Hither and thither 5/6/11

First, a public service announcement: REMEMBER Mother's Day this Sunday!

Another busy week, but not too busy for...

• First: yes, it can be done. But only by bald guys.

• In a counterpoint to the marriage of church-sanctioned cohabitors in England last week, DAOD shares a nice exception, as Christian artist (who I don't know at all) Rebecca St. James married her honey on my grandson Timothe's birthday. What is nice about it is that St. James was public about her commitment to sexual purity before marriage; their exchange of "purity rings" was part of the ceremony. From reports, it sounds like what a marriage ceremony should be... in contrast with other more public events in recent memory.
• I've learned never to leave Legos out, so:

• If you ever heard any of the absolutely idiotic mockery of President Bush's reaction to learning of the plane hitting the second tower on 9-11 while reading with kids in a grammar school classroom, this interview with the children who were present is surprisingly enlightening. Though a person of normal intelligence could have figured that out.
• Title Says It All alert: Kudos on getting bin Laden, but I still need a job.
• By the way, you know how President Obama decided not to release the picture of Osama bin Laden heading towards ambient temperature? Because one picture might endanger Americans in some way, he said? And because we don't need to "spike the football"? Remember: there was a time when Obama thought the release of two thousand pictures of alleged abuse by American soldiers was a great idea.
• Seems like: if it embarrasses and weakens America, O likes it; if it notes an American victory... not so much.
• By the way, I'm about 65/35 against releasing photos of a dead bin Laden. I think it would accomplish zero good.
• Muddled-Signals Alert. One more in that neigborhood: I'm confused. Explain this for me. It is the position of our government that Islam is a great, noble religion of peace worthy of respect and unqualified toleration, right? And that terrorism is an aberration, not truly Islam, right? And that Osama bin Laden in particular was not a real Muslim, but had perverted and hijacked the religion to use it to his own twisted ends, right? So why did they go to such pains to give him a respectable Islamic burial? If he's not really a Muslim, why an Islamic burial? If an Islamic burial, isn't the Obama administration saying that bloody, murderous terrorists like bin Ladin are practicing Islam? Wouldn't not having buried him in an Islamic fashion have given the hoards of irenic, charitable, nonviolent peace-loving Muslims who we're told are the rule an opportunity to affirm their distance from such as bin Laden?
• By the way, has the president thanked George Bush for laying the foundation (which Obama harshly criticized at the time) for finding and dealing with bin Laden?
• Rats! I knew I was doomed.

• The first GOP presidential debate was held last night. Josiah watched, bless him; I didn't. I did pause to see Rick Santorum speak. I've said he's a terrible guest-host for Bill Bennett on Fridays. I once counted 14 "um...er...uh" is within a minute or so. Passionless, drifting, inarticulate by himself; cuts guests off when he has them. But this statement I watched was just fine: not one um, strong, on-target. Maybe he just is better talking to people he can see?
• Regardless, John Hinderaker thought Pawlenty shined (yet Hinderaker disparaged discussion of social issues, which puzzles me). By contrast, the indispensable Byron York said Pawlenty underwhelmed, but Santorum dominated. Hunh. Meanwhile, Karl at Hot Air argues that Sarah Palin (who did not attend the debate) is electable.
• Okay. On to other things... like Rob Bell!
• And now, because you can never get enough of Rob Bell humor:

• Oh, what the heck, one more. Pretty good parody of Rob Bell's (self-)promo video. (Thx, Robert Sakovich.)
• A tip from Kristina Nunez led to some pretty creative hand-art.
• Dawn Lewis alerts us to dental floss — now available in delicious bacon and cupcake flavors. Then follow up with toothpaste, in the same flavors.
• That, of course, is for after you eat your bacon gummy strips, gumballs, popcorn, and jelly beans. 
• Then you wash your hands with bacon soap, put on some bacon lip gloss, and pop a bacon mint in your mouth for extra freshness.
• Not to be outdone, our Paula found bacon sunflower seeds, and baconless (kosher) bacon salt.
• Wellsir, this video brings to mind the saying "There's always a bigger fish."
• For the Johnsons (but don't show Wrigley):

• I know, there are a couple of layers of "sad" on this next item. Regardless, on May 24 Chicago is releasing an album titled Live in '75. Right now, you can hear a classic track: the first song on their first album, Introduction.
• You probably have seen the baby laughing hysterically as her dog eats bubbles. Did you know that Chad Vader tried to get into that action? Didn't turn out so great.
• As we head towards church, I point you to a sober warning from Dr. Mounce concerning a great destroyer of local churches.
• Then, still with church in mind but on a positive, sobering, instructive note, be sure to read Phil Johnson's characteristically solid post on the subject of worship.
• Then, forming a troika in a lighter tone, John found a gem for us: this is how a cheerful giver gives!
• John also found us this:

• And now I leave you with an image that will surely stay with you through the weekend.

• ...plus these:

Remember the usuals!