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Website of the Week
For those who are gluttons for listening punishment, here is my official myspace musician page.
Local Pump Price of Unleaded Gasoline:
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$125.96 (previously $107.90)
last modified May 11, 2008 at 18:16
Notes from the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE):
* US-led counterterrorism efforts have seriously damaged the capabilites and leadership of Al Qaida (AQ). AQ is still the top terrorist threat to the US.
* As a result of US efforts, terrorists have had to adapt and become more diffused to elude capture. They also use the US counterterrorism efforts as recruitment tools.
* Europe is regarded as a good place (for terrorists) to attack Western targets.
* The war in Iraq is the "cause celebre" for jihadists. By the way, cause celebre means an "incident [or event] that attracts great public attention". So, in other words, many jihadists are viewing Iraq as the place to conduct jihad against the West.
* Jihad is fueled by 1.) longstanding grievances against the West, 2.) the Iraq "jihad", 3.) poor economic conditions in the Middle East, and 4.) anti-US sentiment (which I think is a redundancy of no. 1, but whatever).
* Jihadists are vulnerable on three fronts:
1.) A strict interpretation of sharia is unpopular with most Muslims
2.) The emergence of respected voices of moderation
3.) Coordinated efforts that "go well beyond operations to capture or kill terrorist leaders" (the Dems aren't going to like this one- it's one of their arguments against fighting in Iraq)
* If democracy takes hold, it will drive a wedge between extremists and those more willing to use the political process to achieve their goals.
* Taking out the AQ leadership will be helpful to our cause. Not taking out the AQ leadership will not be helpful to our cause.
* AQ, and similar terrorist organizations, will continue to use assymetric warfare against "soft targets" and the Internet to recruit, train, coordinate, and launch attacks.
"Okra is the Steve Buscemi of the vegetable world." - Alton Brown, Good Eats.
Not to be outdone by their Muslim cousins, Christians from all over the world reacted to NBC's statement that they may cut a portion of Madonna's concert in which she is suspended from a cross wearing a crown of thorns.
"It's a good thing that they may change their minds," said James Dobson of Focus on the Family. "It would be a shame to have to behead the CEO of NBC to preserve the integrity of our peaceful and loving religion. (God be praised!)"
Meanwhile, millions of Christians marched through the streets of New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles. As a show of their contempt for NBC and Madonna, Christians burned them in effigy and called for the immediate executions of Madonna and NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly. Others held up signs saying "Burn in hell, Madonna. We'll help you get there." Or "NBC: Nobody Bullies Christians." Or quite movingly, "Die! Die! Die!"
The NYTimes called for NBC and Madonna to apologize for failing to be sensitive to the concerns of Christians and for not considering the impact of her show.
"There is more than enough religious anger in the world. So it is particularly disturbing that Madonna and NBC have insulted Christians, by allowing her to mock the crucifixion of Christ in her performance.
In the most provocative part of her act, the singer, wearing a crown of thorns, is suspended from a cross made of tiny mirrors.
Christian leaders the world over have demanded apologies and threatened to recall their viewership of NBC, warning that the performer’s actions dangerously reinforce a false and biased view of Christianity. For many Christians, the cross symbolizes the greatest sacrifice, one in which the Son of God dies for sinful man."
So, the Pope has stated, more or less, that Islam enforces its will through violence and many Muslims have responded to this by calling for the Pope's violent death... does anyone else see the not-so-amusing irony in this?
And, ha ha ha, who do you think is going to have to apologize? If you were thinking those who shot a nun in the back while she was praying you've gotta another think comin'! Remember, in our twisted world, the offended has to apologize to the offender while paying penance.
Thomas Madden, has an interesting piece on the meat of the Pope's speech here at NRO. A sample:
But back to Benedict XVI. The pope resurrected Manuel II in order to make a point. He noted that the learned Manuel was well aware that the Koran states that “There is no compulsion in religion.” But he also knew, as someone who had been on the business end of jihad himself, that the Koran also speaks of holy war. With “startling brusqueness,” the pope continued, Manuel tackled this seeming contradiction by saying “’Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.’ The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable.”
On a recent road trip back home, I realized that there are some causes of the traveling blues that merit discussion:
* How has it come to be that drivers on interstates now drive in the left lane if they do not plan on passing other vehicles? I should not have to pass someone in the right lane because they decide that they are more comfortable traveling in the left lane at 55 in a 65 mph zone. It's a passing lane, people. Get out of the way!
* What's with church welcome signs? When they are not being all cutesy, they are quoting scripture excerpts without any surrounding or completely out of context. Or, they are welcoming the visiting pastor AND his wife: "Welcome Billy Bob and Janey Sue!" Maybe they're preaching in tandem, otherwise its just weird. If they really want to reach the unchurched with their signs, maybe they should just put the time the church meets.
* Speaking of church signs, you have to love those "evangelistic" signs placed randomly on the roadside. "Hell is hot!" or "If you died today, would you go to Heaven?" That latter sign was especially poignant to me at the beginning of a long trip and I wondered "Is that sign a sign that something's going to happen on my trip?" Yeah, I'm weird, but that's the way my mind works sometimes.
It's strange to me how on the fifth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, I did not see one video clip of the planes hitting the towers or the Pentagon building. Why is that? We get bombarded with every other form of fake violence under the sun in the name of artistic expression, but when it comes to a situation where the violence might be beneficial to observe, the media's silent.
Here's a YouTube clip of the WTC attacks from a variety of angles:
Just added to my blogroll, check out Brother Bart's foray into blogging, Bart's Blog. He's an ex-Navy pilot and he has some great insights into political and military affairs.
Brother Bart, we look forward to hearing more from you in the days to come!
That title may sound strange, but for someone who watched him before he was popular (his TLC days, I think), I am profoundly saddened by his death. My wife and I have shaken our heads and said "I can't believe he's actually dead" countless times today.
I do not know if Steve knew Christ. From watching his show and some of the things he has said, there is not a lot of evidence to indicate that he did, but I sincerely hope that he did and is with Him now.
Steve lived his life like we all wish we did ours: full of humility and passion. He tenderly loved God's creatures (whether or not he acknowleded that they were God's creatures) and marveled in their beauty and uniqueness.
Crikey, we'll miss the bloke.
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