Thanks to Blogs for Victory for highlighting the sort of folks Mike Huckabee sees as a vital part of his campaign.

The Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, has been garnering attention in the media with his surge in political polls. However, a campaign stop this Sunday by Huckabee at a mega-church whose pastor sees Hitler as linked to the Catholic Church, could soon steal the spotlight.

According to Mike HuckabeeÂ’s campaign website, the controversial stop at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas will take place this Sunday, December 23. He will speak at the church's two Sunday services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.

Hagee is clearly a hate-monger of the worst sort. He not only peddles theological opposition to Catholicism (which is fine), but he actually resorts to historical lies to support his position (witness, for example, his comments on the Church and Hitler -- both Pius XI and Pius XII spoke out against Hitler repeatedly). If Huckabeast wants to court such folks -- who use the same rhetoric about Catholicism that the KKK did for generations -- then he is more than welcome to do so. But it is incumbent upon every decent Republican to condemn him for doing so. There is no place for such bigots and bigotry in the Republican Party.

Posted by: Greg at 05:18 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I grew up a fan of the Washington Redskins, though I never had a chance to attend a game. Indeed, I finally did get to see them play in St. Louis when I was in my mid-30s, after the Rams moved there.

And today I am a big fan of the Houston Texans, with season tickets. But I would drop those tickets in a minute if this sort of stuff ever became the standard at Reliant Stadium.

I went to my last professional football game this month. My son and I braved frigid, remote FedEx Field to see our beloved Chicago Bears, the fallen Super Bowl champions, humiliated 24-16 by the struggling Washington Redskins. It wasn't the depth of our despair that will keep us away from football stadiums for good but the depravity of the fans.

I suppose depravity is a strong word. But what better describes drunken adult men, egged on by other grown beer-swillers, belly-shouting the most spectacular obscenities imaginable as they stand next to a 13-year-old boy? Every play was a competition to produce a more vile insult or a different suggestion about which Bear body part might be stuffed up which orifice. When the Redskins scored their first touchdown, four young women -- I'm guessing they were in high school -- turned around and did a little stripper's dance that made my son blush as I cringed. Even putting aside their ages, it was too cold to bare flesh.

Within 10 minutes of kickoff, I knew I had made a terrible mistake taking my son to the game.

The looming aggression and violence was more troubling than the foul language and drunken boorishness. Some of the men near us were enraged and barely in control of themselves. When Bears quarterback Rex Grossman went down with a knee injury, two obese drunks behind us bellowed that they hoped the [expletive] [expletive] would never walk again. They did this over and over, adding slurs and suggested tortures.

I had already pointed out to these gentlemen that there were kids around. They glared at me, furious. It was obvious to me that if I pursued it, there would be a fight or a screaming match.

And as a season ticket holder, I find this part of the story to be even worse.

My son wore a Bears jersey concealed under his layers of fleece and down. A man two rows in front of us who looked like Cpl. Klinger from "M*A*S*H" took it upon himself to needle my son every time something bad happened to the Bears, which happened a lot. He would turn and stare at him and wave goodbye in a threatening way. I know he was trying to be funny, ribbing us in good spirit. But when I asked him to stop, he just shook his head. The very nice man next to me, a season-ticket holder, told me that if I just waited until the second half, the guy would be too drunk to stand.

That isn't the way things are in our part of Reliant Stadium, or in other parts from my experience (and I've been to 90% of the Texans home games since the team was created). We have an alert staff of ushers and off-duty cops who make sure that everyone has a good time at the game, and that the place is family friendly. They even put up a phone number on the jumbotron for you to call if someone in your area is out-of-hand -- and they do take action.

Indeed, our biggest problem is fans coming from out of town to watch the games. I've been spit on by a Cowboy's fan and throughly cursed by a sluttily dressed Dolphinette for demanding that she quit move so that my wife could get to the bathroom from our handicapped accessible seat ("Move for the wheelchair!" was such an unreasonable expectation). One was thrown out of the stadium, and the other would have been arrested if he hadn't run off into the crowd. But other than the occasional drunk getting a bit out of hand, I've not observed the sort of problems described in this column here in Houston.

That's not to say that there isn't taunting -- there is. The funniest may have been a few weeks back when all the Saints fans started chanting "Reggie! Reggie!" after Reggie Bush made a first down near the goal line -- and when he lost the ball on the 1-yard line the very next play, we all dutifully turned around and reciprocated with the same chant of "Reggie! Reggie!" in honor of the running back we didn't draft a year ago. There was even a bit of laughter from both sides. And therein lies the key -- we are there for fun, for entertainment.

So Dick, I hope you don't give up on the NFL. If you get a chance, bring the boy down here to Houston for a game and see how football can be done right.

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I've refrained from commenting on this matter for a couple of days -- I wasn't sure how to approach it -- but the story in today's Houston Chronicle merits some mention.

International space station astronaut Dan Tani offered a passionate tribute to his mother on Friday, two days before her funeral service in the Chicago suburb of Lombard, Ill.

Rose Tani, 90, died Wednesday of injuries suffered when her car was struck by a freight train in the community 20 miles west of Chicago.

"My mother was a complete joy," said Tani in a statement distributed by NASA, his first public comments on her death. "Those who knew her will know that words cannot describe her vitality, generosity and warmth. She was my hero. We will all miss her dearly."

The tragedy marked the first time an American astronaut has experienced the loss of an immediate family member while on a space mission.

* * *

Services for Rose Tani were scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m., CST, at the First Church of Lombard United Church of Christ, where the family has worshipped for years.

Other survivors include sons Richard and Steven and daughter Christine.

Tani planned to record a tribute to his mother from the space station to be played at Sunday's service.

Also, Tani's family plans to record the service so that it can be transmitted to him later by NASA, said Evans.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the Tani family as they face this shocking tragedy. They are in my prayers at this time.

This is a reminder of something that NASA folks take for granted, but we outside of the space program never even think about.

"Living on the space station means that I experience all aspects of life — be they joyous or tragic — while circling the Earth without a convenient way to return," said Tani. "Of course, I was aware of this situation before my mission, and I fully accept that I will proudly complete my mission and join my family when I return."

Thursday night, the men from church had our annual Christmas party. I was part of the minority there who had no NASA connection, either current or former NASA employees or contractors. I asked about this situation, and was somewhat surprised to find that there actually was already a protocol for handling this sort of situation. And as Dan Tani points out, the reality of space travel is that there is really no option for coming home in such a situation.

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It may, according to some analysts, as the law's requirements of less safe, less popular cars with higher fuel efficiency kick in.

For automakers, tougher fuel economy laws signed by President Bush this week represent a big challenge. For Houston's petrochemical industry, they could mean big business.

To hit the targets, automakers not only will need to develop more efficient engine technologies, but reduce the weight of vehicles, a shift that could open the door for greater use of plastics.

Chemical plants in this region produce many of the raw plastics that already are being used to make auto components.

"Materials manufactured at our facilities in Texas and many other areas of the world will be instrumental in meeting customer needs and new industry standards," said Steve Henderson, president of the Americas for Dow Automotive in Auburn Hills, Mich. The company has manufacturing sites in Freeport, Seadrift and LaPorte that produce materials used in automotive components.

But while chemical companies see opportunity ahead, others see limits to how much plastic and other lightweight materials can be added to vehicles without compromising safety or increasing costs.

Of course the new law is going to compromise safety. Of course it is going to raise costs of vehicles even further. But damn it, it is going to get us to 35 MPG like the greenie-weenies insist we must in order to be in compliance with the dogma of the religion of global warming as proclaimed by the Prophet Al Gore.

But on the bright side, it will boost the local economy, even as more Americans die on the roads and highways of America.

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George Romney did, in fact, march with Dr. King.

Shirley Basore, 72, says she was sitting in the hairdresser’s chair in wealthy Grosse Pointe, Mich., back in 1963 when a rumpus started and she discovered that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and her governor, George Romney, were marching for civil rights — right past the window.

With the cape still around her neck, Basore went outside and joined the parade.

“They were hand in hand,” recalled Basore, a former high-school English teacher. “They led the march. We all swung our hands, and they held their hands up above everybody else’s.”

And, of course, there is the press coverage that the Romney campaign has suppled.

No, Mitt Romney was not there -- though no doubt he attended other civil rights events with his father, to whom he was very close. But if this is what constitutes a "scandal" in Romney's background, there is truly a level of desperation among those who are seeking to discredit him. Why not focus on significant misdeeds like can be found in the past of Giuliani and Huckabee rather than a somewhat hyperbolic statement on Mitt's part regarding events that happened 40 years ago?

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UPDATE: Dear God, I recognized that this was a horrible tragedy. I didn't think the story could get any more gut-wrenching. It has.

Authorities now know the remains found Thursday morning by a commuter on the Gulf Freeway are those of a 12-year-old boy. They know he was a fifth-grader at Schneider Middle School, and that his mom reported him missing later that day.

But they don't know how Traveon Jamel Jordan LeBlanc ended up crossing the busy interstate, where it's theorized he was struck by several vehicles.

And that this boy's classmates spent much of the day on Friday, the last school day before Christmas, speculating that it might be their friend who had been killed and then having their fears confirmed, tears at my heart even more. may God send his healing mercy down upon his friends, his teachers, and his family .

Read this story of what appears to be a horrible accident here in Houston, and tell me what is missing from it.

Investigators are trying to determine the identity of a person they theorize may have been struck several times while trying to walk across the Gulf Freeway.

A motorist called police early Thursday morning to report seeing what appeared to be human remains in the main lanes of the freeway.

Investigators with the Houston Police Department and Harris County Medical Examiner's Office, while combing the freeway, would later find various pieces of a body.

The macabre scene, which police believe was the result of a pedestrian struck by several vehicles, slowed southbound traffic to a crawl for five hours.

Police could not determine the individual's gender or approximate age and investigators are calling on the public to help identify the person. Officials say the person could have been black. Little else is known.

"We're asking for anyone who was driving by that area before 6:40 (a.m. Thursday) to call us if they saw anything suspicious or out of the ordinary," said HPD spokesman John Cannon.

Police do not know when or if the person was killed after being struck by vehicles on the Gulf Freeway.

The article continues on in a similar vein to the end.

The more I read, the more I was struck by the missing detain. Where, exactly, on the Gulf Freeway did this incident occur. Surely we could have been given an exit or two in order to provide a frame of reference for readers. After all, the Gulf Freeway runs from downtown Houston to Galveston Island -- all of which is part of the Houston metropolitan area. And if you were not caught in the traffic jam, would you necessarily know where the incident took place. You know, especially if you were a teacher driving that stretch of road at 6:30 on the way to school and who didn't get out of school until 3:00 (I lived just off Gulf Freeway for four years and took it to work daily), you might never have been aware of the closed highway and the search for body parts.

Come on, Chronicle "professionals" -- why couldn't you offer your readers these salient details?

By the way, thanks to alert commenters on the website for noting that the incident took place between Airport Blvd and Edgebrook.Authorities now know the remains found Thursday morning by a commuter on the Gulf Freeway are those of a 12-year-old boy. They know he was a fifth-grader at Schneider Middle School, and that his mom reported him missing later that day.

But they don't know how Traveon Jamel Jordan LeBlanc ended up crossing the busy interstate, where it's theorized he was struck by several vehicles.

Posted by: Greg at 01:52 AM | Comments (101) | Add Comment
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It is becoming more and more common for you to be able to access web based media on your mobile phone. That is true of many telephones, but you probably hear the most about it with the iPhone and the iPod Touch.

But like it was back in the bad old days of 9600 BPS dial =-up modems, web based video delivered to cell phones can be really slow to download results in poor quality and long delays when playing the video while downloading.
IÂ’m getting a new mobile phone with web capabilities and IÂ’m excited to hear about the Avot mV video delivery platform by Avot Media.

Avot mV seems to be the first solution that gives mobile users unlimited access to any web-based video. Once installed on your mobile device, it enables you to quickly and easily search, personalize and play videos from around the internet.

You can download Avot mV directly to your mobile phone by pointing your mobile browser to the Avot mV Product Site. On the other hand, using your computer you can simply visit the Corporate Site to learn more. You can also download a copy of Avot mV to your desktop while you are there. Then youÂ’ll need to hook up your mobile device to your computer to upload the program to your mobile device.

I suspect youÂ’ll enjoy using Avot mV. It features intelligent search capabilities that can be customized to your personal preferences, which should make searching for videos across the internet quick and easy. This will be great for political junkies out there who want all of the latest news on the 2008 elections, on the national, state, and even local levels. And they even have separate Republican and Democrat channels, so you can focus in on the candidates you are most interested in.

One great feature of Avot mV is that you can simply point and click on videos that you’re interested in instead of typing URLs. And when you’ve done that, the Avot mV platform transfers the content to your mobile device in just seconds -- much faster than previous programs. And that means you’ll be able to play the video in near real time and without grainy video quality, delays or stutters. After all, we know that none of the candidates sound like Max Headroom when they speak in person – why should they on your phone?

You can even maximize the size and clarity of the video! Sounds great to me, especially with all the great political coverage weÂ’ll be getting in 2008.

If you are interested in the Avot mV platform visit the website to learn more about it and you can also visit the Avot Media Official Blog to see the latest Avot mV platform news.

Posted by: Greg at 06:21 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Imagine that -- work done with public funds needs to be accessible to the public. What a novel concept.

It is barely a drop of ink in the gargantuan omnibus spending bill that Congress just passed. But a provision that would give the public free access to the results of federally funded biomedical research represents a sweet victory for a coalition of researchers and activists who lobbied for the language for years.

