Hither and thither 11/19/10

I have, er, a late-night engagement Thursday night, so you may find more updates than usual through the morning. (I still haven't checked all the submissions from my Dear Readers!) (Update: yes, there will be many updates!) So enjoy, keeping these things in mind:

• For fans of the Harry Potter movie opening today:

• Another use for cats: gator control. Seriously. (A couple of readers also noticed this.)
• We've all been reading about TSA groping and porn scanners lately. Read a different take on it from Doug Wilson, who sees it as a Third Amendment issue.
• Want to avoid becoming a porn pinup or getting sexually molested by the government? Simple: wear a hijab.  Because, you know, Islamic terrorists would never use women or children to do Bad Things. Because that would be wrong!

• But if you're a white lady with a baby... watch out. Because you know they're big terrorist suspects.
• Parenthesis: how can a man's blood not boil at the thought of strangers doing this to his wife, his daughter? I think if mine were molested in such a way... might be you'd be without my services for a time. Absolutely in fur i at ing.
• That's me speaking as a husband and a father. Hear a similar word from a mother: do not touch my kids.
• Anyone think that Janet Napolitano or Michelle Obama are subject to such "pat-downs" as that poor woman alleges? I'm thinking the answer can be spelled in two letters, the first being an "n" and the second a vowel.
• Though he is surprisingly naive about President Obama and Secretary Napolitano, Ed Stetzer gives some reasons to resist.
• Or you can just break up with the airlines, and tell them so, as this writer is doing. After all, from my understanding, the airports do not have to allow the TSA to molest and harass customers.
• My dear wife asked me, and I ask you: where is the ACLU on this?
• Maybe the same place as the NAACP is in celebrating the election of conservative black Tea Party patriots?
• A parting funny, though: Airplane II saw this coming, 28 years ago.
• Post-noon update: I am sure that you all will join me in Deep Guilt over the news that all this "rights"-talk and unsheeplike complaining is making our Overloads positively cranky.
• Second post-noon update: frequent-flyer Phil Johnson Tweeted:"Opted out of the porn scanner this AM; was subjected to groping. Worst part: airport Muzak was playing Dan Hill's 'Sometimes When We Touch.'" You can't make these things up.
• Aaand a parting not-funny prediction: if President Obama does not direct Secretary Napolitano to change this drastically before the holiday-flights season starts next week, "Death-wish" diagnosis is confirmed. That, or incurable megalomania. Hard to differentiate.
• Meanwhile, breaking news: reader Paula found proof that a lot of folks at the "restore Sanity" rally were... mm... not very bright.
• Graphic candy corn joy.
• Julie Garrett has found us Super Mom.
• DAOD points out a pastor who has commanded his church leaders to quit Facebook, or be kicked out. His reasoning is that one might cultivate bad relationships and even infidelity via Facebook. I know that happens... but I have to say that anyone who is that morally clueless and weak should cut an air-hole in a refrigerator and move in. But now, at no extra charge...
• The Irony Alert: this pastor, who's so concerned about purity, and who's comfortable making up his own rules about who can and can't be a leader in his church? His wife is also a "pastor" in that church.
• Update on last week's story about Cody Alicea, forbidden to fly an American flag on his bike. Happy developments. Reader Threegirldad (and BSIL) noted Cody had an escort riding his flag to school.
• No, Josiah and Jonathan, this would not be accepted at Logos Christian Academy:

• While liberals just can't find anything in the budget to cut (except the military), conservatives are once again suggesting that National Public Radio be cut from public dollars. But their structure is so complex that it's difficult to tell how much of their budget is comprised of tax dollars. Regardless, I think the argument for forcing you and me to pay even a penny for it is, at best, weak. Look for the GOP to act on that, next year — and for them to be characterized in the MSM as "anti-culture," or something.
• Meanwhile, interesting to note that Obama has a relative who is a doctor, and is robustly opposed to Obama's agenda.
• More proof — if we needed it — that the Obama administration is utterly clueless and utterly out of its depth in dealing with terrorism. Civilian trial of a terrorist, rewarded with 3 hots and a cot plus endless opportunities for anti-American propagandizing for years... just shows that our wrong President picked the wrong man to be Attorney General. Which is hardly a surprise.
• It does prompt a valid question: might even Osama bin Ladin walk, under Obama?
• Goodness. The new congress isn't even sworn in, and a RINO's already trying to sneak into leadership posed as a "conservative." Watch out, Speaker Boehner.
• Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, nice to know the Dems take corruption seriously. Just kidding! What's the recommendation for Rep. Rangel, found guilty of 11 ethics violations? Dismissal? Be serious. No, they recommend a public scolding of the defiant, unrepentant Rangel! "Bad Congressman. Bad! Now, back to your seat of power and privilege." Onoes! Boy oh boy, that will send a message.
• About that, btw, I am serious. It absolutely sends a message, though not a surprising one from the party that sold its soul to keep Bill Clinton in office.
• Moving to another area where that same party holds power: Dude, better not break into California! If they find out you're illegal... they'll give you tuition discounts! (Thanks to Chris Carney.)
• Oh my. Can you guess what this is? Go on, try:

