Happy New Year!

Well, it looks like it may be my turn to come down with that cold that's been going around. So, I'm going to take some NyQuil and try to relax the rest of the day year. Have a happy and safe New Year!

New Years Eve Linkage

One more bulleted linky post for 2003:

• Both Cam Edwards and Josh Claybourn believe that reality TV has finally hit bottom. While, I agree that it has hit bottom, I'm afraid it will start digging.


• Some Christians could learn a lot from Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. (Via Relapsed Catholic.)


• Speaking of Kathy Shaidle, check out her Dallas Morning News op-ed column: I used to sneer at you.


• William Luse has a Christmas poem which I think makes a fitting end for this year.

Well, this sucks...

It looks like Andrea Harris is hanging up blogging. I hope she changes her mind. But if she doesn't, I understand her reasons.

Update: I should have known...she's back with a new blog, Twisted Spinster. Very cool!

Oh, how I needed a laugh...

And this really made me laugh!

(Thanks to Dodd.)

Yeah, whatever, you little...

Rev. Mike responds to a sanctimonious little screed (no links from me) with a lot more patience and charity than I can possibly muster.

And one more thing...

...about this column...this guy couldn't be more wrong when he says this:

Even after the Christians stole Christmas, they were ambivalent about it. The holiday was inherently a pro-life festival of earthly renewal, but the Christians preached renunciation, sacrifice, and concern for the next world, not this one. As Cotton Mather, an 18th-century clergyman, put it: "Can you in your consciences think that our Holy Savior is honored by mirth? . . . Shall it be said that at the birth of our Savior . . . we take time . . . to do actions that have much more of hell than of heaven in them?"

Yes, that's why Christians sing joyless ditties like "Joy to the World" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". No, Christians don't believe in celebration or joy at Christmas (or any time). We're all about long faces at all times -- no fun allowed. One quote by an 18th-century Puritan minister proves that this is true. [/sarcasm]

Why I'm not a libertarian...

...demonstrated with two links:

• I reject libertine views on social issues.


• I don't think that selfishness is a virtue.

Both of these links bring this to mind.

(First link via lots of folks, second via Cox and Forkum.)

Goodbye Christmas Skin

I decided to go ahead and take down the Christmas decorations. I got a lot of positive feedback on the Christmas skin, so I may eventually put it in the skins gallery for those who want Christmas all year 'round. We'll see...

Comment Spammers

These two IP addresses have been recently banned for spamming:

• 66.192.30.141 - This one spammed me on Christmas morning...is nothing sacred? (What am I saying? They're spammers...of course not.)


• 203.164.92.41 - This one hit Suzi's site the other day. I should have banned it when I saw her post, but I forgot.

I haven't bothered to install the MT Blacklist, because I haven't gotten that much comment spam. I figure this is because I close or turn off comments on old posts and I don't have comments on every post. I may have to install it if this starts happening more often.

Iran Tragedy

As you probably already know, Iran suffered a devastating earthquake, with tens of thousands feared dead. Blog Iran has a photo gallery of the destruction.

If you would like to help, you can do so by giving to Mercy Corps or American Jewish World Service. (Via Blog Iran.)

Yikes! Computer Problems!

I noticed that my computer had been acting kind of funny for a few days, but it was nothing I could pinpoint -- just general flakiness, especially when starting up.

Late this afternoon, I rebooted my PC, and was soon sorry I did. Windows XP would not load. Not even in safe mode. So I got out my XP install disk and did a repair installation. It seems to be working, for now. I suspect that something in the registry may have gotten corrupted. This install is almost a year and a half old, so things like that are bound to happen.

I want to reformat and do a fresh install and perhaps get this three-year-old PC upgraded by the shop here in town that built it for me. However, I want to finish a couple of things I'm working on first. I just hope this computer will hold out for a little while longer.

Wishing You a Blessed Christmas

I probably won't be posting again until after Christmas, so I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas with many blessings.

John 1:10-14

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(Arthur Hughes - The Nativity from The Art Renewal Center.)

Something to offend everyone...

Just because I'm in that kind of mood, here's some completely insensitive humor for you:

• A Christmas carol for theologically liberal apostate Christians.


• It's a BK Holiday! (Via King's Kid and an email I received a couple of days ago.)


• More indignity for Saddam.

Re. The Alert Levels

What he said. I've always been irritated with those who snark and snicker every time the threat level is raised. Mainly because these are probably the first people who would screech and point their fingers if there were no warning and another attack occurred.

Amazing Discovery!

Somebody mentioned mini meringue cookies at a recent Weight Watchers meeting. I kind of filed the info away in the "possible ways to combat my sweets craving" part of my brain.

So anyway, I was at the grocery store yesterday and I saw them...plastic tubs of mini meringue cookies. I had never tried them, but the word of mouth was so positive, I bought two flavors: vanilla and chocolate chip. I also noticed that 13 vanilla cookies are only 2 Points* and 12 chocolate chip cookies are also only 2 Points.

Let me just say, these cookies are delicious! And you don't even need to eat very many, because they are so sweet. You can eat six for only 1 Point, but that's almost too many. Two or three are enough to satisfy a craving for sweets. The cookies are small and light, and they are somehow crispy and fluffy at the same time.

So, if you have a sweet tooth like me, and are looking for a non-fattening way to satisfy it, try some mini meringue cookies!

*Points being the way you measure food values in the Weight Watchers program. The Points value of a food is determined by a combination of calories, fat and fiber. You are allowed a certain number of Points a day, depending on your weight. You also get some extra Points you can use throughout the week if you need them. I find that this method that WW uses is much easier and less time-consuming than counting calories.

Policy on Trolls - Revised

In addition to everything I said in this earlier post, I would like to add one thing. If I find it sufficiently amusing to do so, I will alter troll comments as I see fit. (See this post for an example.) So, if you don't want your comments altered, don't troll my site.

Sanctimony re. Saddam

Rev. Mike dispatches the lefty* Christians better than I could. Andrea Harris also pegs those who are oh-so-concerned about Saddam's "dignity".

*Yes, I know how much you lefty Christians hate to be labeled. That's exactly why I'm labeling you.

Is the PBA ban ineffectual?

I'm not sure what to think of what this guy says. He believes the PBA ban was worded in such a way as to make it very easy to get around, so therefore it's useless. (If that's the case, why are the pro-abortion groups so upset?)

He also predicts that new ultrasound technologies will eventually be used for "non-invasive" abortions.

I'd like to know what some other folks think of this. Is the writer of this column just an alarmist, or does he have a point?

Generations

Here's a scathing look at the aging Baby Boomer generation. (Via Andrea Harris.)

Meanwhile, it looks like many in my own generation have inherited the Boomer disdain for patriotism.

Early reports on Return of the King...

...From Lysander and Bill at Thinklings.

Christians and Art (Again)

Are Christians being "left behind" when it comes to producing good art? Jared at Thinklings tackles that subject.

Serving up a fresh, hot cup of "Shut the Hell Up"...

Kathy Shaidle slams some Saddam-coddling Cardinal at the Vatican.

Busy

Like a lot of people, I'm really busy because of the holidays. Plus, I've got stuff going on at work and other non-holiday, non-work related stuff to concern myself with. So, blogging will probably be even more sporadic that it usually is for the next few weeks. When I post, it will most likely be just quick, "Hey, check this out!" link posts. (I know, I know...I'm no essayist in the first place, but I'm about to become even more laconic.) Also, I'll probably not open comments on most of those kinds of posts.

Just so you know...

Am I EXTREEEEEME?

I've wanted to post about this, but a combination of absent-mindedness, a short attention span and being really busy kept me from doing so.

What first caught my attention was this: Boar's Head Tavern - The 'Are You Conservative or Stupid' Test. It's a satirical response to this questionnaire (Are You an Extreme or Moderate Nice Christian), which, in turn, is a take-off of Daniel Pipes' questions for Muslims. Below are my own responses to the "Extreme or Nice" test. I'll leave it to you to decide whether I'm extreme or nice. (Actually, I don't wish to be either.)

Update: Edited for clarity.

Violence

1. Do you condone or condemn the Christians who end the lives of others, in the name of Christ?
2. Will you condemn by name as terrorist groups such Christian individuals and organizations as Timothy McVeigh, the Army of God, Paul Hill, Christian Identity, John Salvi, the Ku Klux Klan, Clayton Lee Waagner, Aryan Nations, the National Alliance, John Noster, American Coalition of Life Activists, and Eric Rudolph?

1. Condemn.
2. Yes. And I don't see these groups and individuals as being legitimately Christian.

Modernity

1. Should Christian women have equal rights with men?
2. Is the Christian concept of a just war acceptable in today's world?
3. Do you accept the validity of other religions?
4. Do Christians have anything to learn from those who reject the Gospel?

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. If "valid" means people are free to choose to worship (or not worship) as they please, then yes. If "valid" means that other religions are just as true as Christianity, then no.
4. Of course.

Secularity

1. Should non-Christians enjoy completely equal civil rights with Christians?
2. May Christians convert to other religions?
3. May Christian women marry non-Christian men?
4. Do you accept the laws of a majority secular government and unreservedly pledge allegiance to that government?
5. Should the state impose religious observance, such as the posting of the Ten Commandments on public buildings?
6. When Christian customs conflict with secular laws, which should give way?

1. Yes, of course. (Duh!)
2. Yes, although I believe they're wrong to do so.
3. Yes, although I don't think it's a good idea.
4. I'll accept the laws, but that doesn't mean I approve of all of them. It doesn't mean I won't express my opinions about a law or vote in ways that will help to change a law. As for "unreservedly" pledging allegiance, I think that depends on the government.
5. No. And the state should not inhibit religious observance by individuals or a community.
6. For an individual Christian, Christian beliefs should come before secular law.

Christian pluralism

1. Are Catholics and Mormons fully legitimate Christians?
2. Do you see Christians who disagree with you (for example, Bishop Spong) as having fallen into unbelief?
3. Are accusations of apostasy or heresy acceptable practices?

1. Catholics, yes, of course. Mormons, no.
2. If you mean those with apostate, heterodox beliefs, yes.
3. Yes.

Self-Criticism

1. Do you accept the legitimacy of scholarly inquiry into the historical Jesus?
2. Who was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombings?

1. Sure, as long as it is truly scholarly and doesn't have some other agenda.
2. McVeigh and whoever else conspired with him. (What is the point of this question, anyway? My understanding is that McVeigh did not even consider himself a Christian.)

Defense against Militant Christianity

1. Do you accept enhanced security measures to fight militant Christianity, even if this means extra scrutiny of yourself (for example, FBI monitoring of churches)?
2. Do you agree that institutions accused of funding terrorism (such as anti-abortion violence) should be shut down, or do you see this as a symptom of bias?

1. Yes. If there are legitimate reasons to believe that a church is involved in terrorism, then of course it should be monitored.
2. If the accusations can be proven, yes.

Goals in the World

1. Do you accept that the majority of the countries in the world are majority non-Christian and many goverments are secular or non-Christian, or do you seek to transform them into majority Christian countries ruled by Christian principles of morality?
2. Do you accept that the U.S. governmental system is secular, or do you seek to transform the U.S. into a Christian nation?

1. Yes to the first part. If a nation becomes majority Christian, it should be because people converted of their own free will, and not because they were forced.
2. Yes to the first part. No, I do not want a theocracy of any kind, Christian or otherwise.

There's a spider in that hole...

What great news to get up to this morning: Saddam has been captured! Iraqis are rejoicing. And the usual suspects are already starting to whine and stamp their feet. They remind me of Rumplestiltskin:

"The devil has told you that! The devil has told you that!" cried the little man, and in his anger he plunged his right foot so deep into the earth that his whole leg went in, and then in rage he pulled at his left leg so hard with both hands that he tore himself in two.

Meanwhile, LGF regular Iowahawk (who wrote the satirical piece I linked in the previous post) has his own blog now. He sees a possible future career move for Saddam.

And finally, according to On the Fritz, Saddam was caught with a Weapon of Mass Destruction.

I needed a good laugh this afternoon...

And this did the trick: Why Do They Hate Us, Dude?

