Light of the World

In our dark times (and aren't times always considered dark) we sometimes forget that the Light of the World continues to shine bright. Examples abound. Keep shining the Light.

Zarqawi Placed on 21 Day DL

Al-Qaeda today placed ace terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on the 21 day Disabled List. Though no formal statement has been issued, this confirms at least the temporary loss of one of the terrorist organizations top producers. A source close to Al-Qaeda trainers who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “It looks pretty bad. He could be facing Tommy John surgery which would put him out for at least a year.”

Al-Qaeda now struggles to fill Zarqawi’s spot in the lineup. “We are searching the minors looking for talent to fill in for Zarqawi.” Said Al-Qaeda’s Osama Bin Laden. The skipper went on to add that the organization is looking at a group of Syrian puppy rappers. “They don’t have the experience with explosives that we usually like, but they’re quick and have a lot of heart. No matter who you get, they’re just not going to be Zarqawi.”

Before any decision is made on surgery, Zarqawi will most probably have a trail run at a terrorist mission to see how he holds up. “We’ll probably let him bomb a couple of short buses or maybe a play ground to see if he’s back in shape. If all goes well, he’ll be back in the game killing innocent civilians.”

Zarqawi is credited with hundreds of kills and only one error. In 2002 Zarqawi mistakenly blew up Osama’s 13th wife, Umm Mu ammad. It was revealed after her explosion that she had previously been scheduled for stoning so Al-Qaeda management took no action on the foul.

Proof republicans aren't as smart as democrats

Of the four Tennessee Senators arrested this morning three were democrats and one was a republican. Sen. John Ford took around $55,000 for his influence. Sen. Ward Cruthfield and Sen. Kathryn Bowers each were bought for a little over $12,000, but Republican Sen. Chris Newton managed to get just $4,500 out of the deal. Numbers don't lie. Republicans for sale may be harder to find, but you can buy them for 10 cents on the $1.

The New Era of Bipartisanship

Four members of the Tennessee senate, three democrats and a republican, have taken bipartisanship to a new level. They were taken from the senate floor today in handcuffs by the FBI. In addition to sharing the back of a nondescript government crown vic, the four were also cosponsors of some type of computer recycling bill. Whether or not that has anything to do with their arrest remains to be seen. The Memphis US Attorney's Office will be holding a press conference at 12EST to let us know. Let's see McCain and the gang of 14 top that!

Bridge over troubled water

Attorneys have for ages been trying to put their clients in the best light possible when appearing in court. The more heinous the crime, the more respectable the defendant tries to appear. Now Phil Spector has used his wall of sound mindset to take courtroom appearances to a new level. Spector has recently appeared in court impersonating Art Garfunkel. After all, who could be more harmless than Art Garfunkel?

I want my MTV - I mean my talk radio

Many of the local (Knioxville, TN) radio stations have conspired to confuse their semi-literate listeners. (Or at least confuse me.) Dave Foulk has the breakdown of who is where. The best part of the deal is we now have a new station dedicated to sports talk The Sports Animal.

DeJavu all over again

I went home for lunch today and on the way home all the radio stations were interrupted to say that the White House and the Capitol had been evacuated. By the time I got home the all clear had been given. Of course, within five minutes of the all clear Senator Frank Lautenburg (D NJ) was already on TV criticizing the administration for its handling of the event.

Then in a moment that would give Yogi Berra the willies, I turned on West Wing on Bravo and the story line there was the possibility of the White House being evacuated.

I myself was evacuated to a secure location where I took a nap.

Down but not out...

The blog will be going through a metamorphosis over the next few days so blogging may be scarce. Making more room for more masses of everything.

Blog Nashville

Thanks to Bill Hobbs and all the folks who put on and participated in Blog Nashville this past weekend. One of the things that I found so enjoyable was having folks with so much experience and success like Glenn Reynolds, Bill Hobbs, etc in the same room with folks who could barely spell blog like me. Thanks to everyone for being so willing to share.

This just in...

Dang, I'm Old! My seventeen year old daughter Hannah is going to her first prom tonight. She is such a wonderful young lady, and I hope she has a great time.

Pretty Man, Pretty Room

Coming to you from the beautiful Vince Gill Room at beautiful Belmont University. Vince Gill is a pretty man with a pretty voice and needless to say has a pretty wife. We are enjoying using his pretty room a great deal. Thanks Vince. I wish they would stop playing the muzak version of "Amy" though. Pure Prarie League lives among bloggers.

