What a difference a year can make.
One year ago we had a new president elect and even those of us who voted for him did not know what to expect. We knew the alternative was disaster but had serious doubts about the choice the country made. Even the true believers would have had a hard time expecting the kind of changes we see. Consider the courts, and smile. Consider ISIS, not ISIL, and how it has been decimated in a few short months. Maybe this was what Obama meant when he called them “junior varsity,” or maybe he was talking about his administration. Consider regulations and breathe easier.
What a difference a year can make.
One year ago I was still an inmate in the People’s Republik of Kalifornia. I was hoping I could finish my teaching career without anything blowing up in my face. My wife was looking for the perfect place in Texas. We had sold our home and were living in an apartment. We knew about earthquakes but not hurricanes.
What will be the difference a year from now?
Stay tuned.
homo unius libri
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Opus 2017-424 (?): On the Street: Remember the Funnies?
Do they still exist?
When I was a child we had two newspapers in our suburb of Los Angeles. One came in the morning and one at night. At different times we subscribed to both or one at a time. We had a ritual and a pecking order. My dad got first go at the paper and as he finished he would pass it out to the rest of the family. He might share parts he wasn’t interested in or that he would get to later but it was a ritual at his mercy. On Sunday we received a paper but were not allowed to look at it until after church.
The funnies were the comics page. Some were serials and others one day stuff. Some was drama, some humor. We had Little Orphan Annie, Beetle Baily and Mutt and Jeff. In addition I would always go to the editorial page for the political cartoon. Salted throughout were things like “Why we Say...” and “Love means...”.
I don’t know if such a thing still exists. Last time I saw one the majority of cartoons were meaningful only to people with too much drugs in their system or an extreme leftward leaning indoctrination. That assumes that the two categories are mutually exclusive.
Now I browse the different web sites that collect humor. There is more variety but I still miss the old rituals.
homo unius libri
When I was a child we had two newspapers in our suburb of Los Angeles. One came in the morning and one at night. At different times we subscribed to both or one at a time. We had a ritual and a pecking order. My dad got first go at the paper and as he finished he would pass it out to the rest of the family. He might share parts he wasn’t interested in or that he would get to later but it was a ritual at his mercy. On Sunday we received a paper but were not allowed to look at it until after church.
The funnies were the comics page. Some were serials and others one day stuff. Some was drama, some humor. We had Little Orphan Annie, Beetle Baily and Mutt and Jeff. In addition I would always go to the editorial page for the political cartoon. Salted throughout were things like “Why we Say...” and “Love means...”.
I don’t know if such a thing still exists. Last time I saw one the majority of cartoons were meaningful only to people with too much drugs in their system or an extreme leftward leaning indoctrination. That assumes that the two categories are mutually exclusive.
Now I browse the different web sites that collect humor. There is more variety but I still miss the old rituals.
homo unius libri
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Opus 2017-425: Modifications
I can’t help it, I read labels and directions. Usually it is a waste of time. Occasionally I find something that is important to know. Other times I get a laugh.
My daughter sent me some gadgets that she picked up in a store in Japan. The label is in Japanese and English. On the back, under “Notice”, I was given this warning. “Please do not bring close to the fire. There is a fear of modification.” I would think so.
On another it explained the purpose of the object, “Small mesh case with zipper and erastic wristband.” At least they got “wristband” right. The stereotype was by the stereotyped.
homo unius libri
My daughter sent me some gadgets that she picked up in a store in Japan. The label is in Japanese and English. On the back, under “Notice”, I was given this warning. “Please do not bring close to the fire. There is a fear of modification.” I would think so.
On another it explained the purpose of the object, “Small mesh case with zipper and erastic wristband.” At least they got “wristband” right. The stereotype was by the stereotyped.
homo unius libri
Monday, December 25, 2017
Opus 2017-423: Enjoying the Moments
I am the only one up at 9:30. As I looked out the kitchen window at the house down the hill I thought of how different their Christmas morning is from ours. They have three small children. I can picture them already opening presents or eating breakfast or whatever their Christmas morning routine is. I have been their with children and I was a child.
It is different now. Everything is slow and mature. The gathering is different. The grandparents are all gone. We are the older generation now. The children have grown up and moved away. My son has flown in but we touched our daughter and son in law with Skype. It was not as good as being here but surprisingly joyful. That is one of the blessings of technology. They are literally around the world yet can be in our living room at the same time.
At the Christmas Eve service I was able to enjoy the noisy babies and hyperactive toddlers around me. Been there. Done that. And my grown up toddler towers over his mother and I. But it brings back wonderful memories of times that were real trials but have been covered with the varnish of time.
Eventually everyone will get up. Eventually we will have breakfast. Eventually we will add to our traditions. It is kind of a human version of the holiday we are celebrating.
homo unius libri
It is different now. Everything is slow and mature. The gathering is different. The grandparents are all gone. We are the older generation now. The children have grown up and moved away. My son has flown in but we touched our daughter and son in law with Skype. It was not as good as being here but surprisingly joyful. That is one of the blessings of technology. They are literally around the world yet can be in our living room at the same time.
At the Christmas Eve service I was able to enjoy the noisy babies and hyperactive toddlers around me. Been there. Done that. And my grown up toddler towers over his mother and I. But it brings back wonderful memories of times that were real trials but have been covered with the varnish of time.
Eventually everyone will get up. Eventually we will have breakfast. Eventually we will add to our traditions. It is kind of a human version of the holiday we are celebrating.
(Galatians 4:4 KJV) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,Enjoy the moments in memory and motion. Celebrate the eventually of God.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-422: The Lottery Christmas
Merry Christmas.
I am aware that it only has a 1/365 chance of being the right day. I would be glad to mark a day that everyone could agree on. Everybody vote. December 25? Works for me.
I am aware that it has become commercialized to the point of being eclipsed as a spiritual milestone. Doing away with Christmas because people make money in the celebration is like doing away with medicines because the people who develop them make money. I could live with that. It might make me slightly less comfortable and shorten my life by a year or two. For you it might bring total destruction. My frustration with gifts is I am not very good at choosing them.
I am aware that it is a Christian holiday and might offend others in the community. Then why do so many of them celebrate it? Why do Jews put up Christmas trees. Why do Buddhists hang stockings? Why do atheists watch Charlie Brown’s Christmas?
I am aware that Joseph probably looked more like Yasser Arafat than Justin Bieber. It does not bother me at all that African Christians portray a black infant or in Tokyo He looks Japanese. The Bible says He created man in His image, male and female. It doesn’t say He created us red and yellow, black and white.
In spite of that I still celebrate the incarnation.
So I send you the appropriate greeting. Take your pick or add your own.
Merry Christmas
Radiant Incarnation Day
Happy Week before New Years Day
Happy Who-Ever-Heard-of-it-before-20-Years-Ago Kwanza
Good morning.
Bah Humbug, in the most warm and gracious way
______________ (Insert your person touch)
homo unius libri
I am aware that it only has a 1/365 chance of being the right day. I would be glad to mark a day that everyone could agree on. Everybody vote. December 25? Works for me.
I am aware that it has become commercialized to the point of being eclipsed as a spiritual milestone. Doing away with Christmas because people make money in the celebration is like doing away with medicines because the people who develop them make money. I could live with that. It might make me slightly less comfortable and shorten my life by a year or two. For you it might bring total destruction. My frustration with gifts is I am not very good at choosing them.
I am aware that it is a Christian holiday and might offend others in the community. Then why do so many of them celebrate it? Why do Jews put up Christmas trees. Why do Buddhists hang stockings? Why do atheists watch Charlie Brown’s Christmas?
I am aware that Joseph probably looked more like Yasser Arafat than Justin Bieber. It does not bother me at all that African Christians portray a black infant or in Tokyo He looks Japanese. The Bible says He created man in His image, male and female. It doesn’t say He created us red and yellow, black and white.
In spite of that I still celebrate the incarnation.
(Galatians 4:4 KJV) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,We went to a Christmas Eve service. It was a truly Christian event because it not only presented the birth narratives; it also presented the Gospel and John 3:16.
So I send you the appropriate greeting. Take your pick or add your own.
Merry Christmas
Radiant Incarnation Day
Happy Week before New Years Day
Happy Who-Ever-Heard-of-it-before-20-Years-Ago Kwanza
Good morning.
Bah Humbug, in the most warm and gracious way
______________ (Insert your person touch)
homo unius libri
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Opus 2017-421: Headline: Water Is Wet
The headline on Instapundit sounded exciting: A diet that could reverse diabetes. Since I had reversed my diabetes I was interested in finding out what this magic formula was. The link was to something called Science Alert.
Alas, it was just another come on. The diet consisted of eating less than 1,000 calories a day. It was discovered that if they followed the diet and lost the weight, the diabetes went away. Okay. Where is the news? Two things here are common knowledge. First, almost anyone who consumes less than 1,000 calories a day will lose weight. Second, if you lose enough weight, and you body is not already badly damaged, you will go into remission.
So where is the big break through? The problem is that people will not limit their intake for long and the weight will not stay gone.
I am waiting for the high Cheese-It consumption diet that will do away with diabetes. That I would volunteer for.
homo unius libri
Alas, it was just another come on. The diet consisted of eating less than 1,000 calories a day. It was discovered that if they followed the diet and lost the weight, the diabetes went away. Okay. Where is the news? Two things here are common knowledge. First, almost anyone who consumes less than 1,000 calories a day will lose weight. Second, if you lose enough weight, and you body is not already badly damaged, you will go into remission.
So where is the big break through? The problem is that people will not limit their intake for long and the weight will not stay gone.
I am waiting for the high Cheese-It consumption diet that will do away with diabetes. That I would volunteer for.
homo unius libri
Friday, December 22, 2017
Opus 2017-420: Headlines: Deus Ex Machina
English newspapers. Love them or hate them, English newspapers. They seem to have a certain love of the outrageous predictions. When I am driven to Drudge, if I see a headline about a miracle cure coming out tomorrow I know it is an English newspaper and the claim is simply click bait. This time the Daily Star made an even better claim: People will begin worshiping robots as gods.
Two reactions to that. First, I am not sure that has not already happened in many ways. People are addicted to their electronics. If they want information they turn to Siri or Google and accept the answer as definitive. They are lost when their phone battery runs down. When you Google Siri part of the response it, “Siri is always with you and always here to help.” Sounds like a god claim to me.
My second thought is that no one ever figured a robot as the anti-Christ. Many Christians understand the Bible to teach that a political figure will rise to head a world government that will target God’s people and bring about what is called the tribulation. This is why you hear so much concern about “one world government” and groups like the Trilateral Commission and the Illuminate. I never thought of a robot taking on that role but it is an interesting thought.
My third thought, and I know I said two, is that people who make these claims don’t understand the nature of the Biblical God. They have in mind a pagan version. Take this statement:
We live in an interesting world full of variety and nonsense. Much of it is in English newspapers. Enjoy it before the robots take over.
homo unius libri
Two reactions to that. First, I am not sure that has not already happened in many ways. People are addicted to their electronics. If they want information they turn to Siri or Google and accept the answer as definitive. They are lost when their phone battery runs down. When you Google Siri part of the response it, “Siri is always with you and always here to help.” Sounds like a god claim to me.
My second thought is that no one ever figured a robot as the anti-Christ. Many Christians understand the Bible to teach that a political figure will rise to head a world government that will target God’s people and bring about what is called the tribulation. This is why you hear so much concern about “one world government” and groups like the Trilateral Commission and the Illuminate. I never thought of a robot taking on that role but it is an interesting thought.
My third thought, and I know I said two, is that people who make these claims don’t understand the nature of the Biblical God. They have in mind a pagan version. Take this statement:
“It’s not a god in the sense that it makes lighting or causes hurricanes.What the average American-Cheese pagan doesn’t understand is that even being a billion times smarter than a human does not even come close to approaching the “smart” of God. Infinite difference is something they cannot accept because they fall into the trap that Satan lays for us. They consider God to be measured in terms of man rather than man being created in the image of God.
“But if there is something a billion times smarter than the smartest human, what else are you going to call it.”
We live in an interesting world full of variety and nonsense. Much of it is in English newspapers. Enjoy it before the robots take over.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Opus 2017-419: Headlines: People in Glass Houses...
I am guessing that the city council of Philadelphia was elected by the same voters that came out for the last presidential election. You know the one, the election where more people voted than were eligible to vote. Take a look at this headline and scratch your head. This one is from Fox News.
It seems that the city council is doing away with safety glass in some shops. According to the headline this is causing “outrage”. We see this time and again in areas heavy with Democrats. The people elected do the opposite of what the voters want. So to show their anger the voters reelect them. Makes sense to me.
It adds fuel to the statement that people get the kind of government they deserve.
The article revealed a typical refusal of Democrats to enforce the law. Evidently there are places that have licenses to operate as restaurants. Part of the requirement is to have a certain amount of seating and to sell food. A lot a joints seal off the seating and turn off the kitchen and simply sell booze through the little windows in the bullet proof glass. They are clearly in violation of the business license. That should be easy to correct but instead of enforcing the code as written, they write some more code.
And they will probably be reelected.
Let me share my political wisdom with the voters of Philadelphia: Vote the suckers out. And while you are at it, clean up your voter roles and make your elections honest.
homo unius libri
It seems that the city council is doing away with safety glass in some shops. According to the headline this is causing “outrage”. We see this time and again in areas heavy with Democrats. The people elected do the opposite of what the voters want. So to show their anger the voters reelect them. Makes sense to me.
It adds fuel to the statement that people get the kind of government they deserve.
The article revealed a typical refusal of Democrats to enforce the law. Evidently there are places that have licenses to operate as restaurants. Part of the requirement is to have a certain amount of seating and to sell food. A lot a joints seal off the seating and turn off the kitchen and simply sell booze through the little windows in the bullet proof glass. They are clearly in violation of the business license. That should be easy to correct but instead of enforcing the code as written, they write some more code.
And they will probably be reelected.
Let me share my political wisdom with the voters of Philadelphia: Vote the suckers out. And while you are at it, clean up your voter roles and make your elections honest.
homo unius libri
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Opus 2017-418: Headlines: A Democrat Rediscovers Due Process
The Democrats continue the charade of being law abiding. Now the Boston Herald tells us that Senator Leahy is recanting on his call for Al Franken to step down.
I wonder how many other Democrats will suddenly become converts to due process. What they forgot is that “due process” can become the refuge of the scoundrel as much as the innocent. For the criminals in congress you refer it to a committee. Keep in mind that when you want nothing to get done you refer it to committee. Every chairman of the board knows that.
homo unius libri
“Sen. Patrick Leahy says he regrets calling for Sen. Al Franken to resign instead of waiting for an ethics investigation.”His reason is a sudden conversion to the rule of law.
‘The Burlington Free Press reports the Vermont Democrat released a statement Monday, saying he has "stood for due process" throughout his career, and that he regrets "not doing that this time." He says the Ethics Committee "should have been allowed to investigate and make its recommendation."’I wonder if his conversion extends to Roy Moore.
I wonder how many other Democrats will suddenly become converts to due process. What they forgot is that “due process” can become the refuge of the scoundrel as much as the innocent. For the criminals in congress you refer it to a committee. Keep in mind that when you want nothing to get done you refer it to committee. Every chairman of the board knows that.
homo unius libri
Monday, December 18, 2017
Opus 2017-417 English Lessons
Most of us are familiar with the liberal bias in American newspapers. It is a given. I thought I would look at an English newspaper and see how they were doing. I turned to The Independent and I will let you be the judge. Here is the first sentence in the article,
I will keep looking. And just as “Deplorable” has become a badge of honor, we may need to get stickers printed up that say, “I am childish and delinquent”.
homo unius libri
“If there was anything to beat in mediocrity the childish and delinquent declaration by Donald Trump that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital, it was the pathetic response from Muslim states.”Do you sense any bias here? I realize that this is an editorial, but to start out calling President Trump’s statement “childish and delinquent” seems a bit foam-at-the-mouth to me. Am I really supposed to take him seriously? I guess if I were a brain damaged liberal I would be shouting “Amen”, but I am not and I didn’t. I tried to read a few more lines but it was more of the same. Maybe you can get farther than I did.
I will keep looking. And just as “Deplorable” has become a badge of honor, we may need to get stickers printed up that say, “I am childish and delinquent”.
homo unius libri
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Opus 2017-416: Headlines: Another Campaign Promise Kept
President Trump has kept another promise. He has ordered the state department to move our embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Many of you are thinking, “Well, duh.” That makes you a bit smarter than our political leaders. Evidently congress gave permission for this to happen in 1995 but the pressure was too much to see in completed.
One thing I learned from this article in the Daily Signal was that Jordan has administrative control over the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem and they will continue to be in charge of that. Why has that been so much below the radar? Could it be hatred for Israel in the media?
homo unius libri
One thing I learned from this article in the Daily Signal was that Jordan has administrative control over the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem and they will continue to be in charge of that. Why has that been so much below the radar? Could it be hatred for Israel in the media?
homo unius libri
Friday, December 15, 2017
Opus 2017-415: The Original Big Ten
Actually the first Original Big Ten was the Ten Commandments. I was looking over The Patriot Post and saw a reference to the birthday of the Bill of Rights. I think it would be good for us to celebrate that birthday before the Democrats and RINOs put us in a position to celebrate its funeral. There is still time.
You might want to take a bit of time to read them in the original English. Ignore what people tell you they mean. They are simple enough for you to understand them yourself.
You might be surprised at what you find. Did you know that you have a right to face your accusers? That might come as a shock as you keep reading about anonymous sources. Did you know that the government does not have a right to read your private papers or invade your home without jumping through some hoops? Did you know that unmentioned powers belong to the states and people, not Washington D.C.? If you have never read them, don’t admit it in public or to anyone you don’t really trust.
And then, next time we have an election, take that into consideration when you vote. I think you will find that in many cases it is time to vote the suckers out.
homo unius libri
You might want to take a bit of time to read them in the original English. Ignore what people tell you they mean. They are simple enough for you to understand them yourself.
You might be surprised at what you find. Did you know that you have a right to face your accusers? That might come as a shock as you keep reading about anonymous sources. Did you know that the government does not have a right to read your private papers or invade your home without jumping through some hoops? Did you know that unmentioned powers belong to the states and people, not Washington D.C.? If you have never read them, don’t admit it in public or to anyone you don’t really trust.
And then, next time we have an election, take that into consideration when you vote. I think you will find that in many cases it is time to vote the suckers out.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-414: Headlines: The Fox Is Cornered by the Hounds
Disney has bought Fox. I saw the headline on Drudge but noticed it was linked to a CBS source so I looked elsewhere. It did not seem to be a big story anywhere else I looked.
If I had seen the headline a couple of years ago I would have been shocked and horrified. At that point Fox was definitely “fair and balanced”. They made a genuine effort to give both sides a voice. They were the source for those of us seeking to know what was really going on.
Now, I am not surprised. Fox has been on the slow drift for years. They still have a few solid conservatives but more and more they are taking the path of least resistance. They have been tweaking and watering down. They have been filtering and word shopping. They ceased being my trusted source of news long ago.
So farewell Fox. You reached success because you were different. Now you have joined the other dandelions in the weed patch that only dare raise their head so high for fear of being lopped off.
Will another network reach for the stars?
homo unius libri
If I had seen the headline a couple of years ago I would have been shocked and horrified. At that point Fox was definitely “fair and balanced”. They made a genuine effort to give both sides a voice. They were the source for those of us seeking to know what was really going on.
Now, I am not surprised. Fox has been on the slow drift for years. They still have a few solid conservatives but more and more they are taking the path of least resistance. They have been tweaking and watering down. They have been filtering and word shopping. They ceased being my trusted source of news long ago.
So farewell Fox. You reached success because you were different. Now you have joined the other dandelions in the weed patch that only dare raise their head so high for fear of being lopped off.
Will another network reach for the stars?
homo unius libri
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Opus 2017-413: Headlines: Hypocrisy Is Bipartisan
I think the title of the article in the Washington Times demonstrates the kind of hypocrisy we usually see in modern Democrats,
Roy Moore lost. Now everyone is trying to say it is because he is a flawed candidate. Maybe he would not have been so flawed if the people who were supposed to be non-partisan were not so flawed. Maybe he would not be so flawed if the people who were supposed to be his allies did not keep stabbing him in the back and then complaining about the blood.
Maybe. But Roy Moore lost. The big question is, “Who won?” Not Jones. Not Alabama. Not the United States of America. The elite establishment won. Character assassination won. Dirty politics won. Corrupt journalism won.
Republican elites have always been after Steve Bannon. Roy Moore’s loss is not the cause, it is the result.
homo unius libri
“After Roy Moore’s loss, Republicans turn wrath against Steve Bannon”Roy Moore lost. He lost by a minuscule margin. It was a minuscule margin after unrelenting, unsupported accusations by the entire media establishment. It was minuscule after all the moderate Republicans, read RINO, did everything they could to cast dispersions against him. It is amazing that he was close given the mindless response of the masses.
Roy Moore lost. Now everyone is trying to say it is because he is a flawed candidate. Maybe he would not have been so flawed if the people who were supposed to be non-partisan were not so flawed. Maybe he would not be so flawed if the people who were supposed to be his allies did not keep stabbing him in the back and then complaining about the blood.
Maybe. But Roy Moore lost. The big question is, “Who won?” Not Jones. Not Alabama. Not the United States of America. The elite establishment won. Character assassination won. Dirty politics won. Corrupt journalism won.
Republican elites have always been after Steve Bannon. Roy Moore’s loss is not the cause, it is the result.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Opus 2017-412: Headlines: Jones Wins, America Loses
I, for one, am deeply disappointed in the results coming out of Alabama. Now we are going to see the forces of socialism and the nanny state reinforced in Washington.
Is it the end of the world? No, of course not, but I keep remembering that statement that keeps me concerned about our future: People get the government they deserve. It seems that the kind of government the people of Alabama want is high taxing, gun confiscating, baby killing, transgender bathrooming, socialized medicating tyranny. Alabama wants to become another California.
The same can be said for the dim bulbs who are the guiding lights of the Republican party. I already wrote about the senior senator from Alabama voting and speaking to water down the message of Donald Trump by trying to turn people away from his party’s candidate. I saw a headline about a Florida RINO taking the same route. We know that Mitch McConnell worked against Ray Moore. I would suggest that anyone who plans on donating money for the next election make sure that the money goes to people who will hold up the values of America. That looks like making sure that you don’t donate to the party, only to individuals.
Now we will see the second chapter of the sleaze campaign that the Democrats and their media clones have been running. We will now see all the dramatic accusations against Ray Moore fade away. No longer will the reporters from the Fake News Media wine and dine any woman who can come up with a new story about the Republican candidate. My guess is that the accusations will be forgotten like all the accusations against other conservatives. The women had their moment in the sun. They have influenced the direction of the country. I hope they got paid in cash because the checks will bounce. They are now yesterday’s date.
I must keep reminding myself that slightly under half of the people of Alabama voted with their brains. It just wasn’t enough.
homo unius libri
Is it the end of the world? No, of course not, but I keep remembering that statement that keeps me concerned about our future: People get the government they deserve. It seems that the kind of government the people of Alabama want is high taxing, gun confiscating, baby killing, transgender bathrooming, socialized medicating tyranny. Alabama wants to become another California.
The same can be said for the dim bulbs who are the guiding lights of the Republican party. I already wrote about the senior senator from Alabama voting and speaking to water down the message of Donald Trump by trying to turn people away from his party’s candidate. I saw a headline about a Florida RINO taking the same route. We know that Mitch McConnell worked against Ray Moore. I would suggest that anyone who plans on donating money for the next election make sure that the money goes to people who will hold up the values of America. That looks like making sure that you don’t donate to the party, only to individuals.
Now we will see the second chapter of the sleaze campaign that the Democrats and their media clones have been running. We will now see all the dramatic accusations against Ray Moore fade away. No longer will the reporters from the Fake News Media wine and dine any woman who can come up with a new story about the Republican candidate. My guess is that the accusations will be forgotten like all the accusations against other conservatives. The women had their moment in the sun. They have influenced the direction of the country. I hope they got paid in cash because the checks will bounce. They are now yesterday’s date.
I must keep reminding myself that slightly under half of the people of Alabama voted with their brains. It just wasn’t enough.
homo unius libri
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Opus 2017-411: The Accent on Carols
I am listening to the Christmas music I have scrambled on my I-pod. I never know what will come up next.
At the moment the piece is “White Christmas”. I love the song but this is not my favorite arrangement. As I listened I said to myself, “This guy speaks funny English”. I checked my screen and it turns out it was an opera star singing and my guess is that he might not speak English or if he does it has a marked accent. People can learn to sing in foreign languages that they do not speak.
Have you heard Nat King Cole singing Adeste Fideles? It sounds good to me but I don’t speak Latin. Have you ever heard the Vienna Boys Choir sing Jingle Bells? They are very precise and correct but it is obvious they don’t speak English. I do, so I can tell the difference.
We run into this in life. Have you ever met someone trying to speak Republican and it comes out RINO? They may know the right words and talking points but there is something off in how they present it. I love to ask people if they are liberals. I personally have not had any just come out and admit it. They know that the title is loaded with baggage so they avoid it. It still doesn’t take long to know their heart.
In the same way those of us who know Jesus can often tell that some people trying to talk Christian have something about their accent that just doesn’t sound right. They may have all the vowels and verbs but they put the accent on the wrong syllable or some such thing. I am not talking about how some Texans make “oil” into a three syllable word. I am talking about how Xians need to take a full paragraph to explain why they can’t simply answer “yes” or “no” to a simple question like, “Are you born again?” or “Do you believe the Bible is truth?”
So rejoice in Advent season with the Christmas music playing. Much is totally secular but beautiful. Some is on the level of “Grandma God Run Over by a Reindeer”. Others touch heaven like “Joy to the World” when it tell us “No more let sin and sorrow grow”.
Merry Christmas, or for you Grinches out there, Happy December.
homo unius libri
At the moment the piece is “White Christmas”. I love the song but this is not my favorite arrangement. As I listened I said to myself, “This guy speaks funny English”. I checked my screen and it turns out it was an opera star singing and my guess is that he might not speak English or if he does it has a marked accent. People can learn to sing in foreign languages that they do not speak.
Have you heard Nat King Cole singing Adeste Fideles? It sounds good to me but I don’t speak Latin. Have you ever heard the Vienna Boys Choir sing Jingle Bells? They are very precise and correct but it is obvious they don’t speak English. I do, so I can tell the difference.
We run into this in life. Have you ever met someone trying to speak Republican and it comes out RINO? They may know the right words and talking points but there is something off in how they present it. I love to ask people if they are liberals. I personally have not had any just come out and admit it. They know that the title is loaded with baggage so they avoid it. It still doesn’t take long to know their heart.
In the same way those of us who know Jesus can often tell that some people trying to talk Christian have something about their accent that just doesn’t sound right. They may have all the vowels and verbs but they put the accent on the wrong syllable or some such thing. I am not talking about how some Texans make “oil” into a three syllable word. I am talking about how Xians need to take a full paragraph to explain why they can’t simply answer “yes” or “no” to a simple question like, “Are you born again?” or “Do you believe the Bible is truth?”
So rejoice in Advent season with the Christmas music playing. Much is totally secular but beautiful. Some is on the level of “Grandma God Run Over by a Reindeer”. Others touch heaven like “Joy to the World” when it tell us “No more let sin and sorrow grow”.
Merry Christmas, or for you Grinches out there, Happy December.
homo unius libri
Monday, December 11, 2017
Opus 2017-410: Headlines: Worth Watching
I have not looked at Drudge very closely but it seems to me that this should be a banner headline. The Daily Signal tells us the House has passed a Right to Carry Reciprocity bill. From here I assume it goes to the Senate.
It elevates your license to carry a concealed weapon, a Constitutional Right, to the same level as your drivers’ license. Since the requirements to exercise a right are more rigorous than what it takes to get a driver’s license, this just makes sense.
It remains to be seen whether the Senate has any sense or not.
The only thing mentioned that concerned me was that there is an increase in information on the back ground check. That could be good or bad, depending on the information being gathered.
homo unius libri
It elevates your license to carry a concealed weapon, a Constitutional Right, to the same level as your drivers’ license. Since the requirements to exercise a right are more rigorous than what it takes to get a driver’s license, this just makes sense.
It remains to be seen whether the Senate has any sense or not.
The only thing mentioned that concerned me was that there is an increase in information on the back ground check. That could be good or bad, depending on the information being gathered.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-409: Election 2018: On Spades and Not-Spades
I voted for Donald Trump with my eyes open and my nose held. It is becoming one of those rare times when things work out better than you could have hoped. A recent post of Power Line hits on a vital part of why that is true. After commenting about how the media has been lying about Trump it says,
As we look to the future we need to see that we elect people to government who will support the direction that Trump wants to take the country. The key will be the primaries. That means that we need to work to unelect some RINOs sitting in positions of power. I don’t care if they did get you a new bridge or a contract for your local manufacturer. This is bigger than what is good for you. It is about the future of America and the world.
Elections matter. Vote the RINOs out.
homo unius libri
“But maybe that is too charitable. Maybe these reporters have been lying for a long time, and we finally have a Republican leader with enough guts to call them on it.”Donald Trump seems to be the first Real Republican since Calvin Coolidge. There is no problem with calling a spade a spade as long as it is a spade.
As we look to the future we need to see that we elect people to government who will support the direction that Trump wants to take the country. The key will be the primaries. That means that we need to work to unelect some RINOs sitting in positions of power. I don’t care if they did get you a new bridge or a contract for your local manufacturer. This is bigger than what is good for you. It is about the future of America and the world.
Elections matter. Vote the RINOs out.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-408: Monday Pulpit: The Complete Message of the Incarnation
Sunday was the day that the church we attended had their Christmas Music Choir Special. The music was excellent. The message was even better.
What is often lost in the “spirit” of Christmas is the basic reason for the incarnation. Jesus came for a reason and it wasn’t so we would have a special time of celebration and family get togethers. Those are just pleasant contemporary side-effects. The real reason to celebrate Advent was expressed through the music we heard Sunday.
The baby Jesus came to die on the cross. We heard about the crucifixion. The manger was just the opening scene.
Jesus came to be the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins. We heard repeated mention of sins and redemption. We don’t like to hear that we are sinners in need of a savior. That is one of the reasons why the celebration of the incarnation has become a capitalist’s dream.
Jesus came to rise from the grave and give us assurance of victory over death. We heard them sing about the resurrection.
Jesus is coming again. It will be the second advent.
I am ready. Are you?
homo unius libri
What is often lost in the “spirit” of Christmas is the basic reason for the incarnation. Jesus came for a reason and it wasn’t so we would have a special time of celebration and family get togethers. Those are just pleasant contemporary side-effects. The real reason to celebrate Advent was expressed through the music we heard Sunday.
The baby Jesus came to die on the cross. We heard about the crucifixion. The manger was just the opening scene.
Jesus came to be the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins. We heard repeated mention of sins and redemption. We don’t like to hear that we are sinners in need of a savior. That is one of the reasons why the celebration of the incarnation has become a capitalist’s dream.
Jesus came to rise from the grave and give us assurance of victory over death. We heard them sing about the resurrection.
Jesus is coming again. It will be the second advent.
I am ready. Are you?
homo unius libri
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Opus 2017-407: Headlines: Listen to Your Betters
I thought the headline was deeper than the editors wanted it to be.
I know who Ray Moore is. I have known for a long time. I have seen him resist the forces trying to do away with the public display of the Ten Commandments. I have seen him stand for truth and morality. I have seen him refuse to cave. My first question was, “Who is Richard Shelby and why do I care what he thinks.”
I had to read the article to find out. Richard Shelby is “Alabama’s senior senator”. I don’t remember hearing from him before this. Maybe I just missed it. Has he been so busy fighting the gun control lobby that he has not had time to speak? Has he been picketing in front of Planned Parenthood clinics so he missed the press conference? I may have not been paying attention but I notice he has time to criticize Ray Moore and, if you read the article, basically not vote in the coming election.
My second question was, “Since when does the Senator elected by the citizens of Alabama become a decision that is to be made by the Republican elites?” That is what generated these comments. I live in a country where the elites already have too much to say about how my life is run. Could the Republican party do better than Ray Moore? Possibly, but Ted Cruz can’t run in Alabama and Donald Trump is already president. I think that there was another man in the primary who would have been just as good but he didn’t make the cut. I doubt is he would be the one that Shelby thinks the party should have chosen either. He would have been more Moore than Moore is, if you get my drift.
So the party is not the one that makes the decision. That kind of politics went out of style over a hundred years ago when we began having conventions with elected delegates and with the emergence of primaries instead of back room deals.
Let the people of Alabama decide and in a few years they may have something to say about Richard Shelby.
Also keep in mind that this site has endorsed Moore’s opponent in the Senate race.
homo unius libri
“Richard Shelby on Roy Moore: 'The Republican Party can do better'”
I know who Ray Moore is. I have known for a long time. I have seen him resist the forces trying to do away with the public display of the Ten Commandments. I have seen him stand for truth and morality. I have seen him refuse to cave. My first question was, “Who is Richard Shelby and why do I care what he thinks.”
I had to read the article to find out. Richard Shelby is “Alabama’s senior senator”. I don’t remember hearing from him before this. Maybe I just missed it. Has he been so busy fighting the gun control lobby that he has not had time to speak? Has he been picketing in front of Planned Parenthood clinics so he missed the press conference? I may have not been paying attention but I notice he has time to criticize Ray Moore and, if you read the article, basically not vote in the coming election.
My second question was, “Since when does the Senator elected by the citizens of Alabama become a decision that is to be made by the Republican elites?” That is what generated these comments. I live in a country where the elites already have too much to say about how my life is run. Could the Republican party do better than Ray Moore? Possibly, but Ted Cruz can’t run in Alabama and Donald Trump is already president. I think that there was another man in the primary who would have been just as good but he didn’t make the cut. I doubt is he would be the one that Shelby thinks the party should have chosen either. He would have been more Moore than Moore is, if you get my drift.
So the party is not the one that makes the decision. That kind of politics went out of style over a hundred years ago when we began having conventions with elected delegates and with the emergence of primaries instead of back room deals.
Let the people of Alabama decide and in a few years they may have something to say about Richard Shelby.
Also keep in mind that this site has endorsed Moore’s opponent in the Senate race.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-406: Headlines: Referendum on Trump
Crickets.
That is what we are hearing about what I think was a recent election. I say, “I think” because the article itself doesn’t give the date. Such is the nature of modern journalism, in this case found in the Boston Herald.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2017/12/gop_candidate_flips_dem_senate_seat_in_central_mass
We have heard a lot of PC rhetoric since the election in Virginia. A Democrat won, replacing a Democrat in a state that Hillary took in the presidential election. That was hailed as a warning for Trump that his days were numbered. What have we heard about this election in Massachusetts?
Crickets.
Why would the “unbiased” media not make a big deal about this election? Massachusetts is about as deeply blue as you can get. Democrats hold 33 out of 40 seats in the state Senate. The senator being replaced was a Democrat. He was beaten by a Republican. That Republican was also an immigrant. This was news. What have you heard?
Crickets.
Two elections. Score before the elections: Democrats 2, Republicans 0. Score after the elections: Democrats 1, Republicans 1.
Sounds like a referendum on Trump to me. Like I said, “Crickets”.
homo unius libri
That is what we are hearing about what I think was a recent election. I say, “I think” because the article itself doesn’t give the date. Such is the nature of modern journalism, in this case found in the Boston Herald.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2017/12/gop_candidate_flips_dem_senate_seat_in_central_mass
We have heard a lot of PC rhetoric since the election in Virginia. A Democrat won, replacing a Democrat in a state that Hillary took in the presidential election. That was hailed as a warning for Trump that his days were numbered. What have we heard about this election in Massachusetts?
Crickets.
Why would the “unbiased” media not make a big deal about this election? Massachusetts is about as deeply blue as you can get. Democrats hold 33 out of 40 seats in the state Senate. The senator being replaced was a Democrat. He was beaten by a Republican. That Republican was also an immigrant. This was news. What have you heard?
Crickets.
Two elections. Score before the elections: Democrats 2, Republicans 0. Score after the elections: Democrats 1, Republicans 1.
Sounds like a referendum on Trump to me. Like I said, “Crickets”.
homo unius libri
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Opus 2017-405: Headlines: Shut Up and Ski
Now I know who Lindsey Vonn is. I must admit I am not a sports fan and the Olympics have been off my radar for years. Now we have a skier who lets her political mouth race faster than her skis. She acts like she is proud of her country and flag but then says she will not be on the snow for the President. Drudge linked this to a CNN source.
It is great to live in America even when we are represented by insensitive fools. Maybe she is just a racist. If someone had said something like that about Barak Obama that is the label they would get. And as she has the freedom to express her opinions I have the freedom to express mine: If she does not ski for the president, she does not ski for me.
I can add the Winter Olympics to NFL games as something I won’t be watching. It would be a more impressive sacrifice if I had actually planned to watch either but it is the best I can do.
homo unius libri
It is great to live in America even when we are represented by insensitive fools. Maybe she is just a racist. If someone had said something like that about Barak Obama that is the label they would get. And as she has the freedom to express her opinions I have the freedom to express mine: If she does not ski for the president, she does not ski for me.
I can add the Winter Olympics to NFL games as something I won’t be watching. It would be a more impressive sacrifice if I had actually planned to watch either but it is the best I can do.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-404: Thanks Thoughts: Fear but no Want
As I was going through my morning ritual I am looking out the dark window into what would be a snowy landscape. “Would be” because the inside lights make it seem dark outside. We got snow last night, in Texas. I doubt if it will last until Christmas. Is there a song, “I’m Dreaming of a Snowy Day in Advent”? I didn’t think so. Hurricanes and floods are so last month. Now it is snow. And as I am going through a time of thanking God I touch not only on the beauty of the view but the warmth of my room.
That turned me to all the people in the world who were not warm and safe. I thought of those who don’t know when their next meal will be available. I have so much to be thankful for in this advent season. And the thanks can go back over a lot of years. The closest to freezing to death was in the blizzard of 78 when Boston was shut down and the power went out for a few days. I had a time when I had one can of soup on the shelf and was a month behind on my rent. I have come close to suffering and known the fear it generates, but the power came back on, the church surprised me with a table full of groceries and God provided.
Seventy years of pointless worry and inadequate gratitude. It helps to keep things in perspective.
homo unius libri
That turned me to all the people in the world who were not warm and safe. I thought of those who don’t know when their next meal will be available. I have so much to be thankful for in this advent season. And the thanks can go back over a lot of years. The closest to freezing to death was in the blizzard of 78 when Boston was shut down and the power went out for a few days. I had a time when I had one can of soup on the shelf and was a month behind on my rent. I have come close to suffering and known the fear it generates, but the power came back on, the church surprised me with a table full of groceries and God provided.
Seventy years of pointless worry and inadequate gratitude. It helps to keep things in perspective.
homo unius libri
Friday, December 8, 2017
Opus 2017-403: Headlines: Collateral Damage
A Republican bites the dust in the current feeding frenzy of the media. His name is Trent Franks and he is from Arizona. He has not been on my radar so I know nothing about him except he has caved to the feelings of some snowflakes. His sin? According to the Daily Signal he raised the topic of being surrogate mothers with a couple of staffers and made them feel “uncomfortable”.
The issue of surrogate mothers is an ethical issue that I am not trying to address. Since the congressman and his wife already had twins by a surrogate mother, I would assume that the issue is not the legality of the process. If the issue was raised in the proper way I don’t know how you would find a surrogate mother but to ask. Although I have a lot of questions about it, I would think it an honor for someone to think highly enough of me to bring it up. But two women felt uncomfortable and thus this man is resigning.
I guess he is trying to be noble and spare his family from the media circus which brings me to the scary part of his statement,
This is dangerous. There are a lot of maybe’s here. Maybe he has other skeletons he does not want to come out. Maybe he did more than ask politely. Maybe he is a key vote that the Democrats wanted to remove. Maybe, maybe, maybe... The fact of the matter is that we have a man driven from office by innuendo and implication. It could be the right choice. More than likely it is the first of many surrenders to a media that wants to overthrow the last presidential election and doesn’t care how much damage they do to liberty in the process.
Is Trent Franks guilty of something that requires him to resign from congress? Not that I read about, but he feels intimidated enough to back out gracefully. How about the others? I am in favor of Judge Moore hanging in there because he has the guts to resist the bullying of the Democrats and media (redundant, I know) and the RINOs that are their allies.
What will you do when they come for you? You don’t think you are important enough? Wait until they want something you have.
Will you be a Trent Franks or a Roy Moore?
homo unius libri
The issue of surrogate mothers is an ethical issue that I am not trying to address. Since the congressman and his wife already had twins by a surrogate mother, I would assume that the issue is not the legality of the process. If the issue was raised in the proper way I don’t know how you would find a surrogate mother but to ask. Although I have a lot of questions about it, I would think it an honor for someone to think highly enough of me to bring it up. But two women felt uncomfortable and thus this man is resigning.
I guess he is trying to be noble and spare his family from the media circus which brings me to the scary part of his statement,
“Rather than allow a sensationalized trial by media damage those things I love most, this morning I notified House leadership that I will be leaving Congress as of Jan. 31, 2018.”He is resigning rather than face “trial by media”.
This is dangerous. There are a lot of maybe’s here. Maybe he has other skeletons he does not want to come out. Maybe he did more than ask politely. Maybe he is a key vote that the Democrats wanted to remove. Maybe, maybe, maybe... The fact of the matter is that we have a man driven from office by innuendo and implication. It could be the right choice. More than likely it is the first of many surrenders to a media that wants to overthrow the last presidential election and doesn’t care how much damage they do to liberty in the process.
Is Trent Franks guilty of something that requires him to resign from congress? Not that I read about, but he feels intimidated enough to back out gracefully. How about the others? I am in favor of Judge Moore hanging in there because he has the guts to resist the bullying of the Democrats and media (redundant, I know) and the RINOs that are their allies.
What will you do when they come for you? You don’t think you are important enough? Wait until they want something you have.
Will you be a Trent Franks or a Roy Moore?
homo unius libri
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Opus 2017-402: New Terms: National Dementia Syndrom
Never Forget!
Pearl Harbor. The Holocaust. 9/11.
Why do we remember?
First, some reasons are not acceptable. We do not remember to keep the hate and rage alive. We do not remember to exact vengeance and make them pay. The first part of the phrase, “Forgive and Forget” is important if we want civilization to move forward. When there is a pot hole in the street you don’t curse it. You avoid it until you can get it filled. Evil happens. We have fought wars to bring down the evil perpetrators. It is time to move on.
We remember so that we can learn from the pain. Pearl Harbor was a reminder that when we stop being vigilant we can pay a big price. The Holocaust reminds us that evil can overcome any culture from within if we do not keep standing up for what is right. The Twin Towers remind us that the world is not full of lovely people and the “Religion of Peace” seems to have a lot of heretics.
So we remember. When? At election time we need to remember the kind of politicians that have no sense of right and wrong. At budget time we need to remember that the best way to avoid war is to be so strong that the enemies of America know they will be destroyed. When talking about immigration we need to ask ourselves what groups are committed to destroying us and our way of life.
We need to avoid National Dementia Syndrom.
And since I am now in Texas, Remember the Alamo!
homo unius libri
Pearl Harbor. The Holocaust. 9/11.
Why do we remember?
First, some reasons are not acceptable. We do not remember to keep the hate and rage alive. We do not remember to exact vengeance and make them pay. The first part of the phrase, “Forgive and Forget” is important if we want civilization to move forward. When there is a pot hole in the street you don’t curse it. You avoid it until you can get it filled. Evil happens. We have fought wars to bring down the evil perpetrators. It is time to move on.
We remember so that we can learn from the pain. Pearl Harbor was a reminder that when we stop being vigilant we can pay a big price. The Holocaust reminds us that evil can overcome any culture from within if we do not keep standing up for what is right. The Twin Towers remind us that the world is not full of lovely people and the “Religion of Peace” seems to have a lot of heretics.
So we remember. When? At election time we need to remember the kind of politicians that have no sense of right and wrong. At budget time we need to remember that the best way to avoid war is to be so strong that the enemies of America know they will be destroyed. When talking about immigration we need to ask ourselves what groups are committed to destroying us and our way of life.
We need to avoid National Dementia Syndrom.
And since I am now in Texas, Remember the Alamo!
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-401: Headlines: Be Careful What You Wish For
Should Al Franken resign? We need to be careful of our answers because, as conservatives, we believe in the rule of law. That means that we don’t have one set of rules for us and one for them. We are not liberals who think the rules only apply to people who are not special like they are.
Why would I like to see him resign? First, he should not have been elected in the first place. As I had read several places, he is a jerk. In addition to that I would like to see him go because he is a force for political evil. He also has one thing that almost demands resignation: He has admitted to a lot of disgusting actions.
Why am I cautious? The same reason I call for reason and law in the case of Judge Moore. So far it has been trial by media and hysteria. As a member of the faceless masses I caution my fellow faces to stop reacting with mindless emotion. Stop condemning someone just because the media wants blood. If you get on a jury, listen to the evidence and give the verdict. If you have an opinion, share it. Never forget that we have rules and those rules are supposed to apply to everyone. We have laws against rape. We have laws that protect our physical person from unwanted touching and our mental person from verbal assault. Apply them.
Don’t join the lych mob. It doesn’t matter how nasty the victim. Remember,
Having said that, I hope the guy crawls back under the rock that spit him out.
homo unius libri
Why would I like to see him resign? First, he should not have been elected in the first place. As I had read several places, he is a jerk. In addition to that I would like to see him go because he is a force for political evil. He also has one thing that almost demands resignation: He has admitted to a lot of disgusting actions.
Why am I cautious? The same reason I call for reason and law in the case of Judge Moore. So far it has been trial by media and hysteria. As a member of the faceless masses I caution my fellow faces to stop reacting with mindless emotion. Stop condemning someone just because the media wants blood. If you get on a jury, listen to the evidence and give the verdict. If you have an opinion, share it. Never forget that we have rules and those rules are supposed to apply to everyone. We have laws against rape. We have laws that protect our physical person from unwanted touching and our mental person from verbal assault. Apply them.
Don’t join the lych mob. It doesn’t matter how nasty the victim. Remember,
(Proverbs 29:27 KJV) An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.The disgust goes both ways. Every exception to law breaks down the rule of law.
Having said that, I hope the guy crawls back under the rock that spit him out.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Opus 2017-400: On the Street: Liberal Confession
It is snowing in Hell. My wife met a woman who admitted she was a liberal. When my wife encouraged her to move to California and replace us she said she was thinking about it.
If you are into prayer you might be remembering her and encouraging the move. Texas would be a better place and California won’t even notice. Also pray for her safety. Anyone who would admit they are a liberal might walk out in front of a yak or something.
homo unius libri
If you are into prayer you might be remembering her and encouraging the move. Texas would be a better place and California won’t even notice. Also pray for her safety. Anyone who would admit they are a liberal might walk out in front of a yak or something.
homo unius libri
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Opus 2017-399: Executive Action Required
Is it time for history to repeat itself?
Does the acronym OSS mean anything to you? It did to the Nazis and the Japanese war lords. It was the arm of the Untied States government that dealt with intelligence during World War II. It ran our spies and directed our secret work of infiltrating and influencing our enemies. It was created by FDR and “Wild Bill” Donovan. It was needed and provided a vital role.
When the war was over it was dissolved. Granted, its activities were simply transferred to other agencies in the government but the OSS was gone, by presidential order.
It is time for history to repeat itself. The CIA has become the tail wagging the dog. It has become a power unto itself. The role it plays is necessary but the organization is probably beyond redemption. Dissolve it and move on.
Now about the FBI...
homo unius libri
Does the acronym OSS mean anything to you? It did to the Nazis and the Japanese war lords. It was the arm of the Untied States government that dealt with intelligence during World War II. It ran our spies and directed our secret work of infiltrating and influencing our enemies. It was created by FDR and “Wild Bill” Donovan. It was needed and provided a vital role.
When the war was over it was dissolved. Granted, its activities were simply transferred to other agencies in the government but the OSS was gone, by presidential order.
It is time for history to repeat itself. The CIA has become the tail wagging the dog. It has become a power unto itself. The role it plays is necessary but the organization is probably beyond redemption. Dissolve it and move on.
Now about the FBI...
homo unius libri
Friday, December 1, 2017
Opus 2017-398: Headlines: Another Day, Another Accusation, Garrison Keillor
I wonder sometimes if the media is playing with us to keep ratings up. Do they have a long list of revelations about celebrities and politicians who have erred and they are stretching out the release in order to get us to tune in?
Yesterday it was the turn of Garrison Keillor. Drudge sent me to Minnesota Public Radio. My total experience with him involves reading Lake Woebegone Days after years of hearing about how the children were all above average.
I read through the article and no specific charges are made, just “inappropriate behavior”. That lets the imagination run wild. As I look at the headlines about yesterday’s expose I see a wide assortment of actions being attributed to Matt Lauer. I am not going to read all the articles because if the media follows its regular path there will be no way of knowing which are the ugly truth and which are ugly lies. It is the job of the justice system to work those out.
It seems that the situations with Matt Lauer and Garrison Keillor were both known by many people for a good time and nothing was done. Maybe at last it is. If they are guilty of serious crimes like rape or molestation of children then the death penalty would be appropriate. If all they did was pat someone’s derriere, then maybe being fired will be enough. I hope they get a jury but I don’t want to bet on it.
There is good and bad coming out of all these accusations. The good is that a winked at behavior that was demeaning to other human beings is finally getting some attention. The bad is that the press corps is using emotion to railroad the rule of law rather than due process to seek justice under the rule of law. In our enthusiasm for one we must not let the other be lost.
homo unius libri
Yesterday it was the turn of Garrison Keillor. Drudge sent me to Minnesota Public Radio. My total experience with him involves reading Lake Woebegone Days after years of hearing about how the children were all above average.
I read through the article and no specific charges are made, just “inappropriate behavior”. That lets the imagination run wild. As I look at the headlines about yesterday’s expose I see a wide assortment of actions being attributed to Matt Lauer. I am not going to read all the articles because if the media follows its regular path there will be no way of knowing which are the ugly truth and which are ugly lies. It is the job of the justice system to work those out.
It seems that the situations with Matt Lauer and Garrison Keillor were both known by many people for a good time and nothing was done. Maybe at last it is. If they are guilty of serious crimes like rape or molestation of children then the death penalty would be appropriate. If all they did was pat someone’s derriere, then maybe being fired will be enough. I hope they get a jury but I don’t want to bet on it.
There is good and bad coming out of all these accusations. The good is that a winked at behavior that was demeaning to other human beings is finally getting some attention. The bad is that the press corps is using emotion to railroad the rule of law rather than due process to seek justice under the rule of law. In our enthusiasm for one we must not let the other be lost.
homo unius libri
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