then perhaps they'll come to respect other Muslim traditions as well - such as flying planes into buildings and sawing the heads off infidels.
It isn't rocket science, folks.
Bye-Bye Circus
Our guy in DC., Jim Sensenbrenner, has introduced legislation to create a new Court of Appeals, splitting the current (and immense) 9th Circus' territory.
A good man doing the right thing. The Dimowits, of course, will stop this at any cost.
Perhaps ChurchLady Miers will serve on the new 12th, or the newly-constituted 9th. Then again, perhaps not.
HT: Betsy's Page
A good man doing the right thing. The Dimowits, of course, will stop this at any cost.
Perhaps ChurchLady Miers will serve on the new 12th, or the newly-constituted 9th. Then again, perhaps not.
HT: Betsy's Page
Why Fix The System?
BagmanJim Doyle, on his way to being defeated in the next election, has imposed a change in the State of Wisconsin's travel policy which will benefit Adelman Travel of Milwaukee. The fact that a couple of $10K contributions were made to Doyle by the Adelman President and a member of the Adelman Board of Directors may or may not have had some influence.
But Jessica McBride, an acute observer, noticed that the old travel policy empowered State employees to find and use the cheapest available fares. The NEW policy does not do so.
Hmmmmm.
But Jessica McBride, an acute observer, noticed that the old travel policy empowered State employees to find and use the cheapest available fares. The NEW policy does not do so.
Hmmmmm.
You Damn PARENTS!!
In the Brave New World, you parents can be brainwahsed:
Conclusions. This study identifies that almost one third of the parents who presented to these adolescent medicine clinics had negative opinions about some privacy practices. The 2 main issues were teens' seeing a provider alone and providers' keeping information confidential. Education was effective in teaching parents about privacy issues and produced a significant improvement in parental opinion about confidentiality. Simultaneously, an overwhelming majority of parents support the idea that teens should speak with a provider alone if the teen so desires, suggesting that parents acknowledge a need for independence. Providing confidential services is an essential part of adolescent health care that works best with the alliance of parents. This study supports the continued need to assess parental attitudes about privacy issues and to provide parents with education.
Now you may ask: who the Hell came up with this study on how to keep parents out of the medical records of their own children?
Jeffrey W. Hutchinson, MD and Elisabeth M. Stafford, MD
Department of Adolescent Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft Sam, Houston, Texas
Personally, I kinda wish the Army would stick to breaking things and killing the enemy...
HT: Mark Shea
Conclusions. This study identifies that almost one third of the parents who presented to these adolescent medicine clinics had negative opinions about some privacy practices. The 2 main issues were teens' seeing a provider alone and providers' keeping information confidential. Education was effective in teaching parents about privacy issues and produced a significant improvement in parental opinion about confidentiality. Simultaneously, an overwhelming majority of parents support the idea that teens should speak with a provider alone if the teen so desires, suggesting that parents acknowledge a need for independence. Providing confidential services is an essential part of adolescent health care that works best with the alliance of parents. This study supports the continued need to assess parental attitudes about privacy issues and to provide parents with education.
Now you may ask: who the Hell came up with this study on how to keep parents out of the medical records of their own children?
Jeffrey W. Hutchinson, MD and Elisabeth M. Stafford, MD
Department of Adolescent Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft Sam, Houston, Texas
Personally, I kinda wish the Army would stick to breaking things and killing the enemy...
HT: Mark Shea
Aurora Raises the Costs, Again
Just when you thought that hospitalization costs couldn't get higher in SE Wisconsin (after all, we're 5th in the USA)--Aurora's massive ego and concomitant appetite for revenues overcomes restraint.
But don't you DARE ask where all these advertising dollars are coming from, or you'll get a whine and a non-sequitur response from the 800-pound canary:
"That's a curious comment from an organization that has spent millions in efforts to preserve its monopoly. The resulting lack of competition has hurt health care consumers in Waukesha County, many of whom have few options for care close to home."
Actually, Mr. Squire, "hurting consumers" comes from gouging them on health-care costs, not from driving 5 miles further.
From a local official:
Summit Town Chairman Len Susa has heard the radio ad and agrees with it. "I was in favor of the hospital. ... It's another health care provider, so it's another choice. It's free enterprise. Aurora has just as much of a right to be here as another gas station or another bank."
Of course, banks and gas stations don't cost $700 million apiece; and last I checked, the SuperAmerica attendant was not paid $65K/year to administer gasoline to cars.
Susa's "free enterprise" argument is flawed. He picked up this line from the Aurora folks, who managed to convince one of the local Radio Guys (Sykes) that "free enterprise" is the model.
Not quite. If it were "free enterprise," then anybody could buy health insurance which excludes Aurora's cost structure (after Children's Hospital, it's the most expensive in the area.) That would allow the consumer to make a "free choice."
The reality is that hospitals, and health-care in general, are really quasi-public utilities, paid for by the vast majority of the public, whether they use it or not, just like roads. Therefore, your health insurance costs could be considered a tax, just like the gasoline tax.
So when the Waukesha County Board decided that this is a public-policy matter, not "free enterprise," they were correct.
Mr. Howe could always choose to run McDonald's if he wants a building on every corner. At that time, he would find out what "Free Enterprise" is really all about--because McDonalds can only recover its costs from voluntary consumers--not involuntary rate-payers.
But don't you DARE ask where all these advertising dollars are coming from, or you'll get a whine and a non-sequitur response from the 800-pound canary:
"That's a curious comment from an organization that has spent millions in efforts to preserve its monopoly. The resulting lack of competition has hurt health care consumers in Waukesha County, many of whom have few options for care close to home."
Actually, Mr. Squire, "hurting consumers" comes from gouging them on health-care costs, not from driving 5 miles further.
From a local official:
Summit Town Chairman Len Susa has heard the radio ad and agrees with it. "I was in favor of the hospital. ... It's another health care provider, so it's another choice. It's free enterprise. Aurora has just as much of a right to be here as another gas station or another bank."
Of course, banks and gas stations don't cost $700 million apiece; and last I checked, the SuperAmerica attendant was not paid $65K/year to administer gasoline to cars.
Susa's "free enterprise" argument is flawed. He picked up this line from the Aurora folks, who managed to convince one of the local Radio Guys (Sykes) that "free enterprise" is the model.
Not quite. If it were "free enterprise," then anybody could buy health insurance which excludes Aurora's cost structure (after Children's Hospital, it's the most expensive in the area.) That would allow the consumer to make a "free choice."
The reality is that hospitals, and health-care in general, are really quasi-public utilities, paid for by the vast majority of the public, whether they use it or not, just like roads. Therefore, your health insurance costs could be considered a tax, just like the gasoline tax.
So when the Waukesha County Board decided that this is a public-policy matter, not "free enterprise," they were correct.
Mr. Howe could always choose to run McDonald's if he wants a building on every corner. At that time, he would find out what "Free Enterprise" is really all about--because McDonalds can only recover its costs from voluntary consumers--not involuntary rate-payers.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Why Gregorian Chant SHOULD Be Sung
Found courtesy of the Recovering Choir Director, a medidation on the Introit from last Sunday (Tridentine Rite.) Just having sung this myself, I have to admit that these insights are worthwhile. Shoulda known the first one myself, drat it!
Si i-, two separate syllables, the vowel so tricky to make distinctly audible, both times. See. Glottal stop. Ee. And quickly, because this is only the beginning.
I tell the choir : this tiny detail is the beginning of our faults laid bare. The little stop we have to put there, to articulate both words, makes us stumble. We have to get through "Si i-" to reach the piercing arch of "iniquitates," our faults thrown high, too visible, too garish ; and then the suddenly soaring podatus of "Domine," the Lord, right there in the notes themselves, reaching higher than our sins. Beyond us.
And yet - Quia apud te propitiatio est, Deus Israel. Despite our faults, despite our climbing that falls so short of where we should be, where God wants us, He is forgiving, He is all forgiveness. The question in the first half of the Introït a panicked cry : the second half, a reassurance, the neumes descending gently. And then the Psalmodie : De profundis clamavi ... I call from the depths to Thee, O Lord, hear my prayer. It is the structure of the piece itself, the story of the world. All we ask is answered. All we sing, our need, is calmed.
Si i-, two separate syllables, the vowel so tricky to make distinctly audible, both times. See. Glottal stop. Ee. And quickly, because this is only the beginning.
I tell the choir : this tiny detail is the beginning of our faults laid bare. The little stop we have to put there, to articulate both words, makes us stumble. We have to get through "Si i-" to reach the piercing arch of "iniquitates," our faults thrown high, too visible, too garish ; and then the suddenly soaring podatus of "Domine," the Lord, right there in the notes themselves, reaching higher than our sins. Beyond us.
And yet - Quia apud te propitiatio est, Deus Israel. Despite our faults, despite our climbing that falls so short of where we should be, where God wants us, He is forgiving, He is all forgiveness. The question in the first half of the Introït a panicked cry : the second half, a reassurance, the neumes descending gently. And then the Psalmodie : De profundis clamavi ... I call from the depths to Thee, O Lord, hear my prayer. It is the structure of the piece itself, the story of the world. All we ask is answered. All we sing, our need, is calmed.
Jeff Wagner Gets Spun
This morning, WTMJ-radio ran some sort of advertisement (???) for Froedtert Hospital. It's hard to tell exactly what the spot was--
Wagner was interviewing Steve Hargarten, MD, who practices emergency medicine at Froedtert. Hargarten proceeded to tell Wagner that gun violence is a "disease." Wagner was obviously either comatose OR had been instructed to keep his mouth shut, because this "disease" stuff is a re-run of Clinton baloney--with the objective of placing gun regulation under the domain of Centers for Disease Control (!!!)--facilitating a lot of onerous regs which are "for the children," you know...
Hargarten then did NOT answer Wagner's followup question--rather, the good doc-in-the-box chose to talk about the number of times that a gunshot victim is in the hospital and tells the doc that "the gun went off...."
Guns do NOT "go off." Somebody pulls the trigger.
But there was no objection from Jeff. Ah well. Such is the nature of propaganda from Froedtert Hospital.
Wagner was interviewing Steve Hargarten, MD, who practices emergency medicine at Froedtert. Hargarten proceeded to tell Wagner that gun violence is a "disease." Wagner was obviously either comatose OR had been instructed to keep his mouth shut, because this "disease" stuff is a re-run of Clinton baloney--with the objective of placing gun regulation under the domain of Centers for Disease Control (!!!)--facilitating a lot of onerous regs which are "for the children," you know...
Hargarten then did NOT answer Wagner's followup question--rather, the good doc-in-the-box chose to talk about the number of times that a gunshot victim is in the hospital and tells the doc that "the gun went off...."
Guns do NOT "go off." Somebody pulls the trigger.
But there was no objection from Jeff. Ah well. Such is the nature of propaganda from Froedtert Hospital.
Ann on the ChurchLady, Miers
There are some phrases so good that only Ann Coulter could have written them:
The sickness of what liberals have done to America is that so many citizens – even conservative citizens – seem to believe the job of a Supreme Court justice entails nothing more than "voting" on public-policy issues.
and:
.....but what we're really in the market for is a constitutional scholar who can forcefully say, "No – that's not my job."
We've been waiting 30 years to end the lunacy of nine demigods on the Supreme Court deciding every burning social issue of the day for us, loyal subjects in a judicial theocracy.
There's more at the link. Bravo, Ann!!
The sickness of what liberals have done to America is that so many citizens – even conservative citizens – seem to believe the job of a Supreme Court justice entails nothing more than "voting" on public-policy issues.
and:
.....but what we're really in the market for is a constitutional scholar who can forcefully say, "No – that's not my job."
We've been waiting 30 years to end the lunacy of nine demigods on the Supreme Court deciding every burning social issue of the day for us, loyal subjects in a judicial theocracy.
There's more at the link. Bravo, Ann!!
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
The USCCB At Play: AIDS on the Calendar
Although most of you gentle readers are not aware of it, a key watchdog left the Bishops' Conference in the recent past.
Thus, with the burden of positive cash-flow just DYING to go somewhere, the mice on USCCB staff have the opportunity and means which which to play.
For Advent, you get the above postcard, and an Activity Calendar!!!
Whether you knew it or not, "We Are ALL At Risk!!!!"
Of course, this ridiculous propaganda blast is not true, for those who are not practitioners of anal sex, or who are not users of needle-administered illegal drugs, or who maintain either celibacy or fidelity within marriage.
Still think that the USCCB collection is worthwhile?
HT: CWN
The Bishop is NOT God!
A most interesting argument:
The Catholic faithful should not have to depend on the managerial and leadership skills of a particular bishop nor have to guess at his orthodoxy. Neither should they have to put up with priests and pastors whose personal adherence to the liturgical law depends on whether the bishop is cracking down on them.
It's actually part of an argument advanced 'in the negative' from another blog, and is a compelling argument to delete the "Ordinary's escape clauses" from the GIRM. While Bettinelli does not say so, the argument is equally valid with regard to "Bishops' Conference Escape Clauses." After all, she's either a Universal Church or not...
Read more here.
The Catholic faithful should not have to depend on the managerial and leadership skills of a particular bishop nor have to guess at his orthodoxy. Neither should they have to put up with priests and pastors whose personal adherence to the liturgical law depends on whether the bishop is cracking down on them.
It's actually part of an argument advanced 'in the negative' from another blog, and is a compelling argument to delete the "Ordinary's escape clauses" from the GIRM. While Bettinelli does not say so, the argument is equally valid with regard to "Bishops' Conference Escape Clauses." After all, she's either a Universal Church or not...
Read more here.
Campaign Donations--Online?
One who is curious about the donors to the Vrakas or Dwyer campaign war-chests must do more than a little driving, digging, and pencil-and-paper work to come up with 'who did what to whom.'
It's a little easier for Statewide and National contests--there are good websites which are happy to name names and amounts.
But for local contests there's no easy way to get the records.
This should change. As long as the Legislature is in session, perhaps one of those fine folks could draft a bill requiring that ALL candidates for elective office in Wisconsin MUST maintain Web-accessible campaign donation records, updated not less than every other business day.
The Wisconsin Election Commission could even provide the webpage.
In addition, the Election Commission should maintain a webpage which lists ALL "outside group" activity--and those "outside groups," whether PAC's or other, must list their officers and directors, under criminal penalty.
Should be interesting to see if BagManJimbo vetoes this, too.
It's a little easier for Statewide and National contests--there are good websites which are happy to name names and amounts.
But for local contests there's no easy way to get the records.
This should change. As long as the Legislature is in session, perhaps one of those fine folks could draft a bill requiring that ALL candidates for elective office in Wisconsin MUST maintain Web-accessible campaign donation records, updated not less than every other business day.
The Wisconsin Election Commission could even provide the webpage.
In addition, the Election Commission should maintain a webpage which lists ALL "outside group" activity--and those "outside groups," whether PAC's or other, must list their officers and directors, under criminal penalty.
Should be interesting to see if BagManJimbo vetoes this, too.
Hollywood Goes to Texas
JunkYardBlog usually presents a wealth of information on topics of interest. So, interested in the DeLay "indictment," JYB did a little nosing around regarding the Dallas DA and his "film-maker" pal, a guy named Schermbeck.
A couple of weeks ago I spoke via phone with Harold Green, formerly of TXI in Midlothian, Texas. TXI is a cement manufacturing plant; Green was from 1995 to 2000 its director of corporate communications. Schermbeck has spent the past ten years harassing TXI over a permit it sought from the state to burn waste in its kilns. Termed hazardous waste, TXI sought to burn inks and other flammables as fuel in order to manufacture cement. Schermbeck fought against the permit to burn, but on behalf of the hazardous waste disposal industries. Their purpose, according to Green, was to force TXI into paying them to remove the waste from TXI's plant and then burn it--for fuel--themselves. Schermbeck was merely their paid activist foil to force TXI to pay them for services TXI didn't need, and would have had no impact on the environment at all, since the waste would have been burned either way.
About Schermbeck, Green was unequivocal:
"First of all, he's not a filmmaker. Jim is a paid political activist, pro-Democrat, anti-Republican, anti-business liberal activist. Jim will manipulate the truth in order to make it do what he wants it to do."
Paid by whom? By Downwinders at Risk, an environmental advocacy group based in the Dallas area. Schermbeck is the group's only paid staff.
There's much more to the story, and I'm still working on it and am aware of another reporter who is as well,
I happen to think that DeLay could be indicted for Crimes Against Responsible Budgeting in Congress. Of course, if we had such a law, we'd only have about 40 people left in Congress....
Hmmmmm.
A couple of weeks ago I spoke via phone with Harold Green, formerly of TXI in Midlothian, Texas. TXI is a cement manufacturing plant; Green was from 1995 to 2000 its director of corporate communications. Schermbeck has spent the past ten years harassing TXI over a permit it sought from the state to burn waste in its kilns. Termed hazardous waste, TXI sought to burn inks and other flammables as fuel in order to manufacture cement. Schermbeck fought against the permit to burn, but on behalf of the hazardous waste disposal industries. Their purpose, according to Green, was to force TXI into paying them to remove the waste from TXI's plant and then burn it--for fuel--themselves. Schermbeck was merely their paid activist foil to force TXI to pay them for services TXI didn't need, and would have had no impact on the environment at all, since the waste would have been burned either way.
About Schermbeck, Green was unequivocal:
"First of all, he's not a filmmaker. Jim is a paid political activist, pro-Democrat, anti-Republican, anti-business liberal activist. Jim will manipulate the truth in order to make it do what he wants it to do."
Paid by whom? By Downwinders at Risk, an environmental advocacy group based in the Dallas area. Schermbeck is the group's only paid staff.
There's much more to the story, and I'm still working on it and am aware of another reporter who is as well,
I happen to think that DeLay could be indicted for Crimes Against Responsible Budgeting in Congress. Of course, if we had such a law, we'd only have about 40 people left in Congress....
Hmmmmm.
Third World Turkey?
Some want Turkey to become part of the EU. The US relies on Turkey as an "ally."
Well, some allies are just a little 'different'. Here's an interesting little survey taken in Turkey:
It questioned 430 people, most of them men. When asked the appropriate punishment for a woman who has committed adultery, 37% replied she should be killed.
Twenty-five percent said that she deserved divorce, and 21% that her nose or ears should be cut off.
The survey group was small but the results are a reminder that "honour killing" - a practice where women are murdered for allegedly bringing shame on their family - still has significant support in parts of Turkey.
HT: DhimmiWatch
Well, some allies are just a little 'different'. Here's an interesting little survey taken in Turkey:
It questioned 430 people, most of them men. When asked the appropriate punishment for a woman who has committed adultery, 37% replied she should be killed.
Twenty-five percent said that she deserved divorce, and 21% that her nose or ears should be cut off.
The survey group was small but the results are a reminder that "honour killing" - a practice where women are murdered for allegedly bringing shame on their family - still has significant support in parts of Turkey.
HT: DhimmiWatch
You're FIRED!!
Here's a good news piece:
Teacher fired for work at clinic
By Todd Milbourn and Cameron Jahn -- Bee Staff Writers Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, October 15, 2005
A drama teacher at a Catholic high school in Sacramento was fired Thursday after church officials learned she had previously volunteered at an abortion clinic, school officials said Friday.
Marie Bain, 50, of Sacramento, who had taught at Loretto High School since August, was dismissed after a student's parent obtained pictures showing Bain escorting people into a Planned Parenthood clinic last spring.
The pictures were delivered to Bishop William K. Weigand, head of the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, who outlined the decision to terminate Bain in an Oct. 5 letter to the president of the all-female school.
"Obviously, the very public nature of Ms. Bain's previous volunteer activity at a Planned Parenthood Clinic is inconsistent with her position as a teacher at a Catholic high school and her role as a collaborator in the formation of Catholic women," Weigand wrote. "Abortion is gravely immoral and Ms. Bain's active and public participation in the procurement of abortions is morally inappropriate and unacceptable with regard to her work as a teacher at Loretto."
Of course, the rest of the article is essentially a love-paean to the murder-helper-teacher.
But Bp. Wiegand did his job, well. Congratulations!
Teacher fired for work at clinic
By Todd Milbourn and Cameron Jahn -- Bee Staff Writers Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, October 15, 2005
A drama teacher at a Catholic high school in Sacramento was fired Thursday after church officials learned she had previously volunteered at an abortion clinic, school officials said Friday.
Marie Bain, 50, of Sacramento, who had taught at Loretto High School since August, was dismissed after a student's parent obtained pictures showing Bain escorting people into a Planned Parenthood clinic last spring.
The pictures were delivered to Bishop William K. Weigand, head of the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, who outlined the decision to terminate Bain in an Oct. 5 letter to the president of the all-female school.
"Obviously, the very public nature of Ms. Bain's previous volunteer activity at a Planned Parenthood Clinic is inconsistent with her position as a teacher at a Catholic high school and her role as a collaborator in the formation of Catholic women," Weigand wrote. "Abortion is gravely immoral and Ms. Bain's active and public participation in the procurement of abortions is morally inappropriate and unacceptable with regard to her work as a teacher at Loretto."
Of course, the rest of the article is essentially a love-paean to the murder-helper-teacher.
But Bp. Wiegand did his job, well. Congratulations!
Guess the Critter Game
They're ornery. They're ugly. They're hungry.
Feral pigs - a shaggy, sharp-tusked, mean-spirited version of domestic porkers - are becoming a problem in the state. They are now found in at least 29 counties here, and wildlife officials are hoping that hunters heading into the woods this fall to capture more common game will take aim at wild pigs.
The Department of Natural Resources has printed up wanted posters featuring a photo of a sauntering, scruffy looking wild pig so those venturing into the outdoors will know what to look for.
"Seeing as how they're not from Wisconsin, we'd like to keep them out," DNR wildlife biologist Eric Mark said Tuesday.
It could be worse. The critters COULD be politicians or lobbyists--or the even more dreaded TRIAL LAWYERS!!!
NOT MADISON POLITICIANS--
And their numbers are growing in Wisconsin.
NOT LOBBYISTS---
Feral pigs - a shaggy, sharp-tusked, mean-spirited version of domestic porkers - are becoming a problem in the state. They are now found in at least 29 counties here, and wildlife officials are hoping that hunters heading into the woods this fall to capture more common game will take aim at wild pigs.
