Friday, February 27, 2009

Hither and thither — 2/27/09

This week's battered pickup has returned from the field. Here's what it brings us (I'm sneaking in unmarked UPDATES as I find them, so keep checking back):
  • Obamolaters scoff and sneer when we call them, well, Obamolaters. But according new Harris interactive poll asked 2,634 Americans who they admire enough to call a hero. Who did they pick? Barack Obama, who has done nothing of substance, besides parlay a paint-thin resume into the highest office in the land. Which, I'll admit, is not nothing — but it's nothing to admire. Second place? Jesus Christ. Now, I pause to say that I am not making this up. I have to give that disclaimer, because it gets even more absurd, if that can be imagined. Among the "values" that moved Obama ahead of Christ, the walking brain-dead listed "Doing what's right regardless of personal consequences" with 89 percent, "Not giving up until the goal is accomplished" with 83 percent and "Doing more than what other people expect of them," with 82 percent. Also popular were "Overcoming adversity" and "Staying level-headed in a crisis."
  • I thought that Bill Clinton was the most egregious textbook incarnation of David Wells' warnings about Americans worshiping style and image over substance and accomplishment and character. I was wrong. I'm forced to say that Obama has actually accomplished less of substance even than Bill Clinton... who tied for sixteenth place with George Washington and Colin Powell — which is bizarre enough, if you think about it. Which I don't recommend.
  • Radical Presidency Update. Not two full months into his presidency, Obama is showing that he is what we already knew he was: a totalitarian radical. Somehow, he trades on his supporters' addiction to violating the Tenth Commandment and uses it effectively to codify violation of the Eighth. Well-educated though he was, Obama evidently never learned that the most portable resource in the world is money. As California's liberal legislators have driven business out for years, Obama means to do to America. So he has announced his intention further to punish the most productive, to reward the least-productive. In 2006, "the richest 1% -- about 1.65 million filers making above $388,806 -- paid some $408 billion, or 39.9% of all income tax revenues, while earning about 22% of all reported U.S. income." Even if he took 100% of those earning &500K or more, Obama wouldn't pay for his schemes. Yet, like every doctrinaire socialist, Obama thinks he can get more eggs by strangling the goose because he's, you know, special. Just like all his predecessors.
  • The president's administration surely is well aware that crisis is a useful tool for gaining power. The procedure is simple and two-step: (1) convince everyone that there is a crisis; (2) tell them that only you can solve it. Obama certainly is worsening the crisis, and riding it for all he's worth. Every time he opens his mouth, the market crashes. I wish he'd stop. In fact, if Obama proposed a six-month moratorium on saying or doing anything, perhaps we could begin recovering.
  • Safari sounds cool. Anyone using it?
  • Why we hate Vista:
  • Northern Peril Alert. Canadians: harmless and peculiar? Maybe. Maybe at one time. But now... they're learning to read our minds! "Harmless," they say. Yeah, right. I say: today, Shania Twain; tomorrow, the world!!!
  • Well, imagine that. Kids who listen to songs with sexual lyrics are likelier to engage in sexual activities/intercourse. No proof cited to identify chicken/egg causality. Me, I'd say it cycles.
  • Very cool. Some early risers got a view of the Moon, Jupiter, Mercury, and Mars. For a larger picture and more explanation, go here.
  • Also cool: see a large model of Herod's temple that a man spent thirty years building here. (Herod himself took over forty-six years to build his rather larger version.)
  • You can see a list of Britain's most bizarre names, which includes a few American ones as well. Maybe Libbie or Ian can explain "Teresa Green," though. I've tried to pronounce "Teresa" as Brit-ty as I can, and I still don't get it. Or is it... "Trees are green"?
  • Warning-shot alert. You learn you are dying of a brain tumor. How do you prepare? Here's one sad product of our image-first age.
  • Ear-mark alert. Remember The One promising that he'd be hot, molten death on ear-marks? Yeah, I didn't believe it either. But we'll get to see, really soon. The Porkulus package reportedly features "about 9,000 earmarks totaling $5 billion." Goodness, that's a bit of change, isn't it? But surely it's for truly vital and Constitutionally-required spending? Yes, it is — if you can expand that to include $200,000 for “Tattoo Removal Violence Prevention Outreach Program,” $5.8 million for the “Ted Kennedy Institute for the Senate…for the planning and design of a building & an endowment,” and $473,000 for National Council of La Raza. Which I can't.
  • Reason #7109 why you DON'T want the government taking over health care: CPSIA. Hugh "Squish" Hewitt explains it here, and unfolds the implications here. Power + arrogance + incompetence = disaster.
  • Tempted to hide in a cave until Obamanomics is over? Won't work.
  • Another 1500 visits or so, and we'll be at a third of a million. Not bad for a no-name. Glory to God.





43 comments:

Fred Butler said...

"Marshtit" has been one of my favorite bizarre British names. I met a Marshtit at Grace during a Shepherd's Conference. I snickered like a 5th grader upon hearing it.

Fred

Kim said...

Hmmm... that "harmlesss" beam of radiation into the brain... I'm wondering if we blasted it enough into the brain of Ms. Twain, it would result in less inane lyrics.

DJP said...

You! Kim!! Stop reading my mind!!!

Aaron said...

Speaking of Hugh Hewitt, he interviewed the former religion writer of the LA Times who apparently lost his religion. I downloaded the podcast and will try to listen to it today.

Glen Beck has also been doing a series on "worst case scenarions." It isn't pretty.

The Squirrel said...

"Watching American Idol" ROFL

Isaiah 45:20 comes home to roost!

~The Squirrel

Neil said...

djp: Think blackberries with earbuds. The peril comprehends you.

FX Turk said...

Safari 1.0 was a great browser -- before we had Firefox 3 or MSIE 8. I think Firefox is more stable and mo' betta than either of the other two options.

On all platforms. Safari for Windows is, um, unacceptable.

Mike Westfall said...

As usual, a good crop of H&T. Keep that battered pickup truck running!

On the "bizarre" punning names, someone will have to explain "Annette Curtain." I don't see the pun. I know, I'm dense.

Good news from New Mexico: SB12 -- the domestic partnership bill -- failed to pass out of the state senate by 25-17. My wife did a lot of emailing about this one and talking to state senators with concerns. She can rest now.

Kay said...

A net curtain is a piece of lacy material hung at the window meant to enhance privacy but still let in the light. Having starchy-white ones is a mark of extremely middle class pernickety house-proudness. So a woman call Annette Curtain is kind of funny.

Dan, you're correct it's 'Trees are green'. I confess to finding the unfortunately ribald ones very amusing.

DJP said...

Oh crud, there are ribald? Seriously, I thought I'd screened. Should I delete the link?

Kay said...

lol, no, nothing on that link - this story was also reported on the BBC, and much Carry-on style nonsense was mentioned there.

Anonymous said...

"Also popular were "Overcoming adversity" and "Staying level-headed in a crisis.""

Hmmm....Guess that they figure Obama wins because he never sweat blood....then again...he never really did anything truamatic either....I demand a recount!

"Safari sounds cool. Anyone using it?"

Unfortunately.....yes. Not a big fan.....

"Harmless," they say. Yeah, right. I say: today, Shania Twain; tomorrow, the world!!!"

Guess I better treat her with more respect eh?

"Also cool: see a large model of Herod's temple that a man spent thirty years building here."

First Babylon, now Herod's temple....lol.

"Another 1500 visits or so, and we'll be at a third of a million. Not bad for a no-name. Glory to God."

Keep up these Hither posts, and you'll get even more! Seriously, I love these, thanks Dan!

God Bless!

DJP said...

"Keep up these Hither posts, and you'll get even more! Seriously, I love these, thanks Dan!"

Oh, thanks. That's nice to hear. I'm always kind of disappointed at the "buzz" these do (or don't) generate.

The Squirrel said...

Wow, the model of the Temple is amazing! I love stuff like that.

"I have also sculpted and painted 4,000 figures, measuring just half an inch and all wearing their correct costumes. Each one takes about three hours to make and there are 32 versions of Jesus, although no one can ever spot him no matter how religious they are"

Wow, 32 versions of Jesus! Sounds like a church I visited once... :-)

The Squirrel

Stefan Ewing said...

Oh, my word. I didn't realize that Herod's Temple was that large! Even the Temple itself, let alone the whole compound.

It is slightly different in some details from the model shown in Wikipedia, but then there's no detailed description of the Temple preserved for us from Scripture, unlike the Temples of Solomon and Ezekiel....

And I'm not getting the verse reference that says Herod built the temple in 46 years. Is it to 2 Cor 1:3-6, or John, or...?

Stefan Ewing said...

Another detail from the Telegraph article:

"The pensioner has hand-baked and painted every clay brick and tile...'I cut plywood frames for the walls and buildings and all the clay bricks and tiles were baked in the oven then stuck together.'"

Stefan Ewing said...

And we already have "A Squirrel in Babylon"? The birth of a meme....

The Squirrel said...

Stefan,

Yup, when I read "squirrels in Babylon" in Libbie's comment, I knew my blog had an identity :-)

The Squirrel

Anonymous said...

Squirrels Rule! We need more in today's society!

Gilbert said...

Marshtit? Shania Twain? Squirrels rule?

Whoa. This blog needs a "time out". Do this...

http://www.virtual-bubblewrap.com

http://www.leekspin.com/

At least it'll make you forget that Dan even mentioned Ms. twain...

Stefan Ewing said...

I'm so dense. That "46 years" reference comes from John 2:20, of course.

But the Logos link still doesn't make much sense.

And is it un-Canadian to not like Shania Twain?

DJP said...

I tested it, it worked; but since it so stresses you, Stefan — and we don't want any stressed mind-reading Canadians! — I changed the link.

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Oh my goodness... this all bears more investigation later in the day.

Did you see this?

http://faithpromise.org/series/pro_kids

By all means, keep the children out of church.

Rachael Starke said...

"I'm always kind of disappointed at the "buzz" these do (or don't) generate."

Perhaps that's because there's such an embarrassment of ... well, certainly not riches...

more like a richness of embarrassment.

You could just shorten them by posting "I Told You So" every day for the next two years... it would save you time. :)

Stefan Ewing said...

Dan: Thanks. The previous link took me to what looked like the entire Gospel According to John, on top of which the first verse reference in the URL was to 1 Corinthians. I was mightily confused.

Okay. I'll call off the mind-reading boffins* now. All I got from them so far was "Proverbs," "Chicago," and "pizza."

*That's a throwaway for Libbie.

DJP said...

What more IS there???

DJP said...

My Facebook page has been completely overrun by out-of-control Canadians, over the mind-reading thing.

DJP said...

Out of control, marauding Canadians.

Dan Odom said...

Running Safari 4... can't tell any difference! Cooler to look at though.

Dan Odom said...

Oh.. on the Herod model... why? All I can ask is Why would you spend 30 years doing this? He obviously didn't work on the kind of farm I grew up working on!

The Squirrel said...

Marauding Canadians!! I live too close to the border for that!! Stefan! Can you call 'em off? Besides, maraudin's squirrel work :-)

And, Thanks, Joshua!

The Squirrel

Anonymous said...

"Thanks, Joshua!"

Sure thing.
Like I said, Christian squirrels are sorely needed.... :)

Anonymous said...

The canadian thing has me curious...Do you think we could hold them off? I mean, their socialist healthcare is starting to creep in....On the other hand, we could get more discounts on Bacon.

Seriously though, does this thing really work? How did Canada come up with it? You'd think the Japanese would have first....

Stefan Ewing said...

Sorry, Squirrel (if that is your real name). Once you've unleashed the passions of Canadians, there's no stopping them—you know how Canadians are known around the world for their hot-bloodedness.

You can usually temporarily divert them, however, but putting up a Tim Horton's in their path and offering free donuts.

The Squirrel said...

Stefan:

A squirrel by any other name would be just as nutty :-)

Ok, come on down... Just bring a Joey's Only 4 piece dinner (extra fries) with you! We used to have one in Missoula, but it shut down several years ago. I was stuck in Calgary for a week last year, but, by providence, there was a Joey's Only within walking distance of my hotel... Oh, I miss all-you-can-eat Tuesdays...

The Squirrel

candy said...

I find it interesting that the Canadian mind reading article generated comments about Shania Twain, but nary a comment about Celine Dion...hmmm I wonder why.

I am happy to see conservative cartoonists rightfully portray Obama with bigger ears than the Left-leaning cartoonists previously portrayed Bush. Liberal cartoonists state that they just can't find ANY worthwhile material on Obama.

I love getting off work on Friday to read Hither and Thither. It is a bit like a New England blog I read called Maggie's Farm, which I don't recommend because of occasional scantily clad lady photos, but great links and comments about our political climate. Plus Bob Dylan videos. But..don't go there.

Now back to my Pud Thai dinner while hubby is at a basketball game. Maybe in a year if all goes according to Obama, I will say....back to my canned green beans.

Gilbert said...

Well, I think this blog has reached the bottom...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/26/toilet-roll-america

It's all our fault. Again.

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Love the model.

"32 Versions of Jesus".

Sounds like the 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Carol Jean said...

For loads of fun, check out Stimulus Watch to see how porky your state and city are. Our local news in Cleveland reported last night that an Ohio man requested $15,000 for RUBBER BANDS!! If you have a request for our beloved president you can go to the recovery.ohio.gov site to submit your request. Don't know if you need to be an Ohio resident. Don't know if they'll take Franks request for funding for a genuine calfskin ESV Study Bible.

GrammaMack said...

"Canadians: harmless and peculiar? Maybe." Being a Canadian, I knew you were going to say that.

DJP said...

Stop reading my mind!!!

trogdor said...

The plastic surgery article was tragically ridiculous. Not just because of the obscene waste and vanity, but because it was paid for with money saved for her wedding. About $60k for a wedding?!? The mind boggles.

Regarding The Obama's campaign against businesses and successful individuals: Way back in 2000 I had a long drive through Michigan, and being extremely bored, I listened to the only radio station that would come in. It was carrying a Senate debate between Debbie Stabenow and whoever she was facing, and it was hosted by the UAW. Stabenow answered pretty much every question by railing against the big auto companies, promising to punish them for (i dunno, greed? massively overpaying nearly every member of the audience?), and at one point promising to do everything in her power to bring them to their knees. Of course, each time it was met with thunderous applause, as if nobody could make the connection between "success of my employer" and "I continue to receive large paychecks". It was transcendently absurd.

Of course, Stabenow won, has done exactly what she promised to do, and now Michigan's largest voting bloc is "wards of the state", thus ensuring her continued re-election by the unthinking, so long as she keeps the D by her name. Somehow this episode comes to mind whenever The Obama pontificates against employers, and those who depend on those employers cheer.

The model of the temple is pretty amazing... but what temple is it a model of again? According to the nice muslims at the 'temple mount', there never was a Jewish temple there. Surely they couldn't be lying about such a thing in an attempt to deny the existence of pre-Islamic history? Why, next someone will accuse them of building dams in Iran solely to flood ancient Persian archaeological sites.

But yeah, the temple must've been amazingly awesome to see. When you consider that this was just a retaining wall for the mount, and the temple itself would've towered over the city even more... And while almost everything was made from drab limestone or clay brick, the temple was gleaming white marble and gold. Here are a few pics of a 50:1 scale model of what Jerusalem would've looked like around 70 AD: an aerial view and a bit closer in. It's no wonder the disciples, primarily a band of backwoods yokels, were so amazed and impressed with the temple.

Mike Riccardi said...

“People think I’m crazy for wanting to do this, but I know it will make my last months or years happier. I want to die beautiful. This is my way of getting the control back in my life.”

“It is not the usual dream of someone with a terminal illness but it is my body, my choice.”


There it is. God asserts His sovereignty over every aspect of life, and our response is, "No! Mine!" The pinnacle of self-deification and the foundation of our idolatry.

I want to look beautiful when I die. Inside I’m melting away, but on the outside I want to be strong and stunning.

Isn't that amazing when compared with the following:

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Praise God for this! What hope we have! Therefore we do not lose heart. Why? Because because we hope for our life being revealed at the revelation of the glory of God (Col 3:1-4). Praise God!