Friday, October 23, 2009

Hither and thither 10/23/09

I thought I'd have to apologize for slim pickin's, given last weekend. But we've actually ended up with a pretty nice assortment for you all. In fact, it's packed. Enjoy!
  • Kinda funny, kinda sad. Atheists by definition can neither discuss what is good, nor can they prove that it is good to discuss what is good, nor can they prove that it is meaningful to try to convince anyone of anything. After all, matter is all there is, and we are what we are by random processes. Yet they keep campaigning to convince people that you can be a good atheist. Kinda funny, kinda sad. Kinda Romans 1:18-32.
  • Our bud Fred Butler levels a richly-deserved gloat at obsessive anti-creationist blot blog Little Green Pinheads Footballs.
  • Isn't it nice when booksellers fight for your affection?
  • One of life's marvels is how the liberalism = tolerance and openness meme survives onslaught after onslaught of facts. For instance, you'd think campaigns against censorship of libraries would be opposed to, you know, censorship, right? Not so much. For instance, advocacy of politically-favored perversion = fine, but suggestion that perversion is perversion, and that slavery is undesirable and not inescapable... not so much. (H-T reader Jason Sanborn for the link.)
  • Mmmm... bacon jam....
  • Can a Corn Pops commercial be creepy? I'm thinking... yes.
  • "Why should you stay in that nassty frying-pan?", asks the Vatican.
  • Evidently, if that doesn't work, the Pope is down with "power evangelism."

  • Though never by conviction a tee-totaller, I've also never been drunk. A friend who had often been drunk in his pre-Christian days told me years ago, "The first thing that happens when you get drunk is tjat you become an instant expert on everything." Evidently the same happens when you trick your way into the Presidency, as President Obama now tells us what is and is not a real news agency. The criterion seems to be whether an agency does or doesn't criticize him. Isn't it nice we have the White House to explain everything to us, and run everything for us?
  • I'm thinking of asking President Obama to explain the use of the articular present participle in the Greek text of John 4:23. That's always puzzled me.
  • Evidently, being a cultic nutcase has a similar "instant-expert" effect. Anyone can be a medical expert!
  • Mark your calendars. Today I doff my hat in respect to a principled stand taken by... gulp... four MSM news organizations. Well done, gents. Smacking down an overreaching, administration. I salute you. (H-T Jill, via Facebook.)
  • Charles Krauthammer adds a few choice words about all that.
  • Jake Tapper of ABC News is another who hasn't gotten the memo.


  • Democratic Representative Mark Grayson, however, says that Fox News and those who agree with them are, in fact, enemies of America. Just thought you should know. There oughta be a T-shirt.
  • Doing anything for the next 520 days? Might have a nice gig for you. 
  • Reader Mark Loftus alerts us to a challenging example: a centenarian athlete.
  • On a sad note: comedian Soupy Sales died. I enjoyed his silly, funny show as a kid, and still remember White Fang, Black Fang, and "The Mouse."
  • Remember the racist judge we mentioned last week? The media reported that he was Republican. Yeah, well. About that. He was actually Democrat all his life, including through four refused interracial marriages — until he switched to the GOP in 12/2008. (HT to Mark Loftus yet again.)
  • Be afraid. Be very afraid.
  • And, in related news...
  • Force push!

  • I am perilously close to naming (ahem, Canadian) Mark Steyn as a national treasure. All we poli-addicts have been using the well-known acronym "RINO" (Republican In Name Only). Some of us add "CINO." But now, to describe liberal NY Congressional GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava Steyn introduces the new acronym DIABLO — Democrat In All But Label Only.
  • Steyn adds this sage observation at no extra cost: "The tea parties and town halls were a response not just to Obama but to the 2006/2008 GOP." 
  • Those wacky Japanese game shows. Most of the ones of which I've seen clips will never find their way here. However, a reader whose identity is shrouded in mystery shares this game show which will show you how to get ready and leave for work in under 5 minutes. Me, I say that if you're that busy, something needs to change. BTW, the demonstrator is in underwear for a fair portion, but they could be (non-Speedo) swim trunks; totally unrevealing.
  • Leading, if unrelatedly, to:





 



 

37 comments:

DJP said...

You all owe me many bubbly comments. It's your duty.

Dana~Are We There Yet? said...

I start our homeschool on Fridays with H&T with my teenagers...makes for some lively conversation around the kitchen table! Now I'm trying to figure out how to list it on their transcripts...