The Department of Natural Resources has printed up wanted posters featuring a photo of a sauntering, scruffy looking wild pig so those venturing into the outdoors will know what to look for.
"Seeing as how they're not from Wisconsin, we'd like to keep them out," DNR wildlife biologist Eric Mark said Tuesday.
It could be worse. The critters COULD be politicians or lobbyists--or the even more dreaded TRIAL LAWYERS!!!
One Brookfield, Higher Taxes?
Alderman Steve Ponto hangs out with the wrong sort of people:
Ald. Steve Ponto said that some town residents have told him that they would be open to paying more for additional services.
"The idea that it would be dismissed because of a $241.38 tax increase (to town residents), I guess I have a problem with that," Ponto said.
"Residents of the town may like those services," he said. "They may think it's worth (the extra money)."
Frankly, Alderman, your friends are entitled to move to the City of Brookfield and pay as much as they like in property taxes. They can even make voluntary contributions to the City's treasury. In fact, they can make those contributions right now--without even moving to the City.
Town residents would gain more services through consolidation, including more parks, [actually, nobody needs them] a municipal pool, a senior center, [another not-useful item] full-time firefighters, [pad a payroll, anyone??] and planning and economic development staff [easily the most useless zits in the entire panoply of bureaucrat/cancers].
But town officials have said they don't need those services, and that the town provides equally high-quality essential services, such as police and fire protection. It also has much lower utility rates.
Town officials are right.
Ponto's pals are a distinct minority. But he hangs out with lawyers and "Republican" Party types--you know.
Ald. Steve Ponto said that some town residents have told him that they would be open to paying more for additional services.
"The idea that it would be dismissed because of a $241.38 tax increase (to town residents), I guess I have a problem with that," Ponto said.
"Residents of the town may like those services," he said. "They may think it's worth (the extra money)."
Frankly, Alderman, your friends are entitled to move to the City of Brookfield and pay as much as they like in property taxes. They can even make voluntary contributions to the City's treasury. In fact, they can make those contributions right now--without even moving to the City.
Town residents would gain more services through consolidation, including more parks, [actually, nobody needs them] a municipal pool, a senior center, [another not-useful item] full-time firefighters, [pad a payroll, anyone??] and planning and economic development staff [easily the most useless zits in the entire panoply of bureaucrat/cancers].
But town officials have said they don't need those services, and that the town provides equally high-quality essential services, such as police and fire protection. It also has much lower utility rates.
Town officials are right.
Ponto's pals are a distinct minority. But he hangs out with lawyers and "Republican" Party types--you know.
Chertoff: Is He Serious?
Chertoff, the DHS Secretary, said yesterday that the "catch-and-release" policy, whereby non-Mexican illegal immigrants (read: terrorists and spies) are usually simply let go IN THIS COUNTRY after a hearing--
You know, THAT policy---
Will be history in less than a full year; and that DHS's plan is to expel EVERY non-Mexican illegal on capture.
This little matter of terrorist/spy infiltration has been in the news for quite some time, and hardly restricted to WorldNetDaily. Did Chertoff just wake up from a long nap? Did ChurchLadyMiers' chilly reception spur GWB to start making deals and promises?
And, by the way, do you REALLY think Cherthoff's "promise" will come true?
As WorldNetDaily reported in May, the president of a labor organization representing Border Patrol employees and a Texas congressman criticized a Homeland Security bill passed by the House for failing to fund construction of new detention facilities to hold illegal border-crossers from countries other than Mexico, resulting in their automatic release pending a later hearing date.
You know, THAT policy---
Will be history in less than a full year; and that DHS's plan is to expel EVERY non-Mexican illegal on capture.
This little matter of terrorist/spy infiltration has been in the news for quite some time, and hardly restricted to WorldNetDaily. Did Chertoff just wake up from a long nap? Did ChurchLadyMiers' chilly reception spur GWB to start making deals and promises?
And, by the way, do you REALLY think Cherthoff's "promise" will come true?
As WorldNetDaily reported in May, the president of a labor organization representing Border Patrol employees and a Texas congressman criticized a Homeland Security bill passed by the House for failing to fund construction of new detention facilities to hold illegal border-crossers from countries other than Mexico, resulting in their automatic release pending a later hearing date.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Gimme More Stadium--UPDATE!!!
Belling reports that the Brewers want more freebies. A stadium is hardly enough...
The new owner seems to be a nice guy. So what? When this deal went down originally, we were told all kinds of LIES about how the team payroll would go up, and the Brewers would become a real winning team.
Yeah. THAT worked.
So Bud & Co., protesting all the way to the Bank about how pure their motives were, drained the payroll dollars to the minimum, found a buyer, and sold out.
Meanwhile, taxpayers (let us say that again: TAXPAYERS) have been paying for the roads, the parking lots, the pretty lights, and a roof that never quite worked right.
We expect to FINISH PAYING TAXES for this little sandbox. We do NOT expect to continue to add toys and games, and just pay taxes forever.
Belling (and the other guy) beat their audiences to death and, frankly, made fools of themselves when Selig double-crossed them. The other guy admitted that he was hoodwinked.
But THIS taxpayer saw it for what it was: welfare for millionaires.
That's enough. I expect that Dan Vrakas, when installed as the Waukesha County Exec, will instruct his delegate to the Stadium Board to tell the Brewers, politely, to stuff it.
UPDATE:
JSOnline reports the following:
In addition, the team plans to:
• Create a Bullpen Sports Bar behind the right-field wall
• Open a retail store near the home-plate entrance to the ballpark
• Add ribbon video boards along the fascia of the club level area from the .300 Club to the right-field foul pole.
All of those projects are being paid for by the Brewers.
Hmmmm. The "ribbon boards" were the topic of Belling's discussion.
The new owner seems to be a nice guy. So what? When this deal went down originally, we were told all kinds of LIES about how the team payroll would go up, and the Brewers would become a real winning team.
Yeah. THAT worked.
So Bud & Co., protesting all the way to the Bank about how pure their motives were, drained the payroll dollars to the minimum, found a buyer, and sold out.
Meanwhile, taxpayers (let us say that again: TAXPAYERS) have been paying for the roads, the parking lots, the pretty lights, and a roof that never quite worked right.
We expect to FINISH PAYING TAXES for this little sandbox. We do NOT expect to continue to add toys and games, and just pay taxes forever.
Belling (and the other guy) beat their audiences to death and, frankly, made fools of themselves when Selig double-crossed them. The other guy admitted that he was hoodwinked.
But THIS taxpayer saw it for what it was: welfare for millionaires.
That's enough. I expect that Dan Vrakas, when installed as the Waukesha County Exec, will instruct his delegate to the Stadium Board to tell the Brewers, politely, to stuff it.
UPDATE:
JSOnline reports the following:
In addition, the team plans to:
• Create a Bullpen Sports Bar behind the right-field wall
• Open a retail store near the home-plate entrance to the ballpark
• Add ribbon video boards along the fascia of the club level area from the .300 Club to the right-field foul pole.
All of those projects are being paid for by the Brewers.
Hmmmm. The "ribbon boards" were the topic of Belling's discussion.
Back Off on Bird Flu
Bainbridge finds some common sense here, quoting Jenkins of the WSJ:
How a catastrophe with low probability of occurring became a focus of Washington's attention can be explained in one word: Katrina. Unlike the universe, politicians operate on psychological principles. George Bush gave the press conference last week he wished he'd given in the year past about the danger of New Orleans being submerged in a hurricane.
Let's hope we NEVER hear more about posting the Marine Corps in the streets of the US to 'enforce quarantines.'
How a catastrophe with low probability of occurring became a focus of Washington's attention can be explained in one word: Katrina. Unlike the universe, politicians operate on psychological principles. George Bush gave the press conference last week he wished he'd given in the year past about the danger of New Orleans being submerged in a hurricane.
Let's hope we NEVER hear more about posting the Marine Corps in the streets of the US to 'enforce quarantines.'
Monday, October 17, 2005
How Sleaze Works
Owen wonders, and JJBlonien wonders---how come TABOR has been buried? How come some relief from the confiscatory gas-tax has been buried?
Especially by the Republican majorities in both Wisconsin houses??
Simple.
John-Boy Gard has his bag open. Actual tax or spending reform is NOT going to happen while the Boy Bagger traipses around Northern Wisconsin, gathering offerings from the Highway Pavers lobby.
And since the race has been going on for 1 year, the blundering which allowed Jimbo Doyle to screw over the taxpayers in the current budget is included.
Maybe if John Gard ever had a real job, he'd get it.
And if BagBoy sends me a fundraising letter, I will fill the return envelope with an appropriate material--fully organic--before mailing it back on his postage-paid dime.
Especially by the Republican majorities in both Wisconsin houses??
Simple.
John-Boy Gard has his bag open. Actual tax or spending reform is NOT going to happen while the Boy Bagger traipses around Northern Wisconsin, gathering offerings from the Highway Pavers lobby.
And since the race has been going on for 1 year, the blundering which allowed Jimbo Doyle to screw over the taxpayers in the current budget is included.
Maybe if John Gard ever had a real job, he'd get it.
And if BagBoy sends me a fundraising letter, I will fill the return envelope with an appropriate material--fully organic--before mailing it back on his postage-paid dime.
Worth Reading
From Peter Kreeft, via Blosser:
"Spiritual" people do not believe in Christianity (although most of them think they are Christians), nor do they believe in atheism or materialism; they believe in "spirituality." They think religion -- any religion -- is a good thing not because it is true but because it fosters morality. (But they tend to reduce morality to compassion or "tolerance" -- the virtue Chesterton said is all that remains after a man has lost all his principles.)
Neat, huh? Here's another:
Sexual pigginess and economic pigginess are natural twins. For lust and greed are almost interchangeable words. In fact, America does not know the difference between sex and money. It treats sex like money because it treats sex as a medium of exchange, and it treats money like sex because it expects its money to get pregnant and reproduce.
Kreeft has published several books, all of them eminently readable and understandable. (Yeah, I have some and have actually read them....)
"Spiritual" people do not believe in Christianity (although most of them think they are Christians), nor do they believe in atheism or materialism; they believe in "spirituality." They think religion -- any religion -- is a good thing not because it is true but because it fosters morality. (But they tend to reduce morality to compassion or "tolerance" -- the virtue Chesterton said is all that remains after a man has lost all his principles.)
Neat, huh? Here's another:
Sexual pigginess and economic pigginess are natural twins. For lust and greed are almost interchangeable words. In fact, America does not know the difference between sex and money. It treats sex like money because it treats sex as a medium of exchange, and it treats money like sex because it expects its money to get pregnant and reproduce.
Kreeft has published several books, all of them eminently readable and understandable. (Yeah, I have some and have actually read them....)
This Author Spends Too Much Time at Victoria's Secret
Guess the author of this assertion:
And, speaking of right wing pharmacists, just how many people are we talking about here? I think this is just Bob [Dohnal]. A bill written by one buddy [Tom Reynods], intentioned [sic] for the agenda of just one person in the entire state.
Proving that Planet Moron and the Onion can be outdone by someone who doesn't even TRY to be humorous.
Hint: he's a recalled Milwaukee County supervisor-swine.
And, speaking of right wing pharmacists, just how many people are we talking about here? I think this is just Bob [Dohnal]. A bill written by one buddy [Tom Reynods], intentioned [sic] for the agenda of just one person in the entire state.
Proving that Planet Moron and the Onion can be outdone by someone who doesn't even TRY to be humorous.
Hint: he's a recalled Milwaukee County supervisor-swine.
Nation-Building? A Sometimes Thing, at Best
Via Southern Appeal, this interesting little tidbit:
The results of applying these principles to the political outcomes in the 51 cases of intervention are shown in the following table. Overall, the results indicate that military intervention succeeded in leaving behind democracies in 14 cases—27 percent of the time. The conclusion, then, is that nation building by force is generally unsuccessful. A president who went around the world invading countries to make them democratic would fail most of the time. One group of countries that seem especially resistant to democracy-building efforts are the Arab lands. There have been are nine interventions in Arab countries in the past century. In no case did stable democracy follow the military occupation. (James Payne)
The article is not too long, and includes a reasonable set of premises. Hey--the President's right about Church Lady Miers, right? How could he be wrong in emulating the High Priest of Globaloney, Woodrow Wilson??
The results of applying these principles to the political outcomes in the 51 cases of intervention are shown in the following table. Overall, the results indicate that military intervention succeeded in leaving behind democracies in 14 cases—27 percent of the time. The conclusion, then, is that nation building by force is generally unsuccessful. A president who went around the world invading countries to make them democratic would fail most of the time. One group of countries that seem especially resistant to democracy-building efforts are the Arab lands. There have been are nine interventions in Arab countries in the past century. In no case did stable democracy follow the military occupation. (James Payne)
The article is not too long, and includes a reasonable set of premises. Hey--the President's right about Church Lady Miers, right? How could he be wrong in emulating the High Priest of Globaloney, Woodrow Wilson??
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Federal Tax Reform?--Not in ANY Lifetime
Short Hits:
1) As the American Spectator makes clear, tax lawyers and accountants have nothing to fear--the 9 million lines of IRS Code will remain more or less intact, despite the "Tax Reform" Commission's complete waste of time and effort.
If there is only one thing that the Commission actually accomplishes, however, it should be the repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax--an out-of-control idea straight from Hell, which exacts an extra penalty on people from Wisconsin, and people with children.
******************
2) Belling got this one right: Wisconsin "Republican" Legislators are whores, and the predominant johns are the asphalt-road-paving firms. Since our little Pubbie boys and girls have sold themselves to the roadbuilders, you can expect to simply pay more and more and more for highways that are mostly used by deer, wolves, and bears in Northern and Western Wisconsin.
After all, John Gard wants to become a Congressional Whore--not just a State Whore. Gotta move up that food chain.
******************
3) Bagman Jim Doyle, rolling in out-of-state campaign money, vetoes a bill that would have said physicians, nurses and other medical professionals could not be fired or disciplined for refusing to participate in medical procedures like abortions, assisted suicide, euthanasia and the destruction of human embryos. "...a doctor should always do what is in the best interests of a patient’s health,” Doyle said in a statement. (HT: Owen)
Only Jimbo could define getting murdered as 'best interests of ....health.' It's that UW Law School Ed-yew-kay-shun.
**********************
4) ....and Broussard Makes Three...not just a parody song title. The Dumbest Duo (Nagin and Blanco) are now joined by a County exec who made damn sure that the pumps would not be running as Katrina dumped water all over NOLA. Broussard's also blatantly lied on national TV.
It's no wonder that 40% of the evacuees have NO INTEREST in returning to NOLA.
********************
5) Candid and deliciously descriptive:
You have to have lived day-to-day for the last quarter of the 20th century in academe with all the “do-gooders” — marxoid as well as feminist (little difference) — to get a feel for the fundamentally infantile rage that drives them. “Power,” which is their obsession doesn’t in fact mean “strength,” “control,” “discipline” but simply sadism. This is why they abuse their students in the classroom where they have a bully’s control over them.
The frightening thing here is how many there are of them: academe is simply crawling with them in the social sciences and humanities departments, showing that the universities and colleges, run now by “administrators” who have no professional intellectual commitments of any sort, have made themselves havens for just this sort of people.
...and the author was a full prof (English) at MARQUETTE U. HT: The Warrior-Bulldog
1) As the American Spectator makes clear, tax lawyers and accountants have nothing to fear--the 9 million lines of IRS Code will remain more or less intact, despite the "Tax Reform" Commission's complete waste of time and effort.
If there is only one thing that the Commission actually accomplishes, however, it should be the repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax--an out-of-control idea straight from Hell, which exacts an extra penalty on people from Wisconsin, and people with children.
******************
2) Belling got this one right: Wisconsin "Republican" Legislators are whores, and the predominant johns are the asphalt-road-paving firms. Since our little Pubbie boys and girls have sold themselves to the roadbuilders, you can expect to simply pay more and more and more for highways that are mostly used by deer, wolves, and bears in Northern and Western Wisconsin.
After all, John Gard wants to become a Congressional Whore--not just a State Whore. Gotta move up that food chain.
******************
3) Bagman Jim Doyle, rolling in out-of-state campaign money, vetoes a bill that would have said physicians, nurses and other medical professionals could not be fired or disciplined for refusing to participate in medical procedures like abortions, assisted suicide, euthanasia and the destruction of human embryos. "...a doctor should always do what is in the best interests of a patient’s health,” Doyle said in a statement. (HT: Owen)
Only Jimbo could define getting murdered as 'best interests of ....health.' It's that UW Law School Ed-yew-kay-shun.
**********************
4) ....and Broussard Makes Three...not just a parody song title. The Dumbest Duo (Nagin and Blanco) are now joined by a County exec who made damn sure that the pumps would not be running as Katrina dumped water all over NOLA. Broussard's also blatantly lied on national TV.
It's no wonder that 40% of the evacuees have NO INTEREST in returning to NOLA.
********************
5) Candid and deliciously descriptive:
You have to have lived day-to-day for the last quarter of the 20th century in academe with all the “do-gooders” — marxoid as well as feminist (little difference) — to get a feel for the fundamentally infantile rage that drives them. “Power,” which is their obsession doesn’t in fact mean “strength,” “control,” “discipline” but simply sadism. This is why they abuse their students in the classroom where they have a bully’s control over them.
The frightening thing here is how many there are of them: academe is simply crawling with them in the social sciences and humanities departments, showing that the universities and colleges, run now by “administrators” who have no professional intellectual commitments of any sort, have made themselves havens for just this sort of people.
...and the author was a full prof (English) at MARQUETTE U. HT: The Warrior-Bulldog
Friday, October 14, 2005
What Passes for Knowledge
Found in a local Catholic parish bulletin:
"This weekend, we are blessing the pipe organ...As we bless this organ, let it stand as symbol of all of our musical instruments"
This rhetoric is deficient, to say the least.
The pipe organ is not a 'symbol' of 'all musical instruments,'--it is, rather, a representation of the voices of all creatures. That is the reason why the Roman Catholic Church specifically recommends the pipe organ for worship--not the piano, not the banjo, not finger cymbals. That's why it's called "organ," from the Greek, organon...
And--since readers of this blog are pretty bright--you've likely concluded that the pipe organ's use of wind, or 'breath,' (pneumos) is also an interesting little side-symbol.
S'pose the writer of the above could figure this....ah, never mind.
"This weekend, we are blessing the pipe organ...As we bless this organ, let it stand as symbol of all of our musical instruments"
This rhetoric is deficient, to say the least.
The pipe organ is not a 'symbol' of 'all musical instruments,'--it is, rather, a representation of the voices of all creatures. That is the reason why the Roman Catholic Church specifically recommends the pipe organ for worship--not the piano, not the banjo, not finger cymbals. That's why it's called "organ," from the Greek, organon...
And--since readers of this blog are pretty bright--you've likely concluded that the pipe organ's use of wind, or 'breath,' (pneumos) is also an interesting little side-symbol.
S'pose the writer of the above could figure this....ah, never mind.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Gimmee My Rockpile!!
So sayeth the DNR, anyway.
After 40 years of blood, sweat, and tears, Summerfest has made a portion of the lakefront:
1) attractive;
2) an economic bonanza for the City and many of its residents;
3) a fun place to be.
Anyone who wants to see what it was until 1965 can look at the pictures available at the nearby bus-station--located where it is precisely because of the attractiveness of Summerfest.
It was a dowdy, unkempt, useless Army Air Force base with some really ratty buildings.
The State's DNR, an agency second only to DOT for "my way or the highway" attitude, now demands that their little pile of rocks, which was not even THERE until Summerfest put it there, be held pristine and vacant for the anticipated ...what....hundreds? thousands? hundreds of thousands? millions???? of campers just dying to sleep on a rockpile.
Get serious, DNR. Find a rockpile of your own.
Twenty-five whole days when no dog can poop; no tent be pitched. Wow.
Summerfest should give up the rockpile when DNR can show 100% occupancy the OTHER 340 days of the year. Then we'll concede that DNR has a need.
After 40 years of blood, sweat, and tears, Summerfest has made a portion of the lakefront:
1) attractive;
2) an economic bonanza for the City and many of its residents;
3) a fun place to be.
Anyone who wants to see what it was until 1965 can look at the pictures available at the nearby bus-station--located where it is precisely because of the attractiveness of Summerfest.
It was a dowdy, unkempt, useless Army Air Force base with some really ratty buildings.
The State's DNR, an agency second only to DOT for "my way or the highway" attitude, now demands that their little pile of rocks, which was not even THERE until Summerfest put it there, be held pristine and vacant for the anticipated ...what....hundreds? thousands? hundreds of thousands? millions???? of campers just dying to sleep on a rockpile.
Get serious, DNR. Find a rockpile of your own.
Twenty-five whole days when no dog can poop; no tent be pitched. Wow.
Summerfest should give up the rockpile when DNR can show 100% occupancy the OTHER 340 days of the year. Then we'll concede that DNR has a need.
Coulter Fires for Effect
The inimitable and invaluable Ann says what she thinks:
Between cooking segments on the "Today" show this week, Laura rolled out the straw man – sorry, "straw person" – argument that the criticism of Miers was rooted in "sexism" (which is such a chick thing to say).
I'm a gyno-American, and I strenuously object.
The only sexism involved in the Miers nomination is the administration's claim that once they decided they wanted a woman, Miers was the best they could do. Let me just say, if the top male lawyer in the country is John Roberts and the top female lawyer is Harriet Miers, we may as well stop allowing girls to go to law school.
Between cooking segments on the "Today" show this week, Laura rolled out the straw man – sorry, "straw person" – argument that the criticism of Miers was rooted in "sexism" (which is such a chick thing to say).
I'm a gyno-American, and I strenuously object.
The only sexism involved in the Miers nomination is the administration's claim that once they decided they wanted a woman, Miers was the best they could do. Let me just say, if the top male lawyer in the country is John Roberts and the top female lawyer is Harriet Miers, we may as well stop allowing girls to go to law school.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Efficiency in Gummint? Get Serious!
There are two large areas of the economy where industrial efficiency-management programs have never been tried: government and health-care.
Perhaps it's not too surprising that (at least here in Wisconsin) these two areas have really significant cost burdens--which they happily pass on to others, of course.
While I'm not convinced that Government and health-care can ever be "cost-efficient," due to the nature of the enterprise(s), I AM convinced that there are easily visible easily implemented savings which can be obtained.
CRG's Kleisment happens to like 6-Sigma. It's OK; others like "Lean" principles. Some industrials use a combination--"Lean" for the first-pass, and 6-Sigma for the more intractable problem areas.
The only Government which is playing with the concept is Milwaukee County--on a very limited basis.
As to the Court system--one wonders if Judge Brennan has any foggy concept of a time/motion study, and whether it actually contributes to her management of the Courts...hello!! Kitty!!! It's worth a good look, even though the AFSCME will scream like stuck pigs.
Perhaps it's not too surprising that (at least here in Wisconsin) these two areas have really significant cost burdens--which they happily pass on to others, of course.
While I'm not convinced that Government and health-care can ever be "cost-efficient," due to the nature of the enterprise(s), I AM convinced that there are easily visible easily implemented savings which can be obtained.
CRG's Kleisment happens to like 6-Sigma. It's OK; others like "Lean" principles. Some industrials use a combination--"Lean" for the first-pass, and 6-Sigma for the more intractable problem areas.
The only Government which is playing with the concept is Milwaukee County--on a very limited basis.
As to the Court system--one wonders if Judge Brennan has any foggy concept of a time/motion study, and whether it actually contributes to her management of the Courts...hello!! Kitty!!! It's worth a good look, even though the AFSCME will scream like stuck pigs.
Should Our "Leaders" Have SUV's?
As long as Channel Four raised the question, it seems pertinent.
Sheriff Dave, of Milwaukee County, justifies his department-provided-SUV by telling Channel Four that 'he needs to carry a lot of stuff.'
Stuff? Tell me he carries as much "stuff" as one of his deputies on I-94. What--a shotgun, an AR-15, flares, traffic-cones, computer, radio? Gas mask? Level-3 body armor? Bazooka? Keys for the entire Jail complex?
WHAT "stuff," Sheriff? And by the way, if it fits into a Deputy Dawg sedan, how come is it that it won't fit into a sedan for you?
The Brookfield Fire Chief has a nice SUV, too. I suppose the engine companies don't carry enough "stuff" so he needs to carry more "stuff" in an SUV. Rrrrright.
The Governor, of course, doesn't carry "stuff." He simply carries lobbyists, personal armed guards (also State-provided) and empty bags for campaign donations. Somehow, that seems like sedan material to me, too--unless the bags get filled up, of course.
This whole "I'm a Big Guy, therefore I have an SUV" line was bothersome long before the price of oil went over $50./bbl--but it's even more obnoxious today, and will be for the foreseeable future.
At least Keg Loutenschlepper doesn't have an SUV---she could be really dangerous with one of those.
Sheriff Dave, of Milwaukee County, justifies his department-provided-SUV by telling Channel Four that 'he needs to carry a lot of stuff.'
Stuff? Tell me he carries as much "stuff" as one of his deputies on I-94. What--a shotgun, an AR-15, flares, traffic-cones, computer, radio? Gas mask? Level-3 body armor? Bazooka? Keys for the entire Jail complex?
WHAT "stuff," Sheriff? And by the way, if it fits into a Deputy Dawg sedan, how come is it that it won't fit into a sedan for you?
The Brookfield Fire Chief has a nice SUV, too. I suppose the engine companies don't carry enough "stuff" so he needs to carry more "stuff" in an SUV. Rrrrright.
The Governor, of course, doesn't carry "stuff." He simply carries lobbyists, personal armed guards (also State-provided) and empty bags for campaign donations. Somehow, that seems like sedan material to me, too--unless the bags get filled up, of course.
This whole "I'm a Big Guy, therefore I have an SUV" line was bothersome long before the price of oil went over $50./bbl--but it's even more obnoxious today, and will be for the foreseeable future.
At least Keg Loutenschlepper doesn't have an SUV---she could be really dangerous with one of those.
All You Need to Know About Dwyer
Dwyer wants to retain all 35 members of the Waukesha County Board.
Folks, Dwyer is an idiot. The County can easily be split into 11 or 13 areas. There's no need for the current "Supervisor for Every Subdivision" arrangement--and really never has been one, either, except perhaps before the invention of the telephone.
In combination with Dwyer's other Stupid Candidate Tricks--
Ahhhh, well........just vote Vrakas.
Folks, Dwyer is an idiot. The County can easily be split into 11 or 13 areas. There's no need for the current "Supervisor for Every Subdivision" arrangement--and really never has been one, either, except perhaps before the invention of the telephone.
In combination with Dwyer's other Stupid Candidate Tricks--
Ahhhh, well........just vote Vrakas.
Kudos to Channel 4
Last night/10PM, TWO stories of interest:
Charles showed us Jimbo Doyle's Casino-Royale SUV. Diamond Jimbo needs this extra-large gas hog to accomodate the trial lawyers, casino operators, and WEAC bozos who ride along with him to every event. Seems like Adelman Travel could arrange for a bus, but...
Doyle, stepping out of the extra-large gas-hog, advised Charles that this particular gas-hog uses Corn-A-Hol (!!!!!)--thus, Jimbo was pumping money into Wisconsin farmers' pockets.
Charles, a bright fellow, reminded us that Corn-A-Hol actually is LESS FUEL-EFFICIENT than gasoline, meaning that Diamond Jimbo, Butt-Boy-To-WEAC, is REALLY burning the taxpayers' fuel dollars.
Merkur, who has been aggressive lately, decided to follow up Kevin Fischer's WISN/1130 Radio Challenge and actually get a camera inside the Thompson Center to interview NOLA refugees--no press has been allowed in the facility since it opened a month ago.
Merkur got in there and noticed that the Red Cross, which operates the facility, had prevented gifts (towels, slippers, undies, bathrobes, clothing) from being used by the refugees.
Red Cross would not answer his questions about this utterly idiotic and wasteful move, either--
Charles showed us Jimbo Doyle's Casino-Royale SUV. Diamond Jimbo needs this extra-large gas hog to accomodate the trial lawyers, casino operators, and WEAC bozos who ride along with him to every event. Seems like Adelman Travel could arrange for a bus, but...
Doyle, stepping out of the extra-large gas-hog, advised Charles that this particular gas-hog uses Corn-A-Hol (!!!!!)--thus, Jimbo was pumping money into Wisconsin farmers' pockets.
Charles, a bright fellow, reminded us that Corn-A-Hol actually is LESS FUEL-EFFICIENT than gasoline, meaning that Diamond Jimbo, Butt-Boy-To-WEAC, is REALLY burning the taxpayers' fuel dollars.
Merkur, who has been aggressive lately, decided to follow up Kevin Fischer's WISN/1130 Radio Challenge and actually get a camera inside the Thompson Center to interview NOLA refugees--no press has been allowed in the facility since it opened a month ago.
Merkur got in there and noticed that the Red Cross, which operates the facility, had prevented gifts (towels, slippers, undies, bathrobes, clothing) from being used by the refugees.
Red Cross would not answer his questions about this utterly idiotic and wasteful move, either--
T E O T W A W K I
The End of the World As We Know It:
Mentioned yesterday by NeoConTastic--and now nationally in WorldNetDaily, the children are no longer allowed to RUN on the playground.
"To say `no running' on the playground seems crazy," said Bartleman, [a member of the School Board]..... "But your feelings change when you're in a closed-door meeting with lawyers."
Feelings change with lawyers? Yeah--some have thought of suicide, for example.
Analysis:
The newest playgrounds are... filled with equipment engineered in accordance with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines. They might expose schools and parks to fewer lawsuits, but they're not as challenging as the previous generations of playgrounds, said Joe Frost, an emeritus professor at the University of Texas who runs its Play and Playgrounds Research Project.
"Play is one of children's chief vehicles for development," Frost said. "Right now it looks like we're developing a nation of wimps."
Mentioned yesterday by NeoConTastic--and now nationally in WorldNetDaily, the children are no longer allowed to RUN on the playground.
"To say `no running' on the playground seems crazy," said Bartleman, [a member of the School Board]..... "But your feelings change when you're in a closed-door meeting with lawyers."
Feelings change with lawyers? Yeah--some have thought of suicide, for example.
Analysis:
The newest playgrounds are... filled with equipment engineered in accordance with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines. They might expose schools and parks to fewer lawsuits, but they're not as challenging as the previous generations of playgrounds, said Joe Frost, an emeritus professor at the University of Texas who runs its Play and Playgrounds Research Project.
"Play is one of children's chief vehicles for development," Frost said. "Right now it looks like we're developing a nation of wimps."
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
MORE Gas Tax Relief
Rep. Nass (R, Whitewater) has introduced new legislation which would:
1) eliminate the currend 29.+ cents/gallon Wisconsin gas tax for a 30-day period, renewable up to 60 days by the Governor; and
2) eliminate the automatic gas-tax increase jammed into Wisconsin motorists' , ahhhhh, ...tanks....every April 1 (what better date could be selected for this?)
Perhaps Sen. Kanavas will find this bill to his liking.
Here's the number: LRB-3656/1
1) eliminate the currend 29.+ cents/gallon Wisconsin gas tax for a 30-day period, renewable up to 60 days by the Governor; and
2) eliminate the automatic gas-tax increase jammed into Wisconsin motorists' , ahhhhh, ...tanks....every April 1 (what better date could be selected for this?)
Perhaps Sen. Kanavas will find this bill to his liking.
Here's the number: LRB-3656/1
Monday, October 10, 2005
Predictable, Hack Leftist
As Jess McBride points out, the MSM's relentless campaigning for Feingold never quits.
It's not really too subtle, either.
Actually, it's moronic. Moronic-Stream-Media?
Feinie's simply NOT a 'maverick.' He's a very predictable George McGovern vote on the military, baby-killer vote on abortion, and larger-taxes vote on economics.
But 'maverick' plays well in Wisconsin (hint: it's why WEAC butt-boy and lead-handed hack Jim Doyle will NOT get re-elected.)
So the MoronStreamMedia calls Rusty a maverick; it'll get him re-elected.
It's not really too subtle, either.
Actually, it's moronic. Moronic-Stream-Media?
Feinie's simply NOT a 'maverick.' He's a very predictable George McGovern vote on the military, baby-killer vote on abortion, and larger-taxes vote on economics.
But 'maverick' plays well in Wisconsin (hint: it's why WEAC butt-boy and lead-handed hack Jim Doyle will NOT get re-elected.)
So the MoronStreamMedia calls Rusty a maverick; it'll get him re-elected.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Subtract Students, Add Teachers
THIS makes sense:
enrollments in the state’s public schools fell 0.3% in 2004-05 to 869,961.
[the] 649-person increase [in total staffing] came mainly from support staff (up 253 to 33,138) and teachers (up 131 to 59,525)
(All 2004/05 numbers, compared to 2003/04)
From WisTax.org
What we don't know is the month during which the number of Staff and Teachers will become larger than the number of students. But don't bet it won't happen...
enrollments in the state’s public schools fell 0.3% in 2004-05 to 869,961.
[the] 649-person increase [in total staffing] came mainly from support staff (up 253 to 33,138) and teachers (up 131 to 59,525)
(All 2004/05 numbers, compared to 2003/04)
From WisTax.org
What we don't know is the month during which the number of Staff and Teachers will become larger than the number of students. But don't bet it won't happen...
Guns in Cars
There's another Pubbie split brewing, this time in Florida, featuring the Big Biz Pubbies vs. the Ordinary Joe Pubbies.
The dust-up is over the "guns-at-work" bill, which the National Rifle Association began pushing last month in Tallahassee to force all Florida businesses to allow firearms in the vehicles of any employee or visitor. Companies could keep policies banning guns from their buildings themselves but could no longer apply those policies to their parking lots.
The proposal, filed in the Senate by Republican Durell Peaden and in the House by Republican Dennis Baxley, won't be taken up until the spring. But it is already putting two of the GOP's traditionally strongest voting blocs -- business rights and gun rights -- on a potential collision course. Many businesses are either wary of or leaning against the proposal, including heavy-hitters such as Disney and local giants such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CSX and Baptist Health System.
But the NRA is insistent. The group, which has donated nearly $1 million in Florida over the past decade, mostly to Republicans, is led in Tallahassee by former national President Marion Hammer. Hammer said the rights of gun owners should be intact in their vehicles, and the proposed law already gives businesses immunity from liability lawsuits in cases of workplace shootings.
(snip)
"Companies have no more right to tell you you can't have a legal piece of property in your vehicle than to tell you you can't have an umbrella or a raincoat or a baseball bat," Hammer said. "Businesses say this is a matter of safety. You bet it is. It's our safety in being able to protect ourselves."
But some businesses and traditional GOP stalwarts say a company's private property right over its parking lot should take precedence.
"Your home is a slam dunk, but bridging that into the private property of an organization doesn't hold," said Mike Hightower, chairman of the Duval County Republican Party and lobbyist for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. "I don't think people are going to want to cross that line."
In a telling sign of wariness, neither Gov. Jeb Bush, Senate President Tom Lee nor House Speaker Allan Bense are taking positions on the bill yet. Bush said he hasn't seen it and wouldn't say whether he supports the idea. Lee is still studying it, and Bense is simply sending it to House committees with no input.
Here in Wisconsin, where self-defense is illegal due to Jimbo Doyle's insane intransigence, we can only watch with some amusement.
The dust-up is over the "guns-at-work" bill, which the National Rifle Association began pushing last month in Tallahassee to force all Florida businesses to allow firearms in the vehicles of any employee or visitor. Companies could keep policies banning guns from their buildings themselves but could no longer apply those policies to their parking lots.
The proposal, filed in the Senate by Republican Durell Peaden and in the House by Republican Dennis Baxley, won't be taken up until the spring. But it is already putting two of the GOP's traditionally strongest voting blocs -- business rights and gun rights -- on a potential collision course. Many businesses are either wary of or leaning against the proposal, including heavy-hitters such as Disney and local giants such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CSX and Baptist Health System.
But the NRA is insistent. The group, which has donated nearly $1 million in Florida over the past decade, mostly to Republicans, is led in Tallahassee by former national President Marion Hammer. Hammer said the rights of gun owners should be intact in their vehicles, and the proposed law already gives businesses immunity from liability lawsuits in cases of workplace shootings.
(snip)
"Companies have no more right to tell you you can't have a legal piece of property in your vehicle than to tell you you can't have an umbrella or a raincoat or a baseball bat," Hammer said. "Businesses say this is a matter of safety. You bet it is. It's our safety in being able to protect ourselves."
But some businesses and traditional GOP stalwarts say a company's private property right over its parking lot should take precedence.
"Your home is a slam dunk, but bridging that into the private property of an organization doesn't hold," said Mike Hightower, chairman of the Duval County Republican Party and lobbyist for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. "I don't think people are going to want to cross that line."
In a telling sign of wariness, neither Gov. Jeb Bush, Senate President Tom Lee nor House Speaker Allan Bense are taking positions on the bill yet. Bush said he hasn't seen it and wouldn't say whether he supports the idea. Lee is still studying it, and Bense is simply sending it to House committees with no input.
Here in Wisconsin, where self-defense is illegal due to Jimbo Doyle's insane intransigence, we can only watch with some amusement.
...and at MY Funeral Mass...
A true story, from the musician who received the 'music requests' for a woman's funeral:
The parish secretary gave me the lady's requests. There were the usual "Be Not Afraid," the Semipelagian "Amazing Grace," and "The Ave Maria" (Herr Schubert having written, of course, the one and only setting thereof).
And then:
"Evil's Wings".
Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'solecism.'
The parish secretary gave me the lady's requests. There were the usual "Be Not Afraid," the Semipelagian "Amazing Grace," and "The Ave Maria" (Herr Schubert having written, of course, the one and only setting thereof).
And then:
"Evil's Wings".
Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'solecism.'
Tidbits Leading to Knowledge
A couple of end-notes from a chapter of a book on the Liturgy:
The verb saisir in French [“to grasp”, “to seize”] has the advantage of being a synonym of “understand”, while being capable of expressing also, in the passive form, the fact that one is “seized” or “caught up” by the action that is being carried out. Now, strictly speaking, the liturgy is not primarily something that must be understood; it is presented to us as a source of understanding and hence is meant to make us enter into the Mystery of the Covenant. Therefore we are not the ones who in the first place must understand the liturgy; rather, the liturgy must make us comprehend, that is to say, must enable us to establish a relationship with the divine. This is the same perspective in which we should re-frame the question about Gregorian chant after the liturgical renewal of Vatican II.
14. The “active participation” in the liturgy called for by the Church is not an “activist” participation whereby everyone seeks to busy himself or to put himself forward. Quite on the contrary: true “participation in the liturgy” is a participation of the heart, consisting of the intention to carry out as well as possible – with genuine sincerity – what the Church asks us to accomplish in her liturgy.
In contrast, there are several local "liturgeists," armed with MA's from our Seminary, no less, who scribble about "Liturgical Feelings" in their parish bulletins.
The verb saisir in French [“to grasp”, “to seize”] has the advantage of being a synonym of “understand”, while being capable of expressing also, in the passive form, the fact that one is “seized” or “caught up” by the action that is being carried out. Now, strictly speaking, the liturgy is not primarily something that must be understood; it is presented to us as a source of understanding and hence is meant to make us enter into the Mystery of the Covenant. Therefore we are not the ones who in the first place must understand the liturgy; rather, the liturgy must make us comprehend, that is to say, must enable us to establish a relationship with the divine. This is the same perspective in which we should re-frame the question about Gregorian chant after the liturgical renewal of Vatican II.
14. The “active participation” in the liturgy called for by the Church is not an “activist” participation whereby everyone seeks to busy himself or to put himself forward. Quite on the contrary: true “participation in the liturgy” is a participation of the heart, consisting of the intention to carry out as well as possible – with genuine sincerity – what the Church asks us to accomplish in her liturgy.
In contrast, there are several local "liturgeists," armed with MA's from our Seminary, no less, who scribble about "Liturgical Feelings" in their parish bulletins.
Smash-Mouth Football on Miers
The level of unhappiness actually continues to RISE, despite Hugh Hewitt and The Anchoress:
If Ms. Miers really does harbor the tiresome, skittish, establishmentarian, protect-the-guild wariness toward the society described in the accounts mentioned above — rather than respect for its work, admiration for the vision of David McIntosh, Steve Calabresi, Spence Abraham, and others who founded the Society more than 20 years ago, and gratitude for the dedication of hundreds of law students today who often take real hits in order to stand up for and strengthen the Society and its intellectual mission — then I am inclined to think that she has not earned (no matter what church she attends, no matter how good a person and impressive a lawyer she is, no matter how much she abhors abortion, no matter how loyal she is to this President, and no matter how Rehnquist-like her record turns out to be) conservatives' support.
Perhaps it's true that Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut (inter alia) have provided the barnacles which are slowing the ship--the infamous RINO gang--but couldn't GWB have found someone who actually knows better about the Federalist Society?
If Ms. Miers really does harbor the tiresome, skittish, establishmentarian, protect-the-guild wariness toward the society described in the accounts mentioned above — rather than respect for its work, admiration for the vision of David McIntosh, Steve Calabresi, Spence Abraham, and others who founded the Society more than 20 years ago, and gratitude for the dedication of hundreds of law students today who often take real hits in order to stand up for and strengthen the Society and its intellectual mission — then I am inclined to think that she has not earned (no matter what church she attends, no matter how good a person and impressive a lawyer she is, no matter how much she abhors abortion, no matter how loyal she is to this President, and no matter how Rehnquist-like her record turns out to be) conservatives' support.
Perhaps it's true that Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut (inter alia) have provided the barnacles which are slowing the ship--the infamous RINO gang--but couldn't GWB have found someone who actually knows better about the Federalist Society?
Truism
From Random 10:
I guess this means more manure is produced in Madison area than in some States and that it will continue to be spread around all year long.
Actually, this REALLY has to do with "manure spreading management plans" which may be required of Dane County farmers in the near future.
Another opportunity for ecological consulting firms...
I guess this means more manure is produced in Madison area than in some States and that it will continue to be spread around all year long.
Actually, this REALLY has to do with "manure spreading management plans" which may be required of Dane County farmers in the near future.
Another opportunity for ecological consulting firms...
Econ 101, Again
The not-so-good news:
The purchasing power of weekly wages fell -0.2% in July, -0.5% down yr/yr and down -0.9% from July 2002. Real wages for service providing workers are -0.7% below July 2002 levels and manufacturing workers' wages are -0.9% lower than in July 1999. These wage data cover 81% of the private sector workforce.
Peak manufacturing wages spiked in 1979 and have fallen off since.
In addition:
The Census reports that real median household incomes fell again in 2004 for the fifth consecutive year. Purchasing power of incomes also fell for full-time wage-earners. (Same source URL)
Those who have not read Sun-Tzu continue to whistle past this little graveyard.
The purchasing power of weekly wages fell -0.2% in July, -0.5% down yr/yr and down -0.9% from July 2002. Real wages for service providing workers are -0.7% below July 2002 levels and manufacturing workers' wages are -0.9% lower than in July 1999. These wage data cover 81% of the private sector workforce.
Peak manufacturing wages spiked in 1979 and have fallen off since.
In addition:
The Census reports that real median household incomes fell again in 2004 for the fifth consecutive year. Purchasing power of incomes also fell for full-time wage-earners. (Same source URL)
Those who have not read Sun-Tzu continue to whistle past this little graveyard.
REALLY Small Lighted Targets
Those inventive old Brits have come up with a new one.
British scientists have made a breakthrough in the control of malaria: by creating mosquitoes with fluorescent testicles.
"This advance could have enormous implications for controlling mosquito populations," says Andrea Crisanti, the professor of molecular parasitology at ICL.
Another thing: now we'll be able to test those folks who claim that they can 'shoot the [testes] off a gnat.' I, for one, will take their word for it--if they can shoot them off a mosquito.
British scientists have made a breakthrough in the control of malaria: by creating mosquitoes with fluorescent testicles.
"This advance could have enormous implications for controlling mosquito populations," says Andrea Crisanti, the professor of molecular parasitology at ICL.
Another thing: now we'll be able to test those folks who claim that they can 'shoot the [testes] off a gnat.' I, for one, will take their word for it--if they can shoot them off a mosquito.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Miers: Not Real Bright, Either
Aside from her confusion over "Warren," which is now being 'splained away by the spinners as, really, truly, a compliment to Warren Burger as a great Court Administrator (!!!!!!)--and her 'conversion experience' to the Pubbies, and her silly PC spout-ations while on the Dallas City Council---
I mean, "Trust Me...."
Bainbridge finds some other gems. The nominee-du-jour sniffed, prissily, that she "wouldn't belong to the Federalist Society," (it's too political for her taste--as opposed, for example, to the ABA??)
Does this woman know what planet she's on?
I mean, "Trust Me...."
Bainbridge finds some other gems. The nominee-du-jour sniffed, prissily, that she "wouldn't belong to the Federalist Society," (it's too political for her taste--as opposed, for example, to the ABA??)
Does this woman know what planet she's on?
Thursday, October 06, 2005
SB 331 Reminder
SB 331 would eliminate the "no-vote" automatic increase of the State's gasoline tax.
In other words, beginning in the years following 4/1/2006, when the DOT wants more money, your elected representatives would actually have to VOTE on taking more from your pocket.
To date, the following Members of the Legislature have signed on:
Senators Reynolds, Zien, Grothman, Lazich Leibham; cosponsored by Representatives Wood, F. Lasee, Gundrum, Jeskewitz, Kerkman, Kestell, Lothian, McCormick, Pridemore and Vukmir.
Other members, including Sen. Kanavas (R)/Brookfield, have promised to sign on to such legislation, but have failed to do so.
[Insert Sound of Crickets here]
In other words, beginning in the years following 4/1/2006, when the DOT wants more money, your elected representatives would actually have to VOTE on taking more from your pocket.
To date, the following Members of the Legislature have signed on:
Senators Reynolds, Zien, Grothman, Lazich Leibham; cosponsored by Representatives Wood, F. Lasee, Gundrum, Jeskewitz, Kerkman, Kestell, Lothian, McCormick, Pridemore and Vukmir.
Other members, including Sen. Kanavas (R)/Brookfield, have promised to sign on to such legislation, but have failed to do so.
[Insert Sound of Crickets here]
Military Flu Patrol? Nice Evasion, GWB
Most conservatives are graciously ignoring GWB's remarks about using the US military to enforce quarantines in case of some 'pandemic' Asian flu in this country. Most likely, they either didn't believe what they heard, or figure that "that's just Dubya," and hope it goes away.
But one illustrious and quite bright local pundid DID take it up, and decided that the way to handle it was to defend Dubya. Yup. It's a case of "preparedness," or "what-if?" games, and ya just gotta think about all the possibilities.
You sure do.
So when ABC News runs a long story telling us that it was the GWB Administration which fell asleep at the switch and "forgot" to order Tamiflu (as mentioned here), is Dubya trying to gloss over the problem?
Had Tommy Thompson been someplace other than the spa, losing weight, or lining up big new jobs, perhaps the President wouldn't have to talk about destroying Posse Comitatus.
But one illustrious and quite bright local pundid DID take it up, and decided that the way to handle it was to defend Dubya. Yup. It's a case of "preparedness," or "what-if?" games, and ya just gotta think about all the possibilities.
You sure do.
So when ABC News runs a long story telling us that it was the GWB Administration which fell asleep at the switch and "forgot" to order Tamiflu (as mentioned here), is Dubya trying to gloss over the problem?
Had Tommy Thompson been someplace other than the spa, losing weight, or lining up big new jobs, perhaps the President wouldn't have to talk about destroying Posse Comitatus.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
While We're on FEMA, Bush, etc., ...
From the indefatigable Bulldog-Warrior of Marquette:
A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named "Governmentium".
Governmentium (Gv) has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton like particles called peons.
Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to take over four days to complete, when it would normally take less than a second.
There's more--and it's all just as good.
A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named "Governmentium".
Governmentium (Gv) has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton like particles called peons.
Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to take over four days to complete, when it would normally take less than a second.
There's more--and it's all just as good.
Is FEMA Nuts?
Various sources for this summary.
John Lott tells us that FEMA will not allow search-and-rescue teams to carry arms.
WND links to a story which tells us that FEMA managers are disorganized, feckless, self-absorbed twits.
A professional acquaintance tells me that FEMA's mileage-reimbursement (competing for 'the highest in the world') will seriously disrupt truck-transportation. Truckers aren't stupid: they'll drop their ordinary commercial traffic in a snap to take the FEMA reimbursement. FEMA's attitude seems to be "what the Hell, spend this damn money!!!"--while the logistical disruption has serious negative effects on commerce, not to mention cost-of-goods.
Sensenbrenner's request for accountability (denied by the Herd in Congress and the increasingly feckless GWB) may have only scratched the surface.
All of this, of course, only reinforces the Conservative viewpoint that States and municipals should be first-responders and that no Federal Program can be trusted to embody Common Sense.
John Lott tells us that FEMA will not allow search-and-rescue teams to carry arms.
WND links to a story which tells us that FEMA managers are disorganized, feckless, self-absorbed twits.
A professional acquaintance tells me that FEMA's mileage-reimbursement (competing for 'the highest in the world') will seriously disrupt truck-transportation. Truckers aren't stupid: they'll drop their ordinary commercial traffic in a snap to take the FEMA reimbursement. FEMA's attitude seems to be "what the Hell, spend this damn money!!!"--while the logistical disruption has serious negative effects on commerce, not to mention cost-of-goods.
Sensenbrenner's request for accountability (denied by the Herd in Congress and the increasingly feckless GWB) may have only scratched the surface.
All of this, of course, only reinforces the Conservative viewpoint that States and municipals should be first-responders and that no Federal Program can be trusted to embody Common Sense.
Neumayr: GWB Has Guilt Complex
George Neumayr is an acutely perceptive analyst and pundit. Even BEFORE Bush proposed using the military to enforce quarantines, N. wrote the following:
Bush drifts easily into contradictory positions -- conservative attitudes coexisting unconvincingly with liberal assumptions -- because one of the organizing principles of his presidency has been: How can we present positions that anticipate, and if politically possible given our base, incorporate elements of a likely liberal critique?
This inferiority complex about liberalism, which defined so much of his father's presidency, has driven much of his: from education ("standards" and "accountability," conservative themes, are coupled in Bush's mind with a leftist understanding of the federal government's role in education) to taxes (Bush resorted at one point to Keynesian garble to justify tax cuts that could have been justified on a straightforward understanding of limited government alone) to the war (as Bush ran into a buzz saw of unpopular opinion in fashionable circles, he placed greater and greater emphasis on a Wilsonian justification of war for "democracy" and "women's rights").
The left is so far to the left that Bush, even though he almost always hovers near the center, and is smart enough never to cross it clumsily like his father, appears to leftists as "radically conservative." Would that it were so. Even in areas where Bush has stuck his neck out culturally, he doesn't question the liberal premises of the debate.
That's about the sum and substance.
Bush drifts easily into contradictory positions -- conservative attitudes coexisting unconvincingly with liberal assumptions -- because one of the organizing principles of his presidency has been: How can we present positions that anticipate, and if politically possible given our base, incorporate elements of a likely liberal critique?
This inferiority complex about liberalism, which defined so much of his father's presidency, has driven much of his: from education ("standards" and "accountability," conservative themes, are coupled in Bush's mind with a leftist understanding of the federal government's role in education) to taxes (Bush resorted at one point to Keynesian garble to justify tax cuts that could have been justified on a straightforward understanding of limited government alone) to the war (as Bush ran into a buzz saw of unpopular opinion in fashionable circles, he placed greater and greater emphasis on a Wilsonian justification of war for "democracy" and "women's rights").
The left is so far to the left that Bush, even though he almost always hovers near the center, and is smart enough never to cross it clumsily like his father, appears to leftists as "radically conservative." Would that it were so. Even in areas where Bush has stuck his neck out culturally, he doesn't question the liberal premises of the debate.
That's about the sum and substance.
GWB Has One Ace--and He Plays It Again
The President, having taken a few punches to the head over his MysteryMiers nomination, has now suggested that the US military be used to help fight the potential consequences of the Avian Flu.
Bush asserted aggressive action could be needed to prevent a potentially crippling U.S. outbreak of a bird flu strain that is sweeping through Asian poultry and causing experts to fear it could become the next deadly pandemic. Citing concern that state and local authorities might be unable to contain and deal with such an outbreak, Bush asked Congress to give him the authority to call in the military.
The President is evidently charmed by the concept of using the Pentagon as a one-stop "problem solving" organization. Although Bill Clinton was reviled for using the military as a "meals-on-wheels" provider in the Caribbean, the Clinton Administration was careful to keep the military far distant from domestic engagements. (I know--Waco might have been an exception...)
But GWB, more and more showing the Eastern Softheaded Republican genetic streak of his father, has now made two distinct proposals which seem to fly contrary to the Posse Comitatus Act; one in case of vaguely defined 'national disasters' presumably similar to Katrina, and now to have the US Marine Corps keep quarantined children from their parents (or whatever.)
Stuck on Stupid, anyone?
Bush asserted aggressive action could be needed to prevent a potentially crippling U.S. outbreak of a bird flu strain that is sweeping through Asian poultry and causing experts to fear it could become the next deadly pandemic. Citing concern that state and local authorities might be unable to contain and deal with such an outbreak, Bush asked Congress to give him the authority to call in the military.
The President is evidently charmed by the concept of using the Pentagon as a one-stop "problem solving" organization. Although Bill Clinton was reviled for using the military as a "meals-on-wheels" provider in the Caribbean, the Clinton Administration was careful to keep the military far distant from domestic engagements. (I know--Waco might have been an exception...)
But GWB, more and more showing the Eastern Softheaded Republican genetic streak of his father, has now made two distinct proposals which seem to fly contrary to the Posse Comitatus Act; one in case of vaguely defined 'national disasters' presumably similar to Katrina, and now to have the US Marine Corps keep quarantined children from their parents (or whatever.)
Stuck on Stupid, anyone?
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Is Jimbo, the WEAC Butt-Boy, History?
Well, not yet.
But his numbers don't look real good, which is consistent.
Now that Marotta bailed out, there's not much left to like about Jimbo's Administration, is there?
But his numbers don't look real good, which is consistent.
Now that Marotta bailed out, there's not much left to like about Jimbo's Administration, is there?
The Milwaukee Symphony...Hmmmm
Back a while ago, the MSO hired a fresh-faced President and some fellow named Abele became Chairman of the Board. Abele had widely intimated that he had a bunch of (inherited) bucks and that he could be persuaded to drop significant pesos into the MSO's coffers.
Recently,
The MSO has settled a contract with its musicians, reportedly very much favoring the MSO.
The MSO has let its COO go--not yet reported in the local paper.
The MSO's Marketing guy left (for whatever reason).
Now with a $9 million cumulative deficit, the MSO wants to raise $12 million--but still simply cannot sell tickets to its shows, including "Carmina Burana."
Hmmmmmm.
Recently,
The MSO has settled a contract with its musicians, reportedly very much favoring the MSO.
The MSO has let its COO go--not yet reported in the local paper.
The MSO's Marketing guy left (for whatever reason).
Now with a $9 million cumulative deficit, the MSO wants to raise $12 million--but still simply cannot sell tickets to its shows, including "Carmina Burana."
Hmmmmmm.
Humor. We Need Some
Yesterday, Cornell University scientists released the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer. Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption.
The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contains phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women.
To test the theory, 100 men were fed 8 pints of beer each within a 1 hour period. It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects:
1. Gained weight.
2. Talked excessively without making sense.
3. Became overly emotional.
4. Couldn't drive.
5. Failed to think rationally.
6. Argued over nothing.
7. Had to sit down while urinating.
8. Refused to apologize when obviously wrong.
No further testing was considered necessary to validate this theory.
Posted by an Irish Lefty priest on Blosser's site.
The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contains phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women.
To test the theory, 100 men were fed 8 pints of beer each within a 1 hour period. It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects:
1. Gained weight.
2. Talked excessively without making sense.
3. Became overly emotional.
4. Couldn't drive.
5. Failed to think rationally.
6. Argued over nothing.
7. Had to sit down while urinating.
8. Refused to apologize when obviously wrong.
No further testing was considered necessary to validate this theory.
Posted by an Irish Lefty priest on Blosser's site.
Monday, October 03, 2005
UPDATED TWICE!! You Can't Make This Up!!
"...some British schools have also removed or restricted the following 'anti-Muslim' children's books... The Three Little Pigs, Charlottes Web, Babe:The Sheep-pig, Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, Olivia Saves the Circus, Animal Farm."
"Previous U.K. successes include banning a 100 year old statue of a wild boar, police seizure of porcelain pigs displayed in the window of a private home, and the removal of a sign referring to "pork" at a British pub frequented by butchers...
From Lost Budgie
From The Curt Jester, inspired sermonizing on the topic:
First they came for Elmer Fudd, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an Elmer Fudd fan and I preferred Bugs.
Then they came for the three little pigs, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a member of their household.
Then they came for Piglet, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't part of the Pooh union.
Then they came for Miss Piggy, but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Muppet.
Then they came for me...By that time there was no one to speak up for anyone.
Next update:
British prison officers who wore a St. George's Cross tie-pin have been ticked off by the jails watchdog over concerns about the symbol's racist connotations.
The pins showing the English flag -- which has often raised hackles due to its connection with the Crusades of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries -- could be "misconstrued," Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said in a section on race in a report on a jail in the northern English city of Wakefield.
The banner of St. George, the red cross of a martyr on a white background, was adopted for the uniform of English soldiers during the military expeditions by European powers to recapture the Holy Land from Muslims, and later became the national flag of England....
Chris Doyle, director of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding, said Tuesday the red cross was an insensitive reminder of the Crusades.
"A lot of Muslims and Arabs view the Crusades as a bloody episode in our history," he told CNN. "They see those campaigns as Christendom launching a brutal holy war against Islam.
"Muslim or Arab prisoners could take umbrage if staff wore a red cross badge. It's also got associations with the far-right. Prison officers should be seen to be neutral."
It's a long way from Churchill to this bunch of twits, eh?
Or, as the ineffably humorous Mark Steyn put it in his column:
As A A Milne almost said:
"They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace/
Her Majesty's Law is replaced by Allah's."
"Previous U.K. successes include banning a 100 year old statue of a wild boar, police seizure of porcelain pigs displayed in the window of a private home, and the removal of a sign referring to "pork" at a British pub frequented by butchers...
From Lost Budgie
From The Curt Jester, inspired sermonizing on the topic:
First they came for Elmer Fudd, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an Elmer Fudd fan and I preferred Bugs.
Then they came for the three little pigs, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a member of their household.
Then they came for Piglet, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't part of the Pooh union.
Then they came for Miss Piggy, but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Muppet.
Then they came for me...By that time there was no one to speak up for anyone.
Next update:
British prison officers who wore a St. George's Cross tie-pin have been ticked off by the jails watchdog over concerns about the symbol's racist connotations.
The pins showing the English flag -- which has often raised hackles due to its connection with the Crusades of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries -- could be "misconstrued," Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said in a section on race in a report on a jail in the northern English city of Wakefield.
The banner of St. George, the red cross of a martyr on a white background, was adopted for the uniform of English soldiers during the military expeditions by European powers to recapture the Holy Land from Muslims, and later became the national flag of England....
Chris Doyle, director of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding, said Tuesday the red cross was an insensitive reminder of the Crusades.
"A lot of Muslims and Arabs view the Crusades as a bloody episode in our history," he told CNN. "They see those campaigns as Christendom launching a brutal holy war against Islam.
"Muslim or Arab prisoners could take umbrage if staff wore a red cross badge. It's also got associations with the far-right. Prison officers should be seen to be neutral."
It's a long way from Churchill to this bunch of twits, eh?
Or, as the ineffably humorous Mark Steyn put it in his column:
As A A Milne almost said:
"They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace/
Her Majesty's Law is replaced by Allah's."
Pile-On. GWB is Really a GHWB Plant
Only the explicit endorsement of the publisher at Regnery kept me from joining Ann Coulter's parade about John Roberts.
But Harriet Who? takes the cake.
Let's face it. GWB is a nice fellow, sincere, and just exactly what the Dimowits have been saying: kinda slow in the head. Politics he may know; but leadership? Not really.
Unfortunately for him, some poor schmeck from the Republican Party called to ask for money; fortunately for him, I didn't waste too much of his time while indicating my thoughts on that request.
$60 Billion in money for Katrina with no controls. A proposal to gut the Posse Comitatus Act. Another $250 Billion to "rebuild" Atlantis-by-the-Mississippi in the works. TWO Supreme nominations with no track record, one of which just happens to be female but otherwise not even close to qualified. McCain/Feingold. No Child Left Behind.
Screw him.
But Harriet Who? takes the cake.
Let's face it. GWB is a nice fellow, sincere, and just exactly what the Dimowits have been saying: kinda slow in the head. Politics he may know; but leadership? Not really.
Unfortunately for him, some poor schmeck from the Republican Party called to ask for money; fortunately for him, I didn't waste too much of his time while indicating my thoughts on that request.
$60 Billion in money for Katrina with no controls. A proposal to gut the Posse Comitatus Act. Another $250 Billion to "rebuild" Atlantis-by-the-Mississippi in the works. TWO Supreme nominations with no track record, one of which just happens to be female but otherwise not even close to qualified. McCain/Feingold. No Child Left Behind.
Screw him.
Duhhh!
A team of doctors will today accuse Hollywood of irresponsibility over its portrayal of sex and drugs after a review of some of the biggest blockbusters from the last 20 years showed that only one movie made reference to a condom.
None of the top 200 films promoted safe sex, and nobody ended up with an unwanted pregnancy or any infection. The doctors, writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, say filmmakers should reflect the real consequences of unsafe sex and illicit drug use in their work.
...and THIS team is not a bunch of Jerry Falwell's guys:
"The movie industry influences the perception of billions of people around the world," said Hasantha Gunasekera...[and his two co-authors, Simon Chapman and Sharon Campbell]...[ from Sydney University.]
Another way to look at it, of course, is to understand that movies are NOT reality.
None of the top 200 films promoted safe sex, and nobody ended up with an unwanted pregnancy or any infection. The doctors, writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, say filmmakers should reflect the real consequences of unsafe sex and illicit drug use in their work.
...and THIS team is not a bunch of Jerry Falwell's guys:
"The movie industry influences the perception of billions of people around the world," said Hasantha Gunasekera...[and his two co-authors, Simon Chapman and Sharon Campbell]...[ from Sydney University.]
Another way to look at it, of course, is to understand that movies are NOT reality.
Immigration Deterioration
In a Congressional hearing last week, it was revealed that the CIS (Customs & Immigration Service) is working on resolving 2500 misconduct charges, including some "green-card-for-sex" items.
But that was the garden-variety problem.
"The thing that took most of the oxygen out of the room was the realization that there is the distinct possibility that people who have terrorist backgrounds have been able to obtain green cards because of a lack of ability to check their backgrounds," said one of the sources.
...The sources said the briefings touched on two areas in which CIS employees don't have access to needed information. Up to 1,300 of the 4,000 immigration adjudicators who are supposed to have access to the Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS) database have been shut out of it. In some situations, the employees have failed to keep up their certification, while others haven't had the appropriate background checks to maintain access.
The briefings also covered reports of 1,400 cases in which applicants for entry have shown up on TECS as part of a national security investigation. The special group of adjudicators deciding those cases can tell there is an investigation, but lack credentials to find out what the investigation is about, the sources said.
Some are of the opinion that adding the President's new plan might be a bit burdensome for CIS.
But that was the garden-variety problem.
"The thing that took most of the oxygen out of the room was the realization that there is the distinct possibility that people who have terrorist backgrounds have been able to obtain green cards because of a lack of ability to check their backgrounds," said one of the sources.
...The sources said the briefings touched on two areas in which CIS employees don't have access to needed information. Up to 1,300 of the 4,000 immigration adjudicators who are supposed to have access to the Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS) database have been shut out of it. In some situations, the employees have failed to keep up their certification, while others haven't had the appropriate background checks to maintain access.
The briefings also covered reports of 1,400 cases in which applicants for entry have shown up on TECS as part of a national security investigation. The special group of adjudicators deciding those cases can tell there is an investigation, but lack credentials to find out what the investigation is about, the sources said.
Some are of the opinion that adding the President's new plan might be a bit burdensome for CIS.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Anonymous Porn-Lover
We note that "Watchdog Milwaukee," a menage-a-twit of three or four moonbats straight from DU Central Casting, now has an opinion on the Mayfair porn-o-rama at Victoria's Secret.
But there's more to notice--this item is unsigned.
S'pose that the writer's mom would be displeased that her offspring was out ogling VC's window?
But there's more to notice--this item is unsigned.
S'pose that the writer's mom would be displeased that her offspring was out ogling VC's window?
Doyle Raises Cost of Health Care
Rep. Lassee, as is his custom, provides "the REST of the story" after Jimbo Doyle screwed the pharmacies, doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes again.
That $330 million gift to WEAC, which was most likely responsible for the honorable resignation of Marc Marotta (the final straw...) will cost Wisconsin residents even more in health insurance premiums next year...
Not to mention what it will cost when more nursing homes close up to avoid bankruptcy-by-Doyle.
That $330 million gift to WEAC, which was most likely responsible for the honorable resignation of Marc Marotta (the final straw...) will cost Wisconsin residents even more in health insurance premiums next year...
Not to mention what it will cost when more nursing homes close up to avoid bankruptcy-by-Doyle.
Lies with Pictures
The MSM is nothing if not sophisticated. They've developed a lot of ways to lie very effectively, and the photo is one of them.
"Anatomy of a Photograph" is merely the latest exposition of their lying "eyes."
Found through Powerline.
"Anatomy of a Photograph" is merely the latest exposition of their lying "eyes."
Found through Powerline.
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