• The writeup says, "Whether this Thanksgiving centerpiece incites horror, amazement, or confusion when it’s served, it’s certain to evoke some kind of outburst." What is it? Again, a warning: "This dish is not recommended for people who require an inch of space between food groups." Give up? Thanks to a tip from Laura Kelleher, it is a Thanksgiving Turkey Cake. Yikes.
• BSIL says that the perfect dessert to accompany the Turkey Cake is the Cherpumple.

• I think it is safe to say this about San Francisco and its attitude towards what may or should be done with the, er, male member. Here is the rule: if any part of the Bible is foursquare against it, SF is for it; if any part of the Bible is foursquare for it, SF is against it. (Reader Robert's link reminded me that I wanted to point that out.)
• Robert also noted an ugly, ugly find at a Buddhist temple.
• The three most obnoxious Senate victories, to me, in ascending order, were Boxer, this one (if it happens), and Reid. Boxer for reasons obvious to any sentient being — but third place because it wasn't unreservedly sweet to have to vote for Fiorina, (A) under whom I'd worked at Hewlett-Packard, and (B) who served HP really poorly. (I was one who lost my job to India/Canada, thanks to Carly.)  Alaska because Murkowski was rejected by her party, and her victory would embolden stuck-up prima donnas everywhere in future elections. Nevada most because (A) Harry "This War Is Lost" Reid really, really needed to go, and (B) Sharron Angle, I think, would have been a terrific Senatrix.
• On which subject: Reid is going to try to ram through some bad Obama judicial picks. (Did I just say the same thing 2 or 3 times?)
• Similarly, the Dems want to rush to force the military to embrace one particular ruinous perversion. Well. Nice to know what their priorities are, isn't it? Nice and, in a sane society, politically fatal.
• So: we have an administration who views the war on terrorism as a legal matter, and the military as a perfect field for social experimentation. God deliver us.
• PDS. It's real.
• Relatedly: Sarah Palin thinks she could beat Obama in 2012. Elitists will bark and moo. My observations are two: (1) misunderestimating Sarah Palin has become something of a cottage industry, and I won't be investing in it; (2) in a sane America, I think she, any one of my regular readers, or your humble correspondent could beat Obama in 2012.
• First... heart-breaker for Lego fans. You missed it! (Thanks to reader Gil Sebenste.)
• Hunh. Gil also found a Lego exec with (what else?) a Lego business card.

• So, how would you feel about the announcement, "Thomas Kinkade to repaint ceiling of Sistine Chapel?" (And I ask as a non-hater.)  Maybe something like you feel reading this?
• Thanks to reader jmb, enjoy an 80-year-old Scots woman bringing the house down on Britain's Got Talent.
• Maybe I'm going soft in my old age, but I've come to see bull-fighting as a pretty barbaric sport. So reader Chris Carney's find tempts me to think, "Go, bull!"
• Speaking of barbaric, our corrupt and moribund culture now serves up to us two glittering examples of God-hating moral cluelessness: a Twin Cities couple inviting the public to vote as to whether or not to have their child poisoned/dismembered alive. (Thanks, reader Adam Pohlman, for the link.) LATE UPDATE: it may be that this whole thing is a stunt, though its purpose is debated.
• Wouldn't calling something "Church in the Now" kinda be a dead giveaway, right there? Ah, but "gay" "Christian" "pastor/Bishop" Jim Swilley is Pentecostal... so maybe he gets a pass on everything. It's not like his congregation expects a bunch of well-taught Bible out of him or anything.
• Reader Chris Carney found indications that America may not stand alone in self-destructive stupidity.
• Am I the only one who sees this as a political metaphor?

• Leaving us with these: