Sunday, December 21. 2014
 My favorite holiday party is an annual open house that friends hold the Saturday before Christmas.
The house is great and the food is great, the guests dress up in holiday finery and Christmas ties, the bartenders are pleasant, the hors d'oevre waitresses are always near, the cheeses are excellent, especially the little room with the port and Stilton and cookies. Their pastor plays Christmas songs on the pianny (between cocktails), boxfulls of goofy Christmas hats are distributed, and carols are sung.
All of that is very good, but what is special is that they invite your entire family - all ages, so the place is full of peoples' kids and grandkids from 6 months to 40. Probably 150 people, maybe more, arriving, and going off to other parties. There are some crawlers underfoot dressed in their Christmas best. Balloons everywhere. That's what makes it merry, relaxed, and interesting. My kids love it, and it's a chance for others to catch up with them too.
If and when my daughters decide to tie the knot, I'd love it if they wanted to do a jolly wedding like that, with no formal sit-down, no deafening band, and with kids running around. I guess that is sort-of Mediterranean-style.
Luke 1:46b-55
1:46b "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
1:55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
Saturday, December 20. 2014
By coincidence, God Isn’t Dead in Gotham - Thousands pack the services of the evangelical Redeemer Presbyterian Church, most of them single and under 35.
 From Tim (not Ted) Dalrymple's Four Reasons Why Christmas Matters:
It is right and fitting to "walk and talk with Jesus." Without Jesus, our relationship with God grows cold and abstract, the contractual relationship of a creature to its Creator. With Jesus, the very same Jesus who entered the world in the event we celebrate at Christmas, our relationship with God is interpersonal. It is passionate and intimate, characterized not only by worship and reverence but also by tender mercy and forgiveness, love and mutual understanding. With Jesus, we can know God and be known by God through and through. With Jesus, we have footsteps in which to walk. With Jesus, we have the transformative presence and power of God with us even in our most human and most painful moments.
He also has another good piece up: What’s Better: Grilled Cheesus or the Absent God?
The Washington Post editorial, "President Obama's 'betrayal" of Cuban democrats", obliterates the ignorant comparisons of establishing relations with Vietnam compared to doing so with Cuba.
The negative response from the people whom Mr. Obama portrays as the beneficiaries of his initiative is one reason to question his contention that Cuba should be treated like China and Vietnam, two Communist nations with which the United States normalized diplomatic and economic relations decades ago. The United States was not able to join with opposition movements in those countries in demanding democratic reforms as part of a normalization process because, at the time, such movements barely existed in either place. In Cuba’s case, the opportunity was there.
Engagement with China and Vietnam also offered huge economic and geopolitical benefits that don’t exist in the case of Cuba, an impoverished island whose main interest to the United States is the freedom and prosperity of its 11 million people....
The Washington Post describes the human rights results in China and Vietnam, after their rulers and lackeys profit from US trade:
But in the past decade, political freedom in China has declined — there is less freedom of speech, of the press, of cultural expression. More political prisoners have been locked up and tortured. Tens of thousands of censors keep tight control over the Internet. The same is true in Vietnam: more foreign investment, less political and religious freedom, more bloggers in prison. And these are not anomalies: In the years that Mr. Obama has been in office, freedom has receded across the globe — without much protest or response from his administration.
Instead, the Washington Post supports the human rights demands from those brave enough to speak out within Cuba:
In Cuba’s case, that means listening to the brave freedom fighters Mr. Obama spurned. Mr. Obama’s prescription was not the only alternative to what he saw as the failed policy of the past half-century. Opposition leaders from throughout the island have agreed on four immediate demands to put before the government: the release of political prisoners; the end of repression against human rights and pro-democracy groups; the ratification of international covenants on human rights; and the recognition of Cuban civil society groups.
Friday, December 19. 2014
The article begins:
The year was 1943, and another Advent had dawned for Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer loved Advent and had often preached sermons on this holy season of waiting and hope as a metaphor for the entire Christian life. Just one year earlier, during the Advent of 1942, Bonhoeffer had written a circular letter to some of his friends and former students:
"The joy of God goes through the poverty of the manger and the agony of the cross; that is why it is invincible, irrefutable. It does not deny the anguish, when it is there, but finds God in the midst of it, in fact precisely there; it does not deny grave sin but finds forgiveness precisely in this way; it looks death straight in the eye, but it finds life precisely within it."
Those words took on a deeper meaning in December 1943 as Bonhoeffer found himself one of eight hundred prisoners awaiting trial in Berlin’s Tegel military prison.
