Category: Links

Angry California Voters: A new poll shows Californians are not pleased with the direction of the country. This is another troubling sign for Obama.

Nearly 3 in 4 say the country is on the wrong track, and nearly half favor slashing government spending — a potentially dismal finding for President Obama, who will unveil a jobs plan this week.

The Book of Jonah beautifully narrated:

 

10 Years of Endless War: A fascinating description of the new phase of American history. This piece is well worth 10 minutes.

This is the American era of endless war.

To grasp its sweep, it helps to visit Fort Campbell, Ky., where the Army will soon open a $31 million complex for wounded troops and those whose bodies are breaking down after a decade of deployments.

Akim Camara: The Three Year Old Violinist

Here are a few good links for the evening:

A Smattering of Pipe Terminology – Uses some humor in describing major pipe vocabulary. As the good weather approaches in Florida, I look forward to some holy incense.

Hymn Bark #3, When Peace Like a River – I usually agree with Jim, after all he was my pianist for almost three years and has more than anyone shaped my liturgical theology. Here he gives an example of bad Presbyterian hymnody.

August: Deadliest Month for U.S. in Afghanistan – In what is now becoming a disastrous war, the Army Times reports that many are putting pressure on Obama to bring troops home sooner than later.

Pope Denounces Baghdad Church attack

“Faced with such brutal episodes of violence which continue to tear apart the people of the Middle East, I want to renew again my heartfelt appeal for peace,” Benedict said.

In a First, Brazil elects a woman as president

The Tea Party Last Time

Homosexuality and Uganda’s News Paper Rolling Stones

“Homosexual acts are illegal in Uganda but last year an MP introduced a bill which would mean some gay people could face the death penalty.”

Some Turtles have to fly with the shell (brilliant piece by Wilson)

How to Choose a Peanut Butter

Why I Now Vote Party, Not Individual

Scary Monsters

“Infinitely more serious, at any rate, than desiccated political husks trying to ride the great pendulum of American politics as it swings rightward. Republicans will do anything to win midterm elections except the right thing: spelling out, with both programmatic detail and philosophical conviction, how government is obstructing freedom, bankrupting the country, and impeding the great transition from top-down dictation to individual autonomy. Some day that transition will come to government. But only after we insist on it.”

Will a Republican Congress Knock Science Back to the Stone Age?

Broder’s Brainstorm

“If Obama prepares for war and Iran refuses to back down, how many U.S. dead and wounded would Broder consider a fair price to pay for a second term for his “enduringly superior” leader?”

Civil Liberties Watchdog loses Senate Seat

Rand Paul refuses to shake hands with an opponent

Obama’s rallying for Democrats

Banks shared Clients Profits, bu not losses

Healthy Family-Friendly Meals

Auburn N0. 4 in BCS

Polls Show Support for Cuomo

“The poll indicates that the Tea Party movement is somewhat less strong in New York than nationally. Seventeen percent of voters in the New York poll consider themselves to be supporters of the movement, while 22 percent of voters nationwide do. Among those New Yorkers who do, nearly half consider Mr. Paladino to be one of their own.”

From that…

“We needed the fall to be better than the summer, and it has been. The beautiful weather, the glorious break from the heat, and now a celebration on a beach that a few short months ago we feared might be lost for years to come.”

Maybe we really do get what we deserve

Video Store Still bucks new trend

Interval Exercise Outside and In

Parties Feed Discontent to rile the masses (well-written article)

Whoever Wins, Issues Remain

Bank of America Fees

Narnia Invaded (best article I read this week)

“Aslan, without his appallingly hierarchical claws, is just another pussycat. I myself would prefer to hear him roar.”

Biblical Views: Virgin Mary in Modern Art with Traditional Christian Values

“After all, Christians rejoice at the unthinkable, that God was born to a human mother and that a king was laid in a manger. And this helpless baby grew up to turn the world’s values upside down, announcing that “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first” (Matthew 19:30). Perhaps similarly, first impressions can be last, and the last thing you might expect can be true.”

The Never-Ending Clarence Thomas Saga

The Democratic Vision of Big Brother

“American politics often is a dialectic of disappointments. Nov. 2 may remind the apostle of change that (as a 2008 Republican bumper sticker warned) “Every Disaster is a Change.”‘

National, Politically-Correct Radio

Huckabee Calls on Congress to Cut Funding for NPR

But enough about me

“President Obama reminds me of the type of man so many single women complain about on a date. He only wants to talk about himself: “But enough about me, now what do you think about me?”

The Multi-Cultural Cult

“Cultural differences matter. They have always mattered, however much that may be denied today by the multicultural cult.”

The Quiet Faith Behind Colbert’s Right-Wing Funnyman

“When Colbert finally let his well-coiffed hair down and got serious about the “really, really hard work” done by migrant farmworkers, even more people were surprised when the funnyman gave a glimpse of his private faith.”

The Unfair Game

Chile Rejoices as Capsule Brings Miners to Freedom

“With anxious anticipation increasingly yielding to exuberant celebration, more than half of the 33 men trapped under a half-mile of rock for more than two months have emerged to the arms of their families and an electrified nation.”

Zinfadel steps back from the Abyss

Tea-Party Frontrunner: Abolish the Public School System

“Harmer, however, is apparently okay with subjecting his own children to the “life-ruining effects” of public schools: They reportedly attend public school in an upscale suburb of San Ramon. And should Harmer’s master plan be carried out, his wife, Elayne, would be out of a job—she’s a substitute teacher.”

Dithering on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Making Peace by Serving Wings (Darryl Strawberry after fame)

Two Murdered in Pakistan

Modest and Bold

“Although the gospel does not always yield specific answers to individual social and political questions, we entertain the hope that its influence will widen the sympathies and make wise the souls of those who live by it. This hope, too, is modest. It is not a utopian dream but the reasonable expectation of gaining—by God’s grace—a somewhat better world.”

Did the Ancient Israelites drink beer? (fascinating article)

New Yorkers Mistake Balloons for UFO’s

Do Baptists Baptize Their Babies?

Babies Born on 8/8, 9/9, 10/10, 2010

Do Reformed Christians Confess the Sabbath?

Questions Have Long Surrounded Accused Minister

“Long is one of the most influential black preachers in the country and abroad. His sermons are televised in 170 countries, and he routinely meets with celebrities and political leaders (both Democrats and Republicans).”

Obama and his “idiot boards”

US bases abroad trigger suicide terrorists

Imbalanced Discussion

“As doctors seek to preserve life, no doubt some lives cannot be saved. Life is full of difficult and sad circumstances, but we are not free to solve these problems at the expense of others. As some men sexually violate women we should deal justly with them and also justly with their innocent victims. Kill the rapists, not the babies.”

Working on Excuses

“We need to support – not try to destroy – job creators such as Koch. Let’s celebrate our successful entrepreneurs and companies rather than try to use them as scapegoats for failed government economic policies.”

Thoughts on Baptism

Another House Ethics Problem

Actor Tony Curtis Dies

“When someone remarked that it must be thrilling to kiss Monroe in the film’s love scenes, the actor snapped, “It’s like kissing Hitler.” In later years, his opinion of Monroe softened, and in interviews he praised her unique talent.”

Sen. Coburn on Christine O’Donnel

“One of the reasons our economy is in trouble is that people don’t have much confidence in the future. So they’re looking for real leadership that will take on this nasty behemoth known as the federal government and start trimming it down.”

Abolish Public Schools

Why Pro-Abortion is Anti-Science

A Better way to Pick a President

“Although a Niagara of vitriol is drenching politics, the two parties are acting sensibly and in tandem about something once considered a matter of constitutional significance — the process by which presidential nominations are won.”

My least Favorite “text” is the Torah

Cafferty says he will eat CNN’s building if Palin wins in 2012

Rush Limbaugh: Obama twisting the Scriptures

Stephen Colbert becomes another circus of Congress’ making

“Colbert and Jon Stewart have more than enough material to lampoon politicians without Congress inviting them over for more. As usual, Stewart said it best, during his show Monday night. “Of course Colbert is more embarrassed than the House of Representatives,” he said. “Colbert still has dignity and integrity left to lose.”

Bob Woodward’s book portrays a great divide over Afghanistan

Be Very Afraid: The “Experts” are running the economy

The Political Wildcard

“In some ways, Ms. O’Donnell is a case study in how a relative unknown can ride a curiosity factor, media wave and a political movement to overnight celebrity.”

A Year in Mp3’s

Why not extend Obama’s stimulus tax cuts?

How Portion Size adds us to obesity?

Christ Coons: Volunteer for Liberation Theology (fascinating article)

Time for the GOP to unite

Church disciplines 575 members

From Wal-Mart Moms: Tough Love for President Obama

Judiciary Democrat Blasts Colbert’s Plan to Testify

A Fresh Take on a Tired Phrase (An excellent piece to start the week)

Cuba to Cut 500,000 Workers

Delaware Senate Race: The Tea Party Express

Fatwas against koran burners

Delaware Winner Bashes Cannibalism

Why is Switzerland Backing Iran?

Power to the (Blogging) People (good piece on how blogging is affecting US/China relations)

Who’s the Con Man? Ouch! This one is brutal.

Republicans are talking more Calvin Coolidge than Bush