Under the bill's terms, scientists getting grant money from the National Institutes of Health would now have to submit to the NIH a final copy of their research papers when those papers are accepted for publication in a journal. An NIH database would then post those papers, free to the public, within 12 months after publication.

The idea is that taxpayers, who have already paid for the research, should not have to subscribe to expensive scientific journals to read about the results.

That populist line -- spearheaded by patient advocacy groups seeking easier access to the latest medical findings and supported by libraries whose budgets have had trouble keeping up with rising journal subscription costs -- ultimately overwhelmed objections from journal publishers. Those firms had complained bitterly that proponents bypassed the congressional committees that could have carefully compared the new approach to less disruptive systems for making information available to the public, some of which are already being used by other science-funding agencies.

I love the response from one of the lobbyists for the journal publishers -- "It's not over yet."

Yes, it is. It is called FEDERAL LAW. Comply or die when the lawsuits fly.

Posted by: Greg at 02:56 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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This could be the big story of the political season -- and explain the solicitations that keep showing up in my email.

Fred ThompsonÂ’s plan is simple: Get on a bus and haul around to some 50 Iowa towns and cities between now and Jan. 3.

ItÂ’s the only option he has.

Thompson has little money left in bank and has had to slash his television presence here to a level well below that of Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. His cash crunch is so severe that heÂ’s even had to freeze his direct mail plan.

So now, for the next two weeks before the caucuses, he'll be largely living off the land.

As I look at things, Fred Thompson OUGHT TO BE one of the top three candidates in the race. He OUGHT TO BE drawing support away from Rudy and McCain. But he never has managed to do so at a significant level, because he never really got the campaign off the ground. He is great in debates. he is great in person. But while everyone else was out on the campaign trail, Thompson has been significantly less active on every front.

This leads me to two conclusions.

1) Fred Thompson's only hope is a strong finish in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Second in any one of them would be great, but lower than third in more than one of them should drive a stake through the heart of his campaign.

2) Fred;s major asset now is that he is the ideal vice presidential candidate on any ticket except for McCain's (two Senators is a bad idea, though the Dems might do it). After all, Fred Thompson is the second choice of most Republicans, including this one. He effectively balances the ticket ideologically and/or geographically.

Six months ago, I suspected that I was standing inches from the next President of the United States when he flew into Houston. Now I'm pretty sure that he will max-out at Vice President.

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I'm a Christian.

I also believe, quite firmly, in evolution.

And I do not see a contradiction in the two.

Indeed, there are a pair of quotes in today's Michael Gerson column in the Washington Post that quite clearly reflect my point of view on the matter, each from author Leon Kass

The first notes that there is a rough parallel betwen evolutionary theory and the Genesis creation account.

Leon Kass, in his masterful work "The Beginning of Wisdom: Reading Genesis," observes, "The biblical account is perfectly compatible with the fact of a slowly evolving cosmos, with life arriving late, beginning in the sea and only later emerging on earth, progressively distinguished into a variety of separated kinds."

Indeed, if one does not read that account with a spirit of wooden literalism, that parallel is quite obvious. That would make the beginning of Genesis an allegory, rather than a history. And to those who object, may point out that if mere human beings are capable of using that literary technique, then so is an omniscient, omnipotent God.

But more important is the Kass quote that closes the column.

"Let us assume that creation is evolution," argues Leon Kass, "and proceeds solely by natural processes. What is responsible for this natural process? . . . Can a dumb process, ruled by strict necessity and chance mutation, having no rhyme or reason, ultimately answer sufficiently for life, for man, for the whole? . . . And when we finally allow ourselves to come face-to-face with the mystery that there is anything at all rather than nothing, can we evolutionists confidently reject the first claim of the Bible -- 'In [the] beginning, God created the heavens and the earth'?"

My argument is that no, that claim cannot be rejected. At the same time, God cannot be scientifically proven. There is no way to place God in a test tube or under a microscope slide, and there is no reagent that can test for his presence or absence. But as has often been pointed out, science and faith can be seen as -- and ought to be seen as -- complementary rather than contradictory. To place them at odds with one another is to present a false dichotomy, for coming to understand the divine miracle of creation AND evolution (which are, dare I say, one and the same) should not necessitate the the rejection of a Creator. Similarly, faith in a Creator God need not result in the rejection of the scientific laws and processes by which creation was carried out and which God gave us the intellect to understand. Indeed, both of those extreme positions fall well outside the boundaries of the Judeo-Christian faith tradition, and must be labeled heretical. Let them be anathema.

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I’ve been talking a lot about LED Christmas lights this year, especially since the National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC is using them instead of traditional lights. They save energy and give off less heat so that makes them great for home use, too. After all, who doesn’t like to save money – and with the lower cost and lower heat, you can leave that tree going 24/7. There are also other types of LED lights, too! Imagine lighting the way to your door or the edge of your yard with LED rope lighting. Frankly, I’m impressed with all the options in LED decorative lights that are available.

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Mitt and Rudy are essentially tied, with Huckabee within the margin of error of the two front-runners.

After holding a double-digit advantage over his nearest rivals just six weeks ago, the former New York City mayor now is tied nationally with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 20% among Republicans, just slightly ahead of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 17% and Arizona Sen. John McCain at 14%. Other polls show Mr. Giuliani's lead shrinking in Florida, one of the states he has built his strategy around.

With the poll's margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.1 percentage points, that puts Mr. Huckabee, who had only single-digit support in the previous poll in early November, within striking distance of the leaders. Mr. Romney's national support also has nearly doubled.

On the other hand, Huckabee leads in Iowa, so that could really shake matters up going into New Hampshire and South Carolina. And in a shift that may bode well for Romney, voters are now more concerned about the economy than about Iraq -- and Mitt's business experience will be a plus for him there.

My guess -- we may see a floor fight at the GOP convention, and a brokered ticket. My question is whether the resulting publicity will be a positive or negative thing for the GOP.

Posted by: Greg at 12:51 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I first wrote about this in October -- but it seems that Ron Paul is still holding on to that racist cash, despite his fund raising success. I guess that there is no contributor odious enough to be rejected -- so expect Ron Paul to solicit cash from Michale Jackson, OJ Simpson, and Drew Peterson.

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul has received a $500 campaign donation from a white supremacist, and the Texas congressman doesn't plan to return it, an aide said Wednesday.

Don Black, of West Palm Beach, recently made the donation, according to campaign filings. He runs a Web site called Stormfront with the motto, "White Pride World Wide." The site welcomes postings to the "Stormfront White Nationalist Community."

"Dr. Paul stands for freedom, peace, prosperity and inalienable rights. If someone with small ideologies happens to contribute money to Ron, thinking he can influence Ron in any way, he's wasted his money," Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said. "Ron is going to take the money and try to spread the message of freedom."

"And that's $500 less that this guy has to do whatever it is that he does," Benton added.

