On a personal note ...
Here is a quiz for those who know me to test themselves. Give it a shot, then make your own quiz!
Should I be paranoid about this?
Has Microsoft perfected its technology to the point where it can implant thoughts?
My computer is in my bedroom. I always leave it on. Last night, as I slept, I dreamt that Bill Gates and I were good friends. We were having a joke together at the expense of someone else ... I forget the rest of the dream.
Anyone else having dreams of a pleasant, funny Bill Gates being your friend?
My computer is in my bedroom. I always leave it on. Last night, as I slept, I dreamt that Bill Gates and I were good friends. We were having a joke together at the expense of someone else ... I forget the rest of the dream.
Anyone else having dreams of a pleasant, funny Bill Gates being your friend?
Pacification Continues
Tough battles underway in Iraq. No doubt I won't be the only one praying for victory for our coalition troops. Brave coalition forces are fighting and dying today for our freedom against terror and for the freedom of Iraqis.
And the coalition will win, the U.S. Marines will win, but the cost won't be free. Let's remain grateful for their efforts.
And the coalition will win, the U.S. Marines will win, but the cost won't be free. Let's remain grateful for their efforts.
On the Purported Spanish Appeasement
For some reason, the link isn't working to Jonah Goldberg's entry in The Corner today, so I'm cutting and pasting:
AL QAEDA V. SPAIN [Jonah Goldberg ]
Al Qaeda is allegedly turning up the heat on Spain. This is an amazing and amazingly undercovered development. If it's true, the conventional wisdom about al Qaeda winning a victory by knocking Spain out of the coalition shouldn't be overturned so much as revised. If that had truly been al Qaeda's goal they would have been very, very smart to pocket the victory and attack Britain or Poland. Instead, by increasing the attacks on Spain they underscore the stupidity of Spain's appeasement since that appeasement bought Spain nothing.
***
My objection here is to the common assumption among my friends on the right that the Spanish voters voted in the Socialists shortly after the bloody March 11 attacks in order to appease the terrorists. (I equally object to the notion from my opponents on the Left that the Spanish voted to reject the Conservatives in power because of the War on Iraq, or because of purported manipulation of the events by conservatives for political gain.)
My best guess -- is that this is about mathematics, not intention. The results of the March 14 election were about voter turnout. In that sense, Al Qaeda acted brilliantly. The bombings on March 11 dramatically increased voter turnout -- and since most people in Spain are socialists, not conservatives, the election tipped naturally to the socialists. The conservatives may have won among voters who planned to vote on March 14 -- but the March 11 attacks increased the number of voters completing their civic duty, and the percentage differential between the socialists and the conservatives took care of the rest.
Let me put it this way: There are a lot more registered Democrats or people who self-identify as Democrats in this country. That's why Democrats talk about "getting out the vote." Democrats worry a lot about rain or rough weather on election day: The fear is Republicans are more motivated voters, and thus show up in greater percentages than Democrats, regardless of weather and circumstances.
A terrorist attack that resulted in increased voter turnout would most likely hand the election to the Democrats. Would everyone consider that appeasement?
AL QAEDA V. SPAIN [Jonah Goldberg ]
Al Qaeda is allegedly turning up the heat on Spain. This is an amazing and amazingly undercovered development. If it's true, the conventional wisdom about al Qaeda winning a victory by knocking Spain out of the coalition shouldn't be overturned so much as revised. If that had truly been al Qaeda's goal they would have been very, very smart to pocket the victory and attack Britain or Poland. Instead, by increasing the attacks on Spain they underscore the stupidity of Spain's appeasement since that appeasement bought Spain nothing.
***
My objection here is to the common assumption among my friends on the right that the Spanish voters voted in the Socialists shortly after the bloody March 11 attacks in order to appease the terrorists. (I equally object to the notion from my opponents on the Left that the Spanish voted to reject the Conservatives in power because of the War on Iraq, or because of purported manipulation of the events by conservatives for political gain.)
My best guess -- is that this is about mathematics, not intention. The results of the March 14 election were about voter turnout. In that sense, Al Qaeda acted brilliantly. The bombings on March 11 dramatically increased voter turnout -- and since most people in Spain are socialists, not conservatives, the election tipped naturally to the socialists. The conservatives may have won among voters who planned to vote on March 14 -- but the March 11 attacks increased the number of voters completing their civic duty, and the percentage differential between the socialists and the conservatives took care of the rest.
Let me put it this way: There are a lot more registered Democrats or people who self-identify as Democrats in this country. That's why Democrats talk about "getting out the vote." Democrats worry a lot about rain or rough weather on election day: The fear is Republicans are more motivated voters, and thus show up in greater percentages than Democrats, regardless of weather and circumstances.
A terrorist attack that resulted in increased voter turnout would most likely hand the election to the Democrats. Would everyone consider that appeasement?
Add one to the good guys column
A daughter was born to my good friends Rose and John yesterday. The baby was 8 pounds, and is cute in that squishy red newborn way. When I saw her, she was completely wrapped up and wearing a goofy little baby hat.
Welcome to the world, Anastasia!
(She's also my God-daughter. You may call me Godfather from now on.)
Welcome to the world, Anastasia!
(She's also my God-daughter. You may call me Godfather from now on.)
Was there any doubt?
You are a GRAMMAR GOD!
If your mission in life is not already to
preserve the English tongue, it should be.
Congratulations and thank you!
How grammatically sound are you?
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If it had been me ...
Speaking of Holy Week, and the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ our Savior... I hope it's not too flip to say that had that been me who went through all of that whipping and crucifying on Good Friday, and I rose again on Sunday, the world would not celebrate Easter Sunday so much as Severe Payback Sunday.
I'm just saying.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: We don't know what Jesus did to Satan after His death and before His resurrection. Maybe that was Severe Payback Saturday.
I'm just saying.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: We don't know what Jesus did to Satan after His death and before His resurrection. Maybe that was Severe Payback Saturday.
Holy Week
Jesus' riding on a colt to enter Jerusalem was well-known symbol at the time ... He chose it to fulfill a prophecy, and that communicated clearly to the people of Jerusalem that He was the messiah. Apparently others who claimed to be the messiah had done the same thing.
Of course, as our priest explained today, Jesus then proceeded to spend a few days arguing in the Temple, instead of taking the Throne of David and overthrowing the Romans. By the time he throws someone out — it's not the Romans, it's the moneychangers in the Temple. The people's hopes are dashed. By Friday, they've turned against him entirely.
Perhaps those in the crowd felt they'd tipped their hands on Palm Sunday, both against Herod and against Pilate, by honoring Jesus with palms and cloaks strewn in his path. By receiving a man with such honors as He entered Jerusalem, they'd showed disloyalty to the Roman empire and their own Jewish king. After the expected revolution from Jesus didn't occur, they may have started to turn on Jesus to get back in the good graces of Pilate and Herod. Judas may have been monitoring this delicate situation — and determined that he needed to force Jesus' hand on Thursday night.
*****
Different parts of the Gospel affect us in different times. One that stood out when I saw The Passion was at the Last Supper, when Jesus said, "If they'll do this to me, they'll do this to you." It was a reminder where the world stands on Christ and His followers. We're lucky, in the United States, that virtually all the persecution against us is merely disapproval and ridicule. In the larger scheme of things, that's pretty light. In the Sudan, in Nigeria, and in other places, the persecution is what Jesus said was coming at the Last Supper.
Of course, as our priest explained today, Jesus then proceeded to spend a few days arguing in the Temple, instead of taking the Throne of David and overthrowing the Romans. By the time he throws someone out — it's not the Romans, it's the moneychangers in the Temple. The people's hopes are dashed. By Friday, they've turned against him entirely.
Perhaps those in the crowd felt they'd tipped their hands on Palm Sunday, both against Herod and against Pilate, by honoring Jesus with palms and cloaks strewn in his path. By receiving a man with such honors as He entered Jerusalem, they'd showed disloyalty to the Roman empire and their own Jewish king. After the expected revolution from Jesus didn't occur, they may have started to turn on Jesus to get back in the good graces of Pilate and Herod. Judas may have been monitoring this delicate situation — and determined that he needed to force Jesus' hand on Thursday night.
*****
Different parts of the Gospel affect us in different times. One that stood out when I saw The Passion was at the Last Supper, when Jesus said, "If they'll do this to me, they'll do this to you." It was a reminder where the world stands on Christ and His followers. We're lucky, in the United States, that virtually all the persecution against us is merely disapproval and ridicule. In the larger scheme of things, that's pretty light. In the Sudan, in Nigeria, and in other places, the persecution is what Jesus said was coming at the Last Supper.
Does it seem later?
I have one of those atomic clocks that synchronizes via microwaves. It had already done daylight savings time for me, so I woke up and my clock had already moved itself forward. Pretty cool.
Of course, I still had to check it online. Just to make sure.
Of course, I still had to check it online. Just to make sure.