I do not hate lefties, liberals, progressives at all. In fact, I am always interested in their views and their reasons for them. I often find that they have a hatred of those with differing views which is difficult for me to understand. So much hate and anger that you can hardly have a civil chat or a civil debate.
No problem with hate, because many things and people deserve it but I sure don't.
Why Liberals Really, Really Hate
Thursday, December 18. 2014
 We want it easy but good. We're thinking something like this:
Eggnog and/or Champagne, and Martinelli's of course for the teetotalers, then wine
A spiral-cut full-size Harrington's Country Ham big enough for 20, with some cool sauces and mustards for it
Corn Pudding
Scalloped potatoes with bacon
Asparagus
Biscuits
A green salad
Misc. Christmas cookies for dessert - bring homemade ones with you
We do church Christmas Eve, not Christmas morning as I did as a lad. We forbid gifts with extended family so we omit that silliness - except gifts of homemade cookies. In fact, we are not too big on gifts in general anymore. Instead, we'll have Mrs. BD on ye olde Steinway playing Christmas songs for us all to sing off-key, and some group games. We often play the "Who am I?" game.
At night, the kids go off to the movies with friends.
What's your plan?
Read it and weep, not only about this "comprehensive bailout — from the Obama administration" as the Washington Post editorial terms it but it continues "Mr. Obama says normalizing relations will allow the United States to be more effective in promoting political change in Cuba. That is contrary to U.S. experience with Communist regimes such as Vietnam, where normalization has led to no improvements on human rights in two decades." Further, it will encourage other despots and their useful idiots in the Western Left, as "they will press the Obama administration not to sanction Venezuela."
Then weep that ignorance at Maggies Farm abets useful idiocy, and gives a pass to the dispiriting of those facing the China and Russia bullies.
As I said yesterday, Cuba is an insignificant, God-forsaken 3rd world s-hole with the population of the state of Georgia and with a crappy, corrupt, and cruel government like most other crappy 3rd world countries. It does not deserve all this attention or all this debate. All we Americans want from Cuba is cigars (possible in the near-term) and some political justice for their people (possible eventually). The latter is of course what we wish for all terrible crappy countries which include most countries on the planet, but which we cannot provide for them.
As I have said, Cuba is just another Haiti. Same population as Haiti, too.
But here's this: Every big question you have about the U.S. opening to Cuba, answered
 Had to visit my friendly local dentist early this morning for what I term a "cosmetic emergency." Mrs. BD did not want me going through the rest of the holiday season looking like a Halloween pumpkin - or like a visitor from England (famous for its rotten and/or missing teeth).
He did give me one tip while I was there: he advised me to use interdental brushes instead of flossing. He said they are best for your gums, and clean better between teeth.
They come in different sizes to fit your tooth spacing. These things are news to me. I always avoided flossing and these are easier to use. He gave me a demo.
 I heard a pair of Great Horned Owls hooting to each other around 4:30 this morning. A mating pair for sure. They lay their eggs in January.
Roman concrete used 'secret' ingredient to stand the test of time - and now engineers want to copy it
Why people are NOT leaving your church
Smotherers of Invention - Patent trolls, universities, and big companies are exploiting a broken system.
Ancient rock adds evidence of King David’s existence
Sex with your professor is great if you initiate it … or want revenge
Sen. Sanders blamed speculators for the
$7.50/barrel increase in oil prices from Jan-June; Do they now get
credit for the $43/barrel drop in oil prices since July?
The Egalitarian Madness Gripping Madison
Campus hate crime hoaxes: A best-of list
Economic freedom by state
When Journalists Are The Story - Saying a sad goodbye to some NYT stalwarts, and The New Republic.
Warmist Naomi Klein Links #BlackLivesMatter To “Climate Change”
Rape is Plummeting in Frequency, But Campus Rape Hysteria Won’t Go Away
No Truer Words: Gross Calls Himself ‘A Trusting Fool’ Do-gooder comes a cropper
The Last Communist City - A visit to the dystopian Havana that tourists never see
Limiting Free Interchange with Authoritarian Regimes Only Benefits Their Leaders
Shep Smith wonders: Is America about to “ruin” Cuba?
Obama hands Cuba's Castros a major victory, but Congress can still stop it
Castro, Cuba, Obama—and Iran
Sony Cancels Theatrical Release for ‘The Interview’ on Christmas
Mich Feminists Harass Muslim Who Wrote Political Correctness Satire
While Country Crumbles, Democrats Address the Needs of Transgender Illegal Alien Children
Anyone But Jeb Bush? Pretty Much
Hillary Clinton Sells (Very Few) Magazines
Rush Limbaugh: THE PERFECT 2016 Ticket – Clinton-Bush
If you only read American media, you would never know that most of Europe is boiling with anti-immigration sentiment.