DJP said...

I love hearing that, and I wish I could hear the discussions!

Anonymous said...

Does The Force Push guy owe royalties to Benny Hinn?

Neil said...

A former Prime Minister of ours earned the label "Mr. Dithers", and it was devastating for him.

You now might have a Mr. Dithers of your own wrt Afghanistan decisions.

DJP said...

BTW, every Friday, if you check HT early in the day, give it another scan at the end. I often stick in updates without noting them.

Like I just did.

Mike Westfall said...

Dana, I'd list it as "Civics."

Dave said...

Are you sure he's not a follower of Benny Hinn? It looks like he's practicing for the next crusade....

Fred Butler said...

BTW, every Friday, if you check HT early in the day, give it another scan at the end. I often stick in updates without noting them.

Like I just did.


...And my heart is exceptionally warmed as a result.

Jay said...

I do think PFOX overstates itself greatly when it says that anyone can go from gay to straight. I've met over 100 ex-gay Christians over the past four years, and even the married ones who have been following Christ for decades still experience major homosexual temptations on a day-to-day basis -- that doesn't mean they aren't sanctified, but I would feel uncomfortable calling them heterosexual.

In either case, it is ridiculous to censor something. Much of the ex-gay movement is, unfortunately, steeped in charismaticism and prosperity Gospel. There's quite a bit of bad science there, too. At the same time, I wouldn't have been able to come to those conclusions if I didn't have the chance to read the books and hear the testimonies and make up my mind based on the information I had access to. To deny people access to information is, frankly, indefensible.

Colloquist said...

Another good Friday morning with H&T. Thank you, Dan.

Cheers to Charles Krauthammer. Like Steyn, he should be up for National Treasure award. Aw, heck, just give them both a Nobel.

But did you have to end with that clown??
:::running from screen in terror:::

Colloquist said...

even the married ones who have been following Christ for decades still experience major homosexual temptations on a day-to-day basis...

A sad testimony to how deep the sin runs, but should we expect someone repenting of this particular sin to have a different experience than someone repenting of other lifestyle sins? We're not guaranteed removal of temptation; we are offered strength to withstand it.

Jay said...

Oh, I totally agree, Rabbit. It's just I am uncomfortable with how some ex-gays present their testimonies, because it often times is presented as this total switch from homosexual affections to heterosexual ones, but if you talk to one in person, you realize that's really not the case. In my mind, there should be no shame in being upfront about continued homosexual temptations in the original testimony. Because, like you said, sin runs deep.

CR said...

My hats are off state-run media outlets ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC for pitching in. I was surprised.

Krauthammer is right, Special Report with Bret Baier is the best hours of news on television and really the only news you need to watch.

Aaron said...

Athiests are so illogical. If I stopped believing in God, being "good" would be the last thing on my mind.

That guy took forever to get ready. I can be up and in my car in two minutes. Of course, now I have a three year old. Getting her ready takes a horribly long time.

Rabbit and Jay:

I bet the same schools object to abstinence education of any kind in preference to promoting promiscuity. Heterosexual sin runs deep as well (as I can attest) and its amazing how easily "educators" encourage our children to be seduced into lifestyles that have devastating short and long term consequences.

Solameanie said...

So many things..and all deserving comment...but I'll just make this one.

I always thought the Pope looked a lot like Palpatine.

Terry Rayburn said...

I love the Obama/8-Ball decision making. Would that he was that short of a pre-planned agenda.

Dan, check the link on the "centenarian athlete".

DJP said...

Fixed, Terry. Thanks.

Kara said...

I believe the force push guy is actually performing a Hadouken from the Street Fighter video games. Look at how he holds his hands to charge and then puts the heels of his hands together as he releases. A lot of japanimation cartoons also use it sometimes like Dragonball Z. Being a bit of a gamer that's what I took it to be.

DJP said...

I'm blessed with erudite readers.

(c;

Gilbert said...

I used to work with Bret Baier at WREX-channel 13 in Rockford 13 years ago, his first job. He is definitely the real deal. And works his patootie off.

"You all owe me many bubbly comments."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXgc8wzfC4

Done.

CR said...

That is one cool picture of Sith Lord Darth Ratzinger.

CR said...

Wow, that is so cool, Gilbert, you worked with Bret?!

He's a good example of promotion from within. I remember seeing him on FNS when he was still a field reporter reporting during one of those nasty hurricanes. He definitely looks like he works his butt off.

I was a little worried when Brit Hume retired but Baier has done a superb job.

SolaMommy said...

I'm likin' your Balloon Boy.

Jon said...

Oh man, Ranyd already beat me to the force push being a fireball (hadouken) from the Street Fighter video games.

Nerd = Me

Pierre Saikaley said...

(ahem, Canadian)...

yeah, but...right now I think we're more conservative than y'all are under President Barak.

Zaph :-)

Paula said...

Sorry I'm late to the party, kids...

Dana said, " Now I'm trying to figure out how to list it on their transcripts...

EVERYTHING is transcriptable (as we say around here)! We have a 1/2 credit for Current events and 1/4 each for World Religions & Worldviews sandwiched in with the history credits. We're even trying to figure out how to transcript DS's court appearance (he was cited for an accident he was involved in - he decided to contest it and had to defend himself, question witnesses, etc.)...surely that's transcriptable, no?....maybe not so much....

RE the BACON JAM....there's a confectioner in Cleveland that was advertising Bacon Bark for SWEETEST DAY! They even had an airplane with a banner floating the message over Cleveland rush hour traffic. How many hunks of bacon bark do you suppose you have to sell to pay for one of those planes?

MSC said...

I'll watch a news Star Wars trilogy if it has Pope Palpatine in it.

Logan Paschke said...

Ranyd beat me to it.

Yes that is a... Hadouken!

Rachael Starke said...

Yep, leave it to a Canadian to wield the Queen's English like a sword. I actually listened to some of his testimony at the Canadian Human Rights' Commission, just to hear him speak. He didn't disappoint.

It would be interesting to find out what the impact of the last six month's shenanigans has had on the careers of folks like Steyn and Krauthammer et al at the National Review. I'd barely heard of any of these folks before the election, and now I read them regularly. And thankfully!!

And I gotta say - that 520 day mission to Mars? I've had a day or two with my kids where I would pay good money for someone to take me away in one of those. Where do I sign?

And Solameanie- I always thought it was the other way around. Knowing Hollywood's irreligious proclivities, I just figured they dressed up Palpatine to look like the Pope.

Colloquist said...

And I gotta say - that 520 day mission to Mars? I've had a day or two with my kids where I would pay good money for someone to take me away in one of those. Where do I sign?


Rachael - I thought the exact same thing. You were just bold enough to say it. :D

Solameanie said...

Instead of a Force push, he also could be doing the Aquaman thing with the ball of water. Just pretend they're in an aquarium.

CR said...

Rachael:It would be interesting to find out what the impact of the last six month's shenanigans has had on the careers of folks like Steyn and Krauthammer et al at the National Review. I'd barely heard of any of these folks before the election, and now I read them regularly. And thankfully!!

I've not read much Steyn, but I love Krauthammer. If you think he's brilliant in his writing watch him on Special Report. If I'm in a rush and can't watch the whole news, I fastforward to the last 15 minutes just to hear his commentary. I'll even skip the other talking heads and just go to him.

Logan Paschke said...

Also as one of the proud people voting for Ron Paul in the Republican primaries and Chuck Baldwin (of the Constitutional Party) in my first time voting in the presidential election...

Every vote for a Conservative/Libertarian candidate in the 2006/2008 elections was a vote against the Republican party.

Newt Gingrich is still too stupid a RINO to see that the tidal wave coming against his own party because of compromise.

Still...I really don't know how much I want Huckabee or Palin as my next president.

The GOP is in a stupor still, Michael Steele and the party leaders have been mostly fail.

Look for good picks in Pawlenty, Jindal, Pence, and others step up to the plate. They should and they better.

Mike Westfall said...

MSC said...
> I'll watch a new Star Wars
> trilogy if it has Pope Palpatine
> in it.

Myself, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be interested in a movie about Obama.

jazzact13 said...

It would be interesting to find out what the impact of the last six month's shenanigans has had on the careers of folks like Steyn and Krauthammer et al at the National Review.

Is this Mark Steyn the one that occasionally subs in on Rush's show? He's probably the best guest host Rush has, which is saying something since the others aren't slouches.

DJP said...

Agreed, Jazz. I've heard Steyn a bit on Rush, more on Hugh Hewitt. Absolutely terrific. If he had his own show, he'd shred.