They hate us because of our paternalism. For much of the developing world, America is a despised father figure, an embarrassing bald 53-year old regional sales manager who “surprises” you during Parents’ Weekend while you’re completely toasted and listening to Radiohead at the dorm with the other developing nations, and then he’s all like, “how are classes going?” and “seeing any girls?” and “boy, I sure wish I was still in developing nation college!” and you’re like “shut up, Dad, you’re embarrassing me in front of Sri Lanka.” That is totally uncool, man.[...]

They hate us because of our obscene greedy culture. America consumes nearly 25 percent of the world’s resources, which it refuses to share with the developing world. This, again, is like the despised father figure who drives around in a new gas guzzling Dodge Durango, and when the developing world needs more resources, it’s all like, “what did you do with the last check I sent you?” like $300 is suppose to last an entire month. I mean, as if, Dad."

Arrgh! My eyes...my brain...the pain...

Victor Lams dares to link to something that...words escape me...it has to be a joke...it just has to. I can't believe women buy these things; that they actually want this, um, look.

I won't link it -- you'll just have to go to Victor's post to see what I'm talking about. Just proceed with caution...and make sure you don't have a full stomach.

(Via Mark Shea.)

Noteworthy Columns

Via Blog Iran comes a couple of items worth reading.

First, there's this column: Iran - Hope for a Cure in 2004?

If one wants to understand the frustration and negative opinions of the Iranian public with respect to the European Union - in particular Britain, Germany and France – it suffices merely to stroll through the streets of Tehran and listen to people’s complaints. We know that during the last 4 years the European Union has tried everything possible to support the reformist camp in Iran lead by Mohammad Khatami, trying to defuse the chaotic political situation in Iran as well as in the international arena. Nonetheless it has not produced any positive results. The public scepticism is palpable.[...]

At the same time the war in Iraq, led by the United States, has created hope amongst the Iranian public. A hope that sooner or later, once the Iraq issue has been resolved, the west will realise how deeply and strongly the Iranian people wish for radical change in Iran, and will therefore help those Iranians who are struggling to restore democracy, freedom, and a secular regime in this ancient land. Both the reformist and the conservative camps in Iran are fully aware of this feeling and have thus set in motion new tactics in order to distract public opinion at home and abroad. They are trying to destabilise Iraq as much as they can with the help of radical Shiites, by facilitating easy cross-border travel for international terrorists in the hope that the US will pull out its forces from Iraq and thus ease the pressure on Iran.

Then there's this column by Glenn "InstaPundit" Reynolds: Is the Empire Striking Back?

Though it hasn't been entirely silent, the human rights community has been less critical, so far, of efforts to censor the Internet than one might expect. Presumably, it has been kept too busy by criticism of the United States' activities in Guantanamo to address something as trivial as the empowerment of worldwide censorship.[...]

National and transnational bureaucrats don't, as a rule, like free speech -- or, as the choice of Libya indicates, human rights in general. And they don't like it that you can read Reporters Without Borders' criticism of them on the web, without needing permission from some government official. That's because free and open international communication is an enormous threat to bureaucracies, both national and transnational, that owe much of their power to their ability to keep people in the dark about what they're doing, and to pretend that voices criticizing their policies don't exist. The Internet, as I've written here before, has become a huge threat to the power of these folks, and it's expecting too much to think that they won't fight back. They are, and they will.

My Liberal-Unfriendly Town

Susanna links to this site that lists "liberal friendly" and "liberal unfriendly" cities. I'm proud to report that my town has been designated as "liberal unfriendly".

Let's take a look at some of the comments, shall we:

This is the city where, in 1993, abortion doctor David Gunn was brutally murdered by an antiabortion nutcase. That should tell you about the climate here, as well as the rest of the Florida panhandle.

So we smear cities because of notorious crimes committed in them? Well, that's really tolerant. BTW, hasn't there also been anti-abortion violence in liberal-friendly Boston?

First of all, [the Florida panhandle] is home to the militantly hawkish Eglin Air Force Base.

As opposed to those nicer military bases that hand out free flowers and love beads and have bake sales for peace...

Current congressman Joe Scarborough is one of the small band of complete nutcase far-right Republicans elected in '94.

Of course, any conservative is a "nutcase" to these people. (Apparently, this page is pretty old. Scarborough has long since left Congress for greener pastures.)

...and [Scarborough] thinks among other things that the US should withdraw from the United Nations completely...

Not a bad idea, if you ask me...but I guess I'm a "nutcase"...

Muhammed Ali came here to speak to school kids about tolerance, and understanding other cultures, and caused a great uproar because the conservative christians didn't want a muslim to speak to their children.

However, a later comment tells "the rest of the story":

Contrary to what's reported in previous comments, the reason Ali's visit to Pensacola caused an uproar was not because parents didn't want a Muslim talking to their kids about tolerance. Perhaps some parents objected, but the uproar was actually about fairness in the application and enforcement of school policy.

At that time, the distribution of religious literature to students of Escambia County public schools was forbidden by school officials. Ali intended to distribute religious literature, so school officials made an exception to the rules for him.

This guy blames the area's conservatism on those eee-vil suburbanites:

The vast majority of the conservatism attributed to Pensacola actually lies in the suburbs (Milton, Gulf Breeze, Pace, Cantonment, Navarre) where MANY military retirees chose to live...So, one has to realize that metro Pensacola (home to almost 400,000 people) is not the ultra-conservative, liberal-hating, gay-unfriendly place that it is made out to be.

Okay, just a few more:

Just when one thinks things are improving here on the "Redneck Riviera," the fundamentalist Christians show up and crash the party. Recently the zealots have begun anchoring themselves on downtown street corners, waving their Bibles, and shouting at the tops of their lungs at the patrons of downtown bars. Arguing with these people is futile, thus most people simply ignore them.

Well, it's not just bar patrons who have to hear it. Everybody knows these people are on every major intersection on many a Saturday. I think they mainly come from that KJV-only Baptist church/school run by Peter Ruckman. Personally, I disagree with their theology and their tactics. I think they bring ridicule to the name of Christ. But we do have free speech in this country. Liberals do believe in free speech, don't they?

Finally, I'll end with this comment, which sums things up nicely:

I lived in Pensacola for all of my 38 years. I recall the abortion clinic bombings and the murders. Those people stood trial just as they would have anywhere else in the country. If you believe that a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch, then by all means stay away from my hometown. Most people here, from many different cultural backgrounds ( some because of the Navy) , get along very well. The Memorial Day weekend brings many gays and lesbians to our beautiful surroundings. If it's so bad here, then why do they keep coming? I believe the majority of Pensacolians are just trying to live their lives like everyone else, in peace! I don't recall any major violence, hate crimes, or KKK marches in many years. A bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. stands on our main street downtown. Every year there is a parade in his honor. Obviously, you have to live here a little longer, and be more open minded to see the big picture. If you can't appreciate the beauty that we have here, then by all means, stay away and leave room for people who can!

Amen to that!

I've got buttons!

In case you didn't notice, I recently got around to making some buttons. You can use them to link to this site. I made one for each skin (you can see it above the "Blogroll Me" link). I also made one two of those little buttons using this tool. The buttons are listed below.

Notice: Please do not directly link the buttons on my server. Save them to your own webspace. (Actually, you wouldn't be able to directly link them anyway, because I have anti-leeching measures in effect.) If you cannot save them to your own space, then I have a mirror site for these buttons at this location: http://members.cox.net/lilacrose/blogbuttons/(filename goes here)

Update: The mirror site for the buttons is here.

One must keep up appearances...

Congratulations! You're Legolas!


Which Lord of the Rings character and personality problem are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

(Via Ipse Dixit.)

Weight Loss Update

I said back in this post that I would occasionally post on my weight loss progress. Well, I've now lost 30.5 lbs. so far. At my WW weigh-in the week after Thanksgiving, I actually lost 2.5 lbs. How cool is that? (I had been on a plateau a couple of weeks before that.)

I've also started to slowly ease myself into exercising. I've started with the stair-stepper, but I'm also going to do some other stuff, too.

Moral Outlook

Dean links to this quiz: The Taboo Game. My results:

Your Moralising Quotient is: 0.83.

Your Interference Factor is: 0.00.

Your Universalising Factor is: 1.00.

There was no inconsistency in the way that you responded to the questions in this activity. It is likely that you think that what makes any of these actions morally problematic has to do with God or some other source of morality external to nature, society and human judgement. You indicated that an act can be wrong even if it is entirely private and no one, not even the person doing the act, is harmed by it. There is nothing contradictory then in a claim that the actions depicted in these scenarios are morally problematic.

Update: There's one thing I'd like to clarify about this quiz. On the questions where you are asked if the people engaging in immoral acts that supposedly harm nobody should be punished...I was a bit confused as to who should do the punishing. If they mean that government or vigilantes would punish them (and that's how I took it), I would say no. However, that doesn't mean that God shouldn't or wouldn't punish them.

Weekend Link-O-Rama

Yes, this is another one of those bulleted posts I love to do...

• First some sad news: Right We Are has closed up shop.


• Now some happy news: After a long absence, there are new posts from Peppermint Patty and Tony Woodlief.


• Lisa has a very moving post about her recent visit to Ground Zero.


• Suzi has started a new spyware information blog: Spyware Warrior.


• Fr. Bryce Sibley posts on PETA's latest stunt. Every time I think they can't sink any lower, they prove me wrong.


• Mac has no use for "reality" TV shows. Neither do I.


• I always wondered whatever happened to the guy who did this song. Thanks to Kathryn, now I know.


• Rodent Regatta posts a Peggy Noonan quote that I found very convicting.


• Susanna a few things to say about the new "Babes Bimbos Against Bush" calendar.


• I agree with Dodd about who the miserable failure really is.


• Hillary Clinton thinks Bush is undoing the New Deal. Joshua Claybourn wonders if she's living in a cave.


• I understand the way Lysander feels in this post. I've been there myself, before.


• Joel Fuhrmann is doing some special blogging for Advent: Praying the Psalms.


• Rosemary makes an excellent point when she asks, "What Is Secular Anyway?"


• Lee Anne Millinger points out that everybody worships. It's what you are worshipping that you should pay attention to.

Oh dear Lord...

Is this the best that the Bush haters can come up with? Turkeygate?

BTW, it wasn't a "fake" turkey, it was a real turkey that was "prettied up":

Officials said they did not know the turkey would be there or that Bush would pick it up. A contractor had roasted and primped the turkey to adorn the buffet line, while the 600 soldiers were served from cafeteria-style steam trays, the officials said. They said the bird was not placed there in anticipation of Bush's stealthy visit, and military sources said a trophy turkey is a standard feature of holiday chow lines.

So the "More PROOF that Bush is a dummy!" crap isn't going to fly.

**rolling eyes, shaking head**

Michael Newdow: Goofball

Just about everybody has linked to this story about Michael Newdow, the kooky atheist guy who wants to get "under God" taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance.

For one thing, he's a real jerk who really didn't want anything to do with his daughter until this Pledge case. Then there's this item:

The Rev. Dr. Michael A. Newdow, Esq. -- physician, lawyer and founder of the First Amendmist Church of True Science -- has a restless, uncompromising mind, a mind that dissents radically from many widely accepted aspects of American life, from the pledge to family law to gender-specific pronouns in the English language. In his own writing, Newdow uses "ree" instead of "he" or "she," and "rees" instead of "his" or "her."

Somebody in the comments box on Mark Shea's post about this really cracked me up when he said that Newdow "must write and talk like Scooby-Doo". Then I got an idea:

Click image for larger size.

Yes, my first lame attempt at a Photoshopping. (Well, actually Paint Shop Proing, but that doesn't have the same ring to it.) I slapped it together in about ten minutes. It was kinda fun, though...

Boortz is a jerk sometimes...

Yesterday, I defended Boortz, but today, I have to bust on him.

A little while ago, he called Terri Schiavo a "slab of meat". This was in reaction to this story. He then went on to make tasteless remarks about her family wanting to do a Weekend at Bernie's routine with her.

I realize that Boortz is almost completely without compassion for the weak and helpless. Some people have a "might makes right" and "only the strong should survive" attitude, and Boortz is one of those people. I usually enjoy his show, but when he starts talking social issues, I have to stop listening. He's definitely on the "Kill Terri" side. He thinks it's better for her to starve and dehydrate to death than to be what he deems a "slab of meat".