A Few Confirmation Questions for Obama's SecDef Nominee
The Chavez Revolution Is Over
Canada: Convening of Fourth Geneva Convention meeting unfairly singles out Israel
Hamas Senior Officials At Movement's 27th Anniversary Celebrations: We Will Not Recognize Zionist Entity Or Be Satisfied With A Palestinian State Within 1967 Borders; We Thank Iran For Supplying Us With Weapons, Missiles
Wednesday, December 17. 2014
Central planning by our moral and intellectual superiors. Would anybody in a free country want that, even if we had any moral and intellectual superiors?
Then a Miracle Occurs….
The Fatal Conceit of Jonathan Gruber:
Gruber’s widely publicized revelations about the political strategy of pushing through landmark legislation that voters would reject if they “understood” what was in it is typical of the scientific planner mindset. Scientific planners like Gruber believe that they know better what ordinary people need than the people themselves, that people are too stupid to make decisions for themselves, and that more intelligent technocrats must intervene in their lives on their behalf.
ObamaCare will puncture Gruber’s balloon, later if not sooner. The lesson that Gruber will learn is that ordinary people are actually smarter than the scientific planners...
Heading towards normal relations with Cuba? That's fine with me because basically Cuba is of little significance. Only the Cold War Russians put the place on the map, but that was 50 years ago and nobody, even the Russians, care about it anymore.
Nobody cares about Cuba anymore, same as Haiti.
A fellow in my office likes to surprise us with Chick-fil-A breakfast biscuits every now and then. It's a pleasant way to start the day and he'll show up with 100 or so, first-come first-served. I usually pass on it, but make my way to his office for the socializing.
Today I had to discuss business with him at a designated time and arrived as the last biscuit was handed out.
A group of people entered just after me, and were told the last one had be served. One fellow responded "Well, good, because I was conflicted."
"Conflicted about what?" I asked.
"I hate that company and everything it stands for. So I wasn't sure I wanted a biscuit. I'm glad they are gone so I don't have any moral qualms."
I started laughing and said "They make a damn good chicken sandwich, and that's all I care about. I can't stand many Hollywood actors and their politics, but I'll still see their movies because I want to be entertained."
He replied, "Well, that's not an issue for me. I like most Hollywood actors."
I could hear my point whistling past his ears.
There aren't many purchases I make while considering the politics of those things. If I did, I probably wouldn't spend much money. I'd have a hard time buying clothes, food, and putting gas in my tank. I'm a fan of Pink Floyd, went to see Roger Waters perform in concert, with all his political nonsense, and simply told my boys "Enjoy the show and the music, pay no attention to the political diatribes and imagery. We didn't ask for that, he's just decided to force it on his fans, many of whom don't think for themselves, anyway. We are here for the art and the entertainment."
I loves me my Chick-fil-A. I don't agree with their stance on homosexuality. But I'm not convinced my not enjoying chicken will alter their stance. To be honest, I'm not sure what one has to do with the other.
 A Dylan performance for an audience of one
The Rising Cost of Felony Creep - Over-criminalization takes its toll.
1 in 5 Millennials Live in Poverty, Census Bureau Says
World-first ‘Bionic Bra’ inches closer to reality
London in Shakespeare's time
What Is a Suburb, Anyway?
Nothing Succeeds Like Liberal Secession: Blue America Without Red America Would Be A Basket Case
Sarah Palin hunts feral hogs. World ends.
Tim Scott: Why Marriage Matters for Fighting Poverty
NIH Has Spent $100.2 Million on Mindfulness Meditation
Mindless
Harvard Law Review Editor on exam delay request: Our Weakness is Our Strength
Dear Harvard College students...
Good grief
Oberlin College Students Demand Black Students Be Exempt From Failing Because of Ferguson And Garner Protests – Update: School Denies Request, Moonbats Outraged…
When Reporters Value ‘Justice’ Over Accuracy, Journalism Loses
NY Post: 2014, The Year Of The Liberal Lie
How Much Does the NYT Hate America?
Government Job Security
A Winning Alternative to Obamacare
Feds force patients onto Medicaid
Bye, Bye “Bailout”: CROmnibus Takes a Small but Important Bite out of Obamacare
A Winning Alternative to Obamacare
Why Do Climate Change Claims Consistently Get a Fact-Checker Pass?
"The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels"
Study: Your all-electric car may not be so green
Gluttony and Global Warming: We’re Eating Ourselves to a Warmer Planet
Scott Walker to EPA: Take Your Clean Power Plan and Keep Walking
Sony Exec Reaches Out to Al Sharpton – Will Hook Up This Week for Race Conference in NYC
Taxpayer-Funded Immigrant Advocacy Group Blasts Republicans - Helps those seeking deportation relief, tells them to vote against GOP
Sydney: For Whatshisname, the Dustbin of History
Sydney: One ‘Irritation’ Too Many
Sen. Rand Paul on ISIS, the Middle East, and when America should go to war
Tehreek-e-Taliban Takes Credit for School Attack That Left 131 Children Dead: “We Want Them to Feel Pain”
Sept. 11 detainees in Guantanamo get copies of CIA torture report
The True Victims of Torture - The Democrats, suddenly shocked by the CIA’s tactics, dishonor the people who died on 9/11.
Prediction: Russia Is Gonna Do Some Crazy Shit Soon
Sorry, Putin. Russia’s economy is doomed
Newly Released NSA Documents Show That China Captured American Soldiers During The Vietnam War
Tuesday, December 16. 2014
...because a cute, perky young gal held the door for me at the gym at 5 am this morning. Sheesh.
And because my lad now fits into my tux. He borrows it when he needs it, but the legs and sleeves are a little bit short but not so's you would notice at a crowded event.
I've had mine for many years. Admittedly, Brooks did let out the waist an inch for me (35 to 36) a while ago and it has been dry cleaned many times.
The lad fits into my formal dress shirts too, and I am happy to loan him my grandpa's gold studs and cufflinks. If one is not wealthy, as I am not, a classic Brooks tux remains a bargain, is always appropriate, and is cheaper than an ordinary fancy suit. They last forever unless you get fat or live a far more hoity-toity life than I do. It's holiday season now and, in Yankeeland, you have to dress up a little for special occasions. Year 'round, really. At Christmas and New Year's, I just do it by adding my red holiday cummerbund and red bow tie.
It's a uniform. Maybe we remain a little old-fashioned. Nowadays, we easily forget that the tux was invented (in Tuxedo Park, of course) as a casual dinner get-up for the jazz-age youth who rightly rebelled against wearing vests and tails to dinner and parties.
It's called "horizontal gene transmission." The gene that jumped - Genes that leap from one species to another are more common than we thought.
The know-nothings out there know nothing about biology.
 We'll leave out the billionaires, because they are too few to move the dial. Let's just look at the very high-income people who make America look unequal in the statistics.
Who are the piggish people with multi-million annual incomes?
Pop music stars
Pro athletes and coaches
Hollywood stars, producers, and agents
Fund managers of large popular funds, hedge and regular
Large urban real estate investors and brokers
Successful creators of new businesses and venture investors in highly successful businesses
A small number of CEOs of major corps.
A microscopic number of authors
Investment bankers? Not much anymore
I don't begrudge any of these people their incomes, but I sometimes envy it while aware that I would not be capable of doing what they do. Still, if we taxed them all 100% over 1 million, we'd eliminate the statistical "crisis" and people would have to bitch about something else.
Who am I missing on my list?
 Disgusting greedy capitalist pigs: Highest earning musicians of 2014
Office work is dangerous
Highest earning musicians of 2014
Why the Abortion Rate Is the Lowest It’s Been Since 1973
How Much White Privilege Do You Have?
Black newspaper takes on black-on-black violence
The mob is alive and well in the unions
Which Costly Family Most Deserves to Enter the Moocher Hall of Fame?
NYC: Majority of city’s trainee teachers flunked literacy tests
How ignorant jerks are going to treat good cops now; ‘I’m scared for my life . . .he’s trying to Mike Brown me
Social conservatism, marriage, and class:
We may have a culture in which the working class is encouraged to imitate what are sold as key upper-class values — sexual permissiveness and self-fashioning, spirituality and emotivism — when really the upper class is also held together by a kind of secret traditionalism, without whose binding power family life ends up coming apart even faster.
Media swoon: Elizabeth Warren, unlike Ted Cruz, hailed as a principled crusader
The Democrats Double Down - Will Republicans seize the opportunity?
VDH: Epitaph for Hope and Change - Obama has fundamentally transformed America, all right — but not as he intended.
The Rise and Fall of German-American Bund
“If you make jokes about people who are going to kill you, there is a sort of tendency to hold back a little.”
‘He Must Have Loved Ones, Too’ - Pathological altruism in Sydney.
German Leader Denounces Anti-Immigrant Surge
Last week the news arrived that the most popular name given to boys in the UK in 2014 was "Mohammed." The reactions and non-reactions to this story betrayed the deep unease and denial that are now part of the debate around Islam in modern Britain.
How Iraq Became a Proxy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
At its 27th birthday parade, Hamas vows to destroy Israel
|