Why is this a big deal? Aside from the fact that it tells us a great deal about Ron Paul's (lack of) ethics and morality, he has recently accused patriotic Christians of being fascists. How much credibility can he have on that score when he takes money from an actual fascist and refuses to divest himself of it? Seems to me that fascism in America already wears a Ron Paul for President button.

No one suggests that Ron Paul screen his donors -- but when he knows that he is getting cash from such a source, he has no business keeping it. And as I've suggested, Ron Paul does not need to return the money to Black -- give it to a charitable organization that Paul supports that is absolutely antithetical to Black's views, such as the US Holocaust Museum or the Congress on Racial Equality.

Lone Star Times, which first broke this story, has another possible revelation about Ron Paul's ties to Nazis, racists, and other scummy types.

MORE AT Captain's Quarters, Hot Air, Stop The ACLU, FullosseousFlapÂ’s Dental Blog, Liberal Values, The Liberty Papers, Kevin McCulloch

OPEN TRACKBACKING AT Outside the Beltway, The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary's Thoughts, Faultline USA, Adam's Blog, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The Pink Flamingo, Celebrity Smack, Leaning Straight Up, Cao's Blog, The Amboy Times, Big Dog's Weblog, Wolf Pangloss, and Conservative Cat, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Posted by: Greg at 12:32 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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Because if there were an actual demand for them, there would be no need for this legislation.

After a year of partisan combat and legislative stalemate, President Bush and Democratic congressional leaders came together yesterday for a holiday season consensus as they enacted legislation to promote energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) joined Bush for their first bill-signing ceremony with him since Democrats took over Congress in January, using the occasion to look past the disputes that marked a year of divided government.

* * *

The new law increases the fuel-efficiency standards for passenger vehicles for the first time since 1975, requiring new cars to average 35 miles per gallon by 2020 instead of the 25 mpg now required. It also requires fuel producers to use at least 36 billion gallons of ethanol and other biofuels by 2022, a fivefold increase over the current standard, to reduce the dependence on oil. And it includes new rules and incentives to encourage greater efficiency in light bulbs and buildings.

Americans have shown time and again with their checkbooks that they want bigger, more heavily powered vehicles. Increasing the fleet standards will likely require that the automobile manufacturers produce more small vehicles with less powerful engines. And we know that such vehicles are, by and large, less safe for drivers and passengers than the larger, heavier vehicles.

And for the record, I don't drive an SUV -- I drive a smaller vehicle that meets the 35 MPG standard (or at least comes close). I do so by choice.

When will the crew in Washington read Adam Smith?

Posted by: Greg at 12:06 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Looking to start a business? Well, you need to make sure you have the cash you need to begin and stay operational. Often this involves getting involved in some sort of credit agreement to ensure you have the cash you need.

One way to get fast business cash is to borrow against sales. Owners can get cash now and repay later, after customers have paid you. One option is to get a small business cash advance to tide you through the rough spots in business. At MeritCapitalAdvance.com, you can get cash advances based upon the sales you make using masterCard and Visa. Approval is quick and easy, too.

Posted by: Greg at 11:57 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I can understand that a politician may vote "present" on some legislation -- usually of little consequence -- when he is undecided. But Obama used it to avoid "NO" votes on politically sensitive yet popular legislation. Where is the leadership on that?

In 1999, Barack Obama was faced with a difficult vote in the Illinois legislature — to support a bill that would let some juveniles be tried as adults, a position that risked drawing fire from African-Americans, or to oppose it, possibly undermining his image as a tough-on-crime moderate.

In the end, Mr. Obama chose neither to vote for nor against the bill. He voted “present,” effectively sidestepping the issue, an option he invoked nearly 130 times as a state senator.

Sometimes the “present’ votes were in line with instructions from Democratic leaders or because he objected to provisions in bills that he might otherwise support. At other times, Mr. Obama voted present on questions that had overwhelming bipartisan support. In at least a few cases, the issue was politically sensitive.

The picture that emerges is of a legislator who was a follower much of the time rather than a leader -- and who lacked the courage of his convictions when confronted with tough votes. That isn't leadership for change -- it is political cowardice.

Remember, you don't get to vote "PRESENT" as president.

Posted by: Greg at 11:45 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Growing up in Southern California, my mother got used to wearing sunglasses much of the time. They weren't a fashion statement -- they were a necessity. Now in her 70s, Mom still wears them much of the time when she goes out -- though today she wears prescription designer eyeglasses with a tint to her preferred level. They are really great.

Now there are many places you can get good designer eyeglasses. One of those is at GlassesEtc.com, a fine online establishment that sells you great glasses at great prices. Best of all, they sell only authentic designer frames and offer free return shipping if you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason. But I'm sure you won't be unhappy.

Posted by: Greg at 11:40 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I like Tom Tancredo, and am in general agreement with him on immigration issues. That said, I never saw him as a serious candidate for the presidency.

Neither did anyone else. Tancredo is withdrawing from the race today.

Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo, whose forceful opposition to illegal immigration vaulted him to national prominence, plans to announce he is abandoning his long-shot bid for the presidency, a person close to Tancredo said Wednesday.

The five-term Colorado congressman planned to make the announcement at a news conference in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for Tancredo or his campaign.

Tancredo's campaign would only say he planned a "major announcement" Thursday.

The interesting question will be where he throws his miniscule support. Having seen one of the founders of the Minutemen endorse Huckabee, will he go that direction? Or will he instead go for one of the other candidates? And given the fact that the Tancredo campaign never really took off, does it matter as more than a symbolic gesture?

Expect to see Tancredo compete for the Senate seat being vacated by Wayne Allard.

Posted by: Greg at 11:36 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Now I'll be the first to agree with the idea that positive thinking has a power all its own. But how far does that power extend? Does it project beyond the thinker, making changes in the course of the universe itself? That is a key question for many people who are interested in psychic phenomenon.

One group interested in this question is the Institute of Noetic Sciences. It is a non-profit research and education institution that seeks to advance the science of consciousness and human experience in order to bring about individual and collective transformation. Their Shift In Action offers an opportunity to connect with leaders in their field at a relatively low cost to the participants. I'd encourage you to check out their program if you have an interest in the issue.

Posted by: Greg at 06:58 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Some headlines just seem too obvious for words. Take this one from todayÂ’s Houston Chronicle.

Gunfire leads to the discovery of body

Shots fired. Dead body. Not a surprise. After all, when you are inside the city limits, it is unlikely that you are going to hear shots fired by someone hunting for game.

Posted by: Greg at 01:18 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Americans have made it pretty clear that they are against redefining marriage to be anything but one man and one woman. But it seems that John Edwards isn’t too concerned with what the American people thing – he wants to appeal to the left side of the Democrat base.

John Edwards said yesterday that if elected president, he would try to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton, and do away with the ban on homosexuals serving openly in the U.S. military.

After a star-studded campaign event in this small town's opera house, the former North Carolina senator said the law known as DOMA is "discriminatory."

"I think we should get rid of DOMA; I think DOMA was a mistake from the beginning, and discriminatory, and so I will do everything in my power as president to do that," the Democratic candidate said in a three-minute meeting with reporters.

Asked by The Washington Times why the act is discriminatory, he bristled, then said: "I think it's discriminatory against gay and lesbian couples, that's what's discriminatory about it."

An Edwards staffer ended the press conference one minute later.

Interesting, isn’t it, that the staff made sure that Edwards didn’t do himself any additional damage there. After all, he pretty clearly revealed his contempt for the majority of Americans, including the majority of his own party. And while I think he is correct with his assessment of “don’t ask, don’t tell” as a nonsensical policy (see the great piece by my friends at GayPatriot on the topic), the gay marriage issue is different. When the American people have spoken at the polls, they have made it clear that the overwhelming majority of us oppose the redefinition of marriage away from its traditional definition as one man and one woman. We need a Federal Marriage Amendment now to stop a radical ideologue from overturning the will of the people on this matter.

Posted by: Greg at 01:07 PM | Comments (34) | Add Comment
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Could an undetectable mini-asteroid be the end of the world as we know it?

AN ASTEROID too small to be picked up by telescopes could wipe out a city, killing up to a million people, a leading scientist has warned.
Objects less than 460ft across are not currently detected, but research suggests they pack a far mightier punch than previously feared.

A computer simulation carried out in the United States shows asteroids as small as 100ft wide could cause "airbursts" similar to one that flattened 1,250 square miles of Siberian forest almost a century ago.

Dr Mark Boslough, in a report published in New Scientist, said: "It is becoming clear previous models are not right. If one of these events hit an area of high population density, it could kill a million people."

I’ve always wondered about the possibility of another “Tunguska event” occurring – and the effect of such an event over a city. Imagine the possibility of something like this happening over, for example, San Francisco or Paris or Tokyo. There would be mass devastation. Similarly, a modern blast of this sort in Russia or China might trigger a nuclear response before there was even time to investigate what happened.

Posted by: Greg at 01:06 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Iraq funding passes.

The Senate last night approved a $555 billion omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year, shortly after bowing to President Bush's demand for $70 billion in unrestricted funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Democrats had vowed only weeks ago to withhold any Iraq-specific money unless strict timelines for troop withdrawal were established, but they instead chose, on a 70 to 25 vote, to remove what appeared to be the final obstacle to sending the spending bill to the White House, where Bush has indicated he will sign it. Senators then passed the omnibus bill, 76 to 17.

The House still must approve the spending, but will really have no choice but to do so. And if they get into a budget showdown with the President, they lose -- just as the GOP did when they went toe-to-toe with Bill Clinton. History has repeatedly shown that a president who stands firm wins in such cases -- and this president has absolutely nothing to lose by standing firm against a Congress that is even less popular than he is.

Posted by: Greg at 11:18 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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With Christmas coming, I am put in mind of one of our older relatives, now passed on, who used to send us big fruit baskets every year. I always looked forward to the exotic apples and pears, and my parents loved the oranges. And I was particularly amused the year the basket included a pineapple! I miss those days.

The Fruit Company delivers premium fruit baskets to friends, loved ones, and business associate. They offer a variety of pears, apples, peaches, and cherries, and also have desserts and confections to choose from as well. So choose a gift of something healthy – or something decadent – for those on your holiday shopping list.

Posted by: Greg at 11:10 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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The cell phone has become ubiquitous in America. Most of us have (at least) one. And they cost a pretty penny, too -- more than our land lines do. So why is anyone surprised by this report.

With Americans cutting the cord to their land lines, 2007 is likely to be the first calendar year in which U.S. households spend more on cell phone services, industry and government officials say.

The most recent government data show that households spent $524, on average, on cell phone bills in 2006, compared with $542 for residential and pay-phone services. By now, though, consumers almost certainly spend more on their cell phone bills, several telecom industry analysts and officials said.

"What we're finding is there's a huge move of people giving up their land line service altogether and using cell phones exclusively," said Allyn Hall, consumer research director for market research firm In-Stat.

As recently as 2001, U.S. households spent three times as much on residential phone services as they did on cell phones. But the expansion of wireless networks has made cell phones more convenient, and a wider menu of services, including text messaging, video and music, has made it easier for consumers to spend money via their cell phone.

"Frankly, I'd be shocked if (households) don't spend more on cell phones at this point," said Andrew Arthur, vice president of market solutions at Mediamark Research & Intelligence.

When taxes, fees, and everything else is taken into account, I spend something like $15 more a month for two cell phone lines on a family plan than I do on our home phone (until you throw in my internet service which comes on the same bill -- but that would be cheating). And when you look at families of four and five with everyone carrying a cellular phone, it must cost significantly more.

And, of course, there are the folks with no land line, just a cell phone.

My question is when prices will drop as demand increases.

Posted by: Greg at 11:09 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Who doesn’t love free stuff. You know you do – and you always try to get your hands on promotional products being given away at conventions and other events. It’s just plain fun to walk away with a couple of bags of swag, even if it does just clutter up your desk drawers or go home for the kids to play with. But you know, that swag does bring in customers.

And you know what? Promotional products are proven to work – if it is done right.

For example, my teacher’s organization gave us calendars and highlights – and it reminds me to check up on news updates and special bulletins for members. It has also reminded me to call them once or twice when issues have arisen on campus. And that pen from a local garage in my car caused me to have the car towed there when it broke down a couple of years ago,
Looking to market your company through giveaway items? The check out Gimmes.com.

Posted by: Greg at 11:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Well, that is what one poll tells us.

A new InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion poll out of Iowa shows John Edwards leaping from third to first place in Iowa, and the GOP field ever-tightening, as the Jan. 3 caucuses approach.

The Democratic poll, taken from Dec. 16-17 of 977 Democrats who said they intend to participate in the caucuses, showed Edwards with 30 percent, followed by New York Sen. Hillary Clinton with 26 percent and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama with 24 percent.

The poll, which is an automated survey taken overnight, suggests the former North Carolina senator - who has been steadily trumpeting his anti-special interest, populist message - is resonating in Iowa. Other recent polls showed Obama overtaking Clinton, and Edwards stuck in third.

But maybe not, folks, when you look at who is most likely to turn out for the caucus.

However, when the InsiderAdvantage pollÂ’s sample group was narrowed to 633 Democrats most likely to caucus, Obama retained a 1-point lead. That poll gave Obama 27 percent, Edwards 26 percent and Clinton 24 percent. The tighter sample group had a margin of error of 3 percent, while the broader group had a margin of error of 2 percent.

In other words, Iowa is a toss-up for the Dems.

And for the GOP, too, with the same sort of mixed results depending on what your sample looks like.

On the Republican side, the broader poll of 835 voters who intend to caucus showed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 28 percent, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 25 percent. When the screen was tightened to 418 likely caucus-goers, the race flipped: Romney took 28 percent and Huckabee took 25 percent. The poll is a reversal from recent surveys showing Huckabee leading Romney by double digits.

The tighter sample group had a margin of error of 5 percent, while the broader group had a margin of error of 3 percent.

The short answer is that, two weeks out, we have a statistical tie in both parties. That means that Iowa belongs to anyone -- and with it, the (temporary) title of front-runner for the nomination.

Posted by: Greg at 11:03 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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It hasn't been that long since the big scare about Bird Flu -- folks were expecting a world-wide epidemic to bring widespread death around the world. Fortunately, it hasn't happened quite that way, but that does not mean that avian flu is not a threat. And it is important that we not forget about the existance of this disease and take appropriate precautions regarding it. After all, the World Health Organization has recently reported outbreaks of the illness in Pakistan and Burma. And it is even possible that we have had human-to-human transmission of the disease, which is one of the things with which health officials have been quite concerned. The folks at DrugDelivery.ca have an ebook on Bird Flu if you want to learn more about the disease and its threat to the human population.

Posted by: Greg at 06:44 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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UPDATE: Bill Clinton lied!

In a statement sent to CNN Tuesday afternoon, former President Bush’s chief of staff Jean Becker said that he “wholeheartedly supports the President of the United States, including his foreign policy. He has never discussed an ‘around-the-world-mission’ with either former President Bill Clinton or Sen. Clinton, nor does he think such a mission is warranted since he is proud of the role America continues to play around the world as the beacon of hope for freedom and democracy.

“President Bush is excited about several of the excellent Republican candidates running for president, and looks forward to discussing their candidacy once the Republican nominee is determined.”

I’m curious – did Billzebubba and Hildebeast get the approval of former President George H. W. Bush to associate his name and prestige with their insult directed at his son, the current occupant of the Oval Office.

Former President Bill Clinton said Monday that the first thing his wife Hillary will do when she reaches the White House is dispatch him and his predecessor, President George H.W. Bush, on an around-the-world mission to repair the damage done to America's reputation by the current president — Bush's son, George W. Bush.

"Well, the first thing she intends to do, because you can do this without passing a bill, the first thing she intends to do is to send me and former President Bush and a number of other people around the world to tell them that America is open for business and cooperation again," Clinton said in response to a question from a supporter about what his wife's "number one priority" would be as president.

IÂ’m willing to bet that the appropriation of the name and reputation of the father to damage the son was done without the knowledge, much less the permission, of the father. It is a thoroughly disgusting, classless act. But it is also typical the unscrupulous manner in which the ClintonÂ’s operate. After all, they are both very skilled liars.

Posted by: Greg at 12:09 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Gotta love this video brought to you by the Religion of Blow the Infidels to Pieces!

A children's sing-along DVD for would-be suicide bombers is being investigated by police after being found on sale in one of Britain's terrorist hotbeds.

The disturbing disc of music videos - part of an Egyptian-made series - shows a young girl singing about following in the footsteps of her suicide bomber mother.
A group of self-proclaimed orphans also turn against the West over the plight of the Palestinian people.

The shocking DVD was purchased in Bradford, West Yorks, and full details of the Leeds-based UK distributors are contained on the back of the cover.

The West Yorkshire Police specialist counter terrorism unit are investigating the contents - which contain three tracks sung by children in Arabic with English subtitles.

There is just something fundamentally sick within a faith that so regularly produces crap like this. It has even ceased being shocking – especially after it has been determined that the bomb that marred Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming was actually strapped to an infant. Therefore, I can’t even profess to be surprised by the evil contained in the tape.

H/T Malkin

Posted by: Greg at 11:01 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Great news on the cinematic front. Peter Jackson will be making the film version of The Hobbit.

Peter Jackson has won the battle for Middle-earth and is to make The Hobbit.

The Oscar-winning Wellington film-maker and Hollywood studios New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios announced today that they had resolved their legal dispute. Jackson and partner Fran Walsh will serve as executive producers on two Hobbit movies.

Pre-production will begin as soon as possible and both will be shot simultaneously, tentatively in 2009. The Hobbit is likely to be released in 2010 and the sequel in 2011.

I’m pleased to hear that Jackson’s masterful interpretation of Middle Earth will continue – but I do have one question. A sequel? What sequel? What sequel is the sequel to The Hobbit?

Posted by: Greg at 10:58 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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My God – is the woman really this stupid?

The hotel heiress was so enamoured with the two dwarf actors - who were dressed as the blue cartoon characters to promote Haribo's new Smurf sweets at a Christmas market in, Berlin, Germany - she asked if she could take them home with her.

A source said: "When Paris saw the guys on the sweet stall she squealed. We heard her saying, 'Oh my, real life Smurfs. I always wanted one when I was a kid', before turning to her pal and asking, 'Can I take them home?'

"Then she added 'I didn't realise this is where they came from'."

“I didn’t realize this is where they came from?” You must be freakin’ kidding. Nobody is this far out of contact with reality. Surely this has to be a put on. At least I hope it is.

Posted by: Greg at 10:56 AM | Comments (94) | Add Comment
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After all, what else do you call a candidate who implies that patriotic Christians to be fascists (other than a contender for the Democrat nomination)?

Screw you, Congressman. You are no Christian. You are no patriot. You are, however, a disgrace to the state of Texas and to the nation as a whole.

These words will be remembered by every Christian in your district, and will be used to guarantee that not only will you fail to win the presidency, but you will lose your congressional seat as well.

And by the way – I won’t vote for Huckabee any more than I would vote for Ron Paul.

Yeah, I understand that he is quoting Sinclair Lewis – but since Ron Paul has adopted it as his own, I’m glad to treat it as such. By the way – nice use of the words of a socialist to impugn the faith and patriotism of your political opponents, you pathetic demagogue.

More At Stop The ACLU, Right on the Right

Posted by: Greg at 10:39 AM | Comments (39) | Add Comment
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1 Ron Paul did not speak out against those who are patriotic Christians. He said three things in response to the question of what he thought of the use a cross backdrop in a campaign add: He said that a religious banner can be part of the rise of a totalitarian state. He said he would not use a religious banner in his campaign. He said he would not claim he was the only candidate who was Christian. There was no indication of any implication that patriotic Christians were fascists. I encourage you to review the video and appologize. Both Paul and Huckabee are Christian men who love this country. There is no reason to make up nonsense about either. We might disagree with the policies of one or both, but that should make no difference.

Posted by: Thomas at Tue Dec 18 12:08:24 2007 (QOb6u)

2 I viewed it, reviewed it, and stand by my assertion. Ron Paul is a disgrace for using that quote -- and is clearly neither a Christian nor a patriot based upon his decision to do so.

Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Tue Dec 18 12:16:08 2007 (fP6C2)

3 As is frequently the case, folks don't understand what Paul is saying. Paul is NOT saying Christians are fascists, lol. He is saying that those who would bring fascism to this country will do so waving a flag and bearing a cross. It's one thing to state your religion. It's another to campaign on it. Why? Because nationalism and religion are powerful emotional motivators. History is replete with examples of totalitarians and tyrants who rise to power by invoking nationalism and/or religion. This was one of the reasons the founding fathers of this country made separation of church and state a strong theme within the Constitution, since many who came to America to flee religious persecution of Government mandated religion.

Posted by: Dave at Tue Dec 18 13:56:08 2007 (mF4b5)

4 However the question he was asked was what he thought of the Huckabee ad, not how America will become a fascist state. His response was to throw out a quote from a socialiist that the Left likes to use against patriotic Christians involved in politics. The implication is clear -- he agrees with the left that patriotic Christians are fascists.

Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Tue Dec 18 22:38:31 2007 (fP6C2)

5 The point of the quote "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross" is NOT to call Christians fascists, but to point out that it is the perversion of goodwill and the abuse of the impure that is dangerous. Men of impure intent can and will sieze on Christianity as an avenue to power. Men of good will can and will often do things with good intent that cause terrible results. These two forces can come together through the twin forces of religion and nationalism - and that is what is being warned of. He is clearly warning against the improper use of religion to rally for non-religious matters. The President's office is neither religious nor irreligious. It is not the office of Cultural Arbiter. The President has no such authority and nor should the office be granted such.

Posted by: N. Pannbacker at Wed Dec 19 04:28:24 2007 (v9mGb)

6 And if he had been asked about such an issue, it would have been a great answer. He was, however, asked what he thought about the Huckabee ad. He immediately labels those who use the cross and flag as fascists, just like the social-ist Sinclair Lewis did. No one suggests that the presidency carries with it a role of religious or cultural arbiter, so don't go off on some half-baked explanation of "that's what he really meant". Once again, Ron Paul disgraced himself, his office, the state of Texas, and the United States with his comments.

Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Wed Dec 19 06:04:16 2007 (Wa7Lr)

7 Closed mindedness was the cause of many wars Mr Rhymes. You need to look more closely at WHY he used that quote. Wouldn't it be nice to have a president who had never been exposed to any religion in the first place? Big call, but imagine how the bias and fallback and justification in the name of religion would just fade away. It would all be in the name of the people as a WHOLE. None of this segregated bullshit.

Posted by: Mr. Gorwitz at Thu Dec 20 13:54:15 2007 (jcig0)

8 I can vote for an atheist just as easily as a fellow Christian -- provided they are right on the issues. Given that Ron Paul is wrong on them, he will not get my vote -- and I'll drive two miles south and campaign on behalf of a good Republican who is working to replace him in Congress, Chris Peden. As for you, it is clear that you are as much an anti-religious bigot I've ever encountered. Your words drip the same sort of hatred that Ron Paul's did when he quoted Lewis -- and that his neo-Nazi supportsrs have dripped when they've posted here. I hiope you and Ron are proud of the filth you associate with.

Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Thu Dec 20 15:48:36 2007 (fP6C2)

9 Not hatred sir, just dissapointment. It seems that religion provides a fallback. Don't you see? Excuses to justify actions. How many presidents have you heard rally 'In Gods Name...' or 'God Bless America...'. I'm open to the fact that yes we live in a free country that allows its citizens to choose a religion of their liking. But when I see your comment attacking Ron Paul for merely referencing chritianity for metaphorical purposes - it does force me to express concern about radicalism and the fact your condemning a man who is as a respectul Chritian as you may be just stamps you as cornered, blind and unfair. In your eyes I may seem anit-religeous, and I respect the fact that you believe in a faith ,but at least I wont feel the need to turn my back on somebody just because they come from a different veiw or religion. I'm allowed to do this because I'm with no faith that claims that doing so would be in the favour of ones faith. Now I've suggested you're blind, cornered and unfair. Merely just opinions with no personal attack inclined. The fact you labelled me an anti-religeous biggot and implied my mouth drips like a vampire with hatred is almost winning my point for me.

Posted by: Mr. Gorwitz at Fri Dec 21 04:31:52 2007 (yg1RK)

10 No, Mr. Gorwitz, I did not imply you were like a vampire -- a snake would be a more apt analogy. And my religion commands me to love my neighbor, even when my neighbor holds to a different faith, so your assessment of me (and most believers in Christ) is dead wrong and based on either hatred or willful ignorance. And while you may not like it, the use of that quote in the context of that question is nothing but a statement that anyone patriotic Christian is a fascist -- and a sign that Ron Paul is neither a patriot nor a Christian. And you may consider yourself as having won the debate because someone exposed you for what you are, but that simply proves how deluded you are by a sense of self-righteousness that is based in your own unwarranted high opinion of yourself due to your hate-mongering disbelief.

Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Fri Dec 21 10:40:29 2007 (fP6C2)

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Fidel may be permanently surrendering power -- but I doubt it.

Fidel Castro indicated Monday in a statement read on state television that he was willing to hand over the reins of CubaÂ’s government to a younger generation of leaders. But his statement remained silent on whether he was speaking hypothetically or had a transition plan in mind.

“My basic duty is not to cling to office, nor even more so, to obstruct the rise of people much younger, but to pass on experiences and ideas whose modest value arises from the exceptional era in which I lived,” said the statement attributed to Mr. Castro, who is 81.

The ailing Mr. Castro, acting in a sort of emeritus role, has produced numerous commentaries in the 16 months since he had abdominal surgery and temporarily handed over power to his younger brother, Raúl, who is 76. But none of the statements until now have addressed the important question of Mr. Castro’s future as Cuba’s president, a position he has held for nearly five decades.

The most recent speculation in Havana had been that Mr. Castro might be trying to make a comeback. His health was said to be improving, and on Dec. 2 he was officially nominated as a candidate for the next National Assembly. The assembly meets in March to choose a 31-member Council of State, which will select the next president.

Because only assembly members qualify for the top job, Mr. Castro’s nomination as a candidate seemed to rule out the notion that he was retiring from politics and ceding power to Raúl, the defense minister and constitutionally designated successor.

I suspect, though, that this is just sort of a polite demurral. Castro will not let go of power -- informally, if not formally -- while he still has breath in him. He is just respecting the constitutional niceties, sort of like Saddam Hussein and many other dictators have done.

I still long to see Fidel and Raul hanging by their heels like Mussolini. Then there will be a great dawning of freedom for all Cubans.

Posted by: Greg at 11:33 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Over the issue of retroactive immunity for telecom companies that cooperated with anti-terrorism efforts -- despite strong bipartisan support for that element of the bill.

By 76 to 10, with Democrats divided, the Senate voted to advance the bill for consideration. A measure to block it, which was led by Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut fell short, as those who wanted the bill to reach the floor got 16 votes more than the 60 needed to achieve that goal.

The margin was 76-10. How then, could it fail?

Only if the extremist-beholden Democrat "leadership" pulls the bill from consideration.

Amid deep and growing divisions among Senate Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) last night abruptly withdrew legislation that would have changed surveillance law and granted the nation's telecommunications companies retroactive immunity from lawsuits charging they had violated privacy rights.

Democratic leaders had hoped to complete an overhaul of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before recessing for the year, since the current law governing the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program is set to expire in early February. But in the face of more than a dozen amendments to the bill and guerrilla tactics from its opponents, Reid surprised his colleagues when he announced there would not be enough time to finish the job.

"Everyone feels it would be in the best interest of the Senate if we take a look at this when we come back," Reid said, acknowledging the time crunch he faces in the "last hours" of this congressional session and the hefty number of agenda items remaining.

"Everyone"? Would that include all 78 members of the Senate who voted in favor of telecom immunity, or only "everyone" among the 10 who opposed it?

After the January return, there will be only two weeks to adopt a new FISA bill. Are Dems willing to (again) endanger American national security for partisan purposes?

Posted by: Greg at 11:19 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Drug addiction and alcoholism. They are terrible to have to face. And in my professional life – as a teacher in ministry, and in social services – I have seen them devastate the lives of any number of wonderful individuals and their families and friends. Addiction is something that will literally eat a person alive, destroying them and leaving a zone of wreckage around them as they spiral down into the depths of a near-bottomless pit of despair and dependency.

Ad yet, it is possible to stop the free-fall. It is possible to get help – counseling and treatment – so that an individual can be saved and his or her life brought back into a functional state. It takes a commitment on the part of that individual, support by loved ones, and a staff of individuals who are trained to help those with chemical dependency issues learn to follow new patterns of behavior and adopt a new set of lifestyle choices that will be healthy for them.

Many fine programs and facilities exist for this purpose. One of these is Chapman House, located in Southern California. They offer a wide range of programs for individuals who need assistance with various self-destructive behaviors, including intervention, detox, and treatment. They offer alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs for adults based upon a Twelve-Step model, as well as alcohol and drug rehab programs for adolescents. In addition, there is even an executive alcohol and drug treatment program so that men and women in business can stay connected with their offices and clients while seeking treatment for their addictions.

One other service offered by Chapman House is drug and alcohol testing. Such testing is much more reliable than home tests available in stores or over the internet, and so the results (positive or negative) can be much more safely relied upon by parents, employers, and the individuals themselves.

I hope you never need the services of a treatment facility like Chapman House – but it is good to know it is there for you or a loved one.

Posted by: Greg at 11:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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No, not the message -- with which I am in essential agreement.

No, I'm talking about the rather bizarre lighting and framing of the shot. Shouldn't it be the Christmas tree, not the window frame, that is illuminated?

Unless, of course, one is seeking to send a not-so-subliminal sumliminal message.

Who'd have thought, though, that we would ever reach a day in America that a commercial wishing people a Merry Christmas -- and explicitly reminding us that it is CHRISTmas -- would be somehow controversial. The message is dead-on correct. But the cheap lighting gimmick really goes a bit too far.

More Commentary at Captain's Quarters, Blogs for Victory, Andrew Sullivan (twice), Stumper

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As I've mentioned once before, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have teamed up to bring Sweeney Todd to the big screen starting Friday. I can't wait, not the least because of the fact that Johnny Depp has grown into one of the most accomplished and versatile actors of his generation. And I have to laugh at that, due to some of the roles heÂ’s played and scenes that stick in my mind.

Consider when we first really got a glimpse of Depp in A Nightmare on Elm Street nearly 25 years ago. I won’t for get that – and will always go back to my favorite scene, where his character, Glen Lantz, is trying to get to sleep while his two friends are taking the time for a more personal interlude. I loved his line – “Morality sucks.” I guess I sort of related, having had to put up with such scenarios with a college roommate and his insatiable girlfriend.

And then there is my favorite line in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. After Charlie asks Wonka if they can eat the grass, Wilie Wonka responds with one of my favorite movie lines: “Of course you can! Everything in this room is eatable, even *I'm* eatable! But that is called ‘cannibalism,’ my dear children, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies.” That line, of course, jibes with the somewhat offbeat sense of humor you see around this site, and so it will always be one that I remember.

Still, I think that the line from the earlier role is my favorite, though the latter film is much dearer in my heart due to the empathy I feel for the lonely and vulnerable boy grown (not quite) to be a lonely and vulnerable man who finally finds love and acceptance. But I think that the role of Sweeney Todd may surpass that one, due to the incredible material he has to work with – and he sings, too!

Want to learn more about the new movie? Then visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site ! And you can visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace, too.

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The former Pakistani Prime Minister is disqualified by the country's top election authority. But it appears his party will stay in the race.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lost his appeal against the rejection of his nomination for next month's parliamentary elections, an official said Tuesday, eliminating a key opposition leader from the crucial vote.

The Election Commission rejected Sharif's appeal Monday, commission spokesman Kanwar Dilshad said. Dilshad declined to give details, confirming only a report in the Urdu-language Jang daily Tuesday that Sharif was out of the elections.

Sharif, who has been campaigning for his Pakistan Muslim League-N party, has been demanding that President Pervez Musharraf restore Supreme Court judges he sacked during a 42-day state of emergency that he lifted over the weekend.

Sharif's party initially called for a boycott of the vote but decided against it after failing to muster support from other opposition groups for a united action.

Sharif and his supporters can't afford to sit this one out. If they do, they will be effectively excluded from the political dialogue after the election. Also, a significant showing by his party might get the former prime minister's political rights restored, as was done for Benazir Bhutto,

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Thousands of new businesses are started are started by enterprising entrepreneurs each year. Eighty percent of those businesses fail, for a variety of different reasons. One of the main reasons for such failures is the lack of finances. A proper assessment of the financial needs of the business was not made, and the much-needed cash was not sought out before the business was started. As a result, many businesses begin facing great debt right from the very beginning. To give your business a real chance at surviving the first few rough years, you need to be realistic about business funding and finances, including start-up costs and cash-flow. One way to get off to the right start is buy receiving financial aid from an entrepreneurial oriented lending institution like the Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank. They offer special services for start-up businesses, including start-up advice, start-up financing, business deposit accounts and a business builder current account. There are many services and features associated with these and their other available accounts.

One great policy is that new businesses receive two free years of business banking. Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank wants to make certain that it is assisting your business to become a success. They ensure that your business funds in your business deposit accounts are working very hard. And their wide range of business bank accounts, services and other products represent some of the available best business banking. Best of all, all the products and services offered by Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank can be tailored to fit the needs of your businesss, depending upon its size and type.
Starting a new business is always challenging, and there are many difficulties to be faced. However starting with your finances in order puts you at an advantage compared to other new businesses. And let’s be honest – you are going to need every advantage to succeed.

Posted by: Greg at 09:36 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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