Blog Vagus

I'm in Nashvagus at Blog Nashville today. More at the end of the day. Maybe...

Do the monkey...

Mickey's monkey that is. There are many things I'm looking forward to in attending the Blog Nashville conference this weekend. One of the many is getting to listen to Mother's Finest on the trip over from Knoxville.

I will also get to see my sister Laura and her family, not to mention learning a great deal about blogging from some of the pioneers.

The new phonebooks are here!!

There are many honors a man can receive in his life time; the Nobel Prize, a Pulitzer, an Oscar, or (unless you are a Tennessee Volunteer) even a Heisman trophy. But in a moment reminiscent of Navin R. Johnson’s life story The Jerk, I feel there is no greater honor than that which I received yesterday by being recognized as a member of the Rocky Top Brigade. With a silent tear slowly winding down my face, and the Pride of the Southland Band in my heart I will face Mecca (Neyland Stadium) and say a prayer of thanks.

Pirate's Code

Yesterday, the United Methodist Church, of which I am a member, decided to reinstate Rev. Beth Stroud. Rev. Stroud had been found guilty on December 2nd by the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual (regional) Conference of violating church law, which forbids the ordination and appointment of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals." Apparently, the Council of Bishops believes the Book of Discipline to be similar to the Pirate’s Code.

"And thirdly, the code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules.”
Capt. Barbossa - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Radio Insanity

The radio station where I usually hear Dave Matthews is now the station where I hear Rush Limbaugh. I thought that all that was left on my dial was the station that played ZZ Top and the station that played Brittney. I love ZZ Top, but man does not live on the "Little ole Band from Texas" alone.

Finally, after a great deal of prayer, soul and dial searching, I found the old Dave Matthews station's new home.

Long live rock!!

Great News Sentinel

The KNS has a great new look.

You’re a nuther ‘un!

Hildegard shows us today (via SouthKnoxBubba) that all it takes to be a good liberal these days is a great deal of hatred and fair four-letter-word vocabulary with which to insult people. Ideas and the arguments that support them is so 18th century. (See the United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence.)
Much more important to the left is whether you have the ability to tell by what someone drives, how they look, or what they watch what kind of $#@’ing, *&%^, Fox watching, @*$!, idiot they are and the courage to tell them. Thank God we have Hildegard to tell us what the hell is wrong with people!

42

Who knew?

A peek into the minds of greatness...

Arianna Huffington is getting on the blog wagon by launching a group blog with many of her celebrity friends. The Guardian has a great preview.

Salute!

Thanks to Brian Tankersley CPA, CITP who has helped me with a CPU in my hour of technological need.

Home, Home on the Range

"Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam.." Some people take their music a little too literally.

McKays!

McKay's Bookstore is reopening in its new store Saturday. McKay's is where we go for all our post grade card rewards and summer reading festivals. Clara Grace's latest academic achievement is bound to mean more Little House at our house.

Kudos to the ‘Boro

At this pace, Murfreesboro won't be a hamlet much longer.

Sweet Oblivion

Paul Krugman writes today in the New York Times that President Bush is out of touch with average Americans on issue after issue.

"Since November's election, the victors have managed to be on the wrong side of
public opinion on one issue after another: the economy, Social Security
privatization, Terri Schiavo, Tom DeLay. By large margins, Americans say that
the country is headed in the wrong direction, and Mr. Bush is the least popular
second-term president on record."

Krugman then enlightens us on how Americans really feel.

"But Americans are feeling a sense of dread: they're worried about a weak job
market, soaring health care costs, rising oil prices and a war that seems to
have no end. And they're starting to notice that nobody in power is even trying
to deal with these problems, because the people in charge are too busy catering
to a base that has other priorities."

Krugman shows us why the democrats lost power in two out three branches of government. They believe in nothing but polls. When Osama Ben Laden released a tape one week before the presidential election John Kerry actually took a poll to find out what he should say about it! The other guiding principle of Krugman and his army of pollsters is taken straight from the Chicken Little Political Handbook - "No matter the issue, the sky is falling."

Since Krugman and the left are so firmly ensconced in polls I'm sure they want to honor the American people, who when polled this past November chose to give control of the executive and legislative branches of government to the Republicans, by taking a poll in the Senate on the president's judicial nominees. But then again, maybe there not really true believers in polls or the American people after all.

You Gotta have Faith! or Faith?

Michael Barone has a great piece on the role of faith in America's future. Despite the ravings of the left that we are doomed for a theocracy, Barone sees continued freedom and a diversity of faiths in our future.