Well, pardon my bluntness, but how the hell does he know that? Who the hell is he to judge that she's a piece of meat or a "vegetable"? The guardian says she may never improve. If he's right, does that make it okay to deliberately kill her?

I think Terri reminds some of their vulnerability, and they sort of hate her for that. They hate her weakness, because it reminds them that they too may one day be completely helpless. I think Terri stirs up a primal fear in some people. Fear of weakness, fear of being "defective". In the wild, certain animals will kill off the weaker of their species. Sometimes humans act the same way.

BTW, today is Terri's birthday. It's also my brother's birthday.

I saw this coming...

The kook contingent of the Libertarians is very upset with libertarian talk show host Neal Boortz.

Boortz is attempting to bring libertarianism and the Libertarian Party into the mainstream. I have always hoped he would be successful in doing this because, while I'm not a libertarian*, I would like to see libertarian beliefs on certain issues get more attention.

However, the Libertarian Party has had a reputation for being the domain of kooks and cranks. I mean, most libertarians I run across quickly emphasize that they are "small-l" libertarians. They do not want to be associated with the party. This is very telling.

And now, the kooks and cranks are upset with Boortz because he believes this country should actually defend itself. So, what will the Libertarian Party do? Will they continue to embrace kookdom and "Boot Boortz" (an act that will marginalize them even further)? Or will they embrace the more accessible, mainstream brand of libertarianism that Boortz espouses?

*I'm far too much of a social conservative to ever be a libertarian. Also, while I believe in capitalism, I think it should be tempered by morality. Libertarians are a little too laissez-faire for me.

Sharks Can't Sleep*

In Egypt, the Religion of Peace™ has chosen a new symbol to answer the Christian fish symbol -- a shark:

"All I wanted to say is that I am a Christian, kind of expressing my Coptic identity," said 25-year-old Miriam Greiss, who has a fish sticker on her car. "I think choosing a shark doesn't make sense, as if someone is saying, 'I am a violent, bloody creature, look at me.'"

Emad, a Muslim, laughed when asked about the competing symbols but was unapologetic about the two shark stickers on his car.

"The Christians had the fish so we responded with the shark. If they want to portray themselves as weak fishes, OK. We are the strongest," said Emad, who would give only his first name. [...]

Copts often wear gold cross pendants or have tiny crosses tattooed on the inside of their wrists, but the stickers seem a more public step. Karl Innemee, a specialist in Coptic studies at the American University in Cairo, said the arrival of the fish could reflect a new desire by Egyptian Christians "to express themselves openly." [...]

While the fish stickers came from America, the symbol has roots in Egypt. In their earliest days, Copts used the fish - perhaps the emblem is from the biblical story of the loaves and fishes - as a way to identify themselves to each other without letting their Roman rulers know.

The Copts are wide awake and are keeping an eye on those sharks. Will the rest of the Christian world wake up?

(Via World Magazine Blog.)

*Title from this song. It started going through my head when I read this story.

Cosmo Girl Spirituality

It looks like Cosmopolitan is going to start offering spiritual advice along with the usual makeup ads and secks* tips.

Lorraine Candy, the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, which has a monthly circulation of 460,000, nevertheless insisted that the appointment of a spirituality editor was a necessary response to the growing number of young women searching for "something deeper".

"We get hundreds of letters every month from successful young women looking for something outside their material success to make them happy," she said. "From our own research and anecdotal evidence, it seems that more women are praying than ever before, more women are joining the Alpha course [which introduces people to the basics of the Christian faith], and more women are phoning psychic lines or going to Tarot card readers.

"Young women today are spirituality seekers, whether that be adhering to a formal religion or something a bit less dictatorial."

Yes, I'm sure there are a lot of seekers. But will Cosmo's fashionable, vague, New Agey spirituality help them find what they're looking for?

[Lynette Burrows, an author on children's rights and a Catholic family welfare campaigner] said: "Cosmopolitan sees spirituality as a consumer desire, to be satisfied according to the tenets of political correctness. Appointing a spiritual writer is like redecorating a brothel: it doesn't change what's inside."

I'm pretty skeptical, too.

(Via Open Book.)

*Props to Jared for the spelling!