Preach it brother!

Much has been written about the Pope in the last week. MSNBC and the Discovery Channel have both had excellent overviews of the pope's life. The thing that amazes me the most about the Pope is that in every instance he chose compassion, and yet at the same time he never backed down. He faced the two greatest evil empires of the 20th century, (the Nazi's and the USSR) and he never even blinked. So rarely in life do you get to say I truly witnessed a man of God. All too often their faith is overshadowed by the mistakes of their humanity. Pope John Paul II is a man of God. I have no idea who said it, but the best description of the Pope since his passing has been a very simple one:He lived. He believed. He lived his belief. St. Frances said "Preach daily, use words if necessary." The Pope preached everyday all day.

Supported by Tax Payers Like You

George Will has a column today about the uselessness of PBS. Although I agree ole George, I did enjoy watching the Mark Twain Prize last night honoring Loren Michael.

Based on Latvian Goat Herder Tradition

Before we begin:
I am opposed to the death penalty in any form. While my heart burns with anger upon learning of some heinous crime, and while I want the punishment to be as vile and painful as possible to influence not only the perpetrator of the crime but any others who might be likewise inclined, I find nothing in the teachings of Jesus Christ that would allow me vengeance over forgiveness.
∫∫∫∫

Roe vs. Wade will soon be overturned based possibly on the traditions of Latvian goat herders. Yesterday the Supreme Court ended the practice of executing juvenile offenders with the decision announced in Roper vs. Simmons, 03-633. In writing the opinion for the court Justice Kennedy referenced international law, international opinion, treaties not ratified by the United States, and an act of clemency by the Governor of Kentucky. Justice Kennedy was also overwhelmed by the “trend” of five states abolishing their ability to execute juveniles. Basically, everybody else was doing it so it seemed like a good idea to Justice Kennedy and four other justices. While the affirming justices did not mention Latvian goat herders specifically in this decision, it is only a matter of time before those traditions are studied and used as justification for rulings of the court.

Justice Kennedy did not address the universal reply of mothers around the world “If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do that too?” However, in dissenting Justice Scalia gives more weight to mom’s common sense and the United States Constitution than the whim of Justice Kennedy.

“What a mockery today's opinion makes of Hamilton's expectation, announcing the
Court's conclusion that the meaning of our Constitution has changed over the past 15 years. Not, mind you, that this Court's decision 15 years ago was wrong, but that the Constitution has changed. The Court reaches this implausible result by purporting to advert, not to the original meaning of the Eighth Amendment, but to the evolving standards of decency, ante, at 6 (internal quotation marks omitted), of our national society. It then finds, on the flimsiest of grounds, that a national consensus which could not be perceived in our people's laws barely 15 years ago now solidly exists. Worse still, the Court says in so many words that what our people's laws say about the issue does not, in the last analysis, matter: [I]n the end our own judgment will be brought to bear on the question of the acceptability of the death penalty under the Eighth Amendment.. Ante, at 9 (internal quotation marks omitted). The Court thus
proclaims itself sole arbiter of our Nation's moral standards and in the course of discharging that awesome responsibility purports to take guidance from the views of foreign courts and legislatures. Because I do not believe that the meaning of our Eighth Amendment, any more than the meaning of other provisions of our constitution, should be determined by the subjective views of five Members of this Court and like-minded foreigners, I dissent.”

On January 13, 2005 Justices Scalia and Breyer held a rare debate in which Justice Scalia pointed out:

"It is nice to know that we are on the right track and have the same moral and legal framework as the rest of the world,” he said. “But we do not have the same moral and legal framework as the rest of the world and never had. If you told the framers of the [U.S.] Constitution that what we are after is to do something that is just like Europe, they would have been appalled.”

It is quickly becoming apparent that our Justices are not looking to interpret the constitution, but rather are looking outside our borders, traditions and laws for evidence to ratify their own opinions and beliefs as law.

The Last to Know

I watched Sophie’s Choice last night which is based on William Styron's novel about a Polish woman who is forced by the Nazis to choose which of her two children will live, and it dawned on me that our children will be the last generation to hear the holocaust story directly from those who lived it.

Those who were holocaust children from 1939 to 1945 (say about 10 years old) would be in their 70’s or early eighties by now. While there are certainly many great museums, books, documentaries, and tons of material on the holocaust, I don’t think there is anything like hearing the horror directly from those who survived. We should make sure our children have this opportunity before it is too late.

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana