Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Faciamus Micro-Interview

Last Monday I received an email from a journalism student at Patrick Henry College in Virginia. Mari Davis asked if she could interview me about the Blogs 4 Life conference and the March for Life for her school paper, as she had run across my blog on the Pro Life Blogs website. After informing her that I had not personally attended either the conference or the March this year, I encouraged her to contact other bloggers who had been in attendance, and I also answered the few questions she posed for me. The following is her article.

Blogs Are Becoming a Formidable Force in Today’s Culture
By Mari Davis
January 24, 2007

Rob Bluey was seated behind a long table draped with a maroon cloth, along with six other panelists. Bluey, editor for HumanEvents.com, explained the draw of weblogs, “There’s so much excitement about blogging right now…. It’s so easy; the possibilities are endless.”

At the second annual Blogs for Life Conference, Charmaine Yoest hosted the “dream team of blogger panelists.”

Hosted by the Family Research Council at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Blogs for Life conference coincided with the 32nd annual March for Life which took place this past Monday. The events commemorate two landmark court decisions which legalized all forms of abortion. The Blogs for Life conference explained the influence of internet media on American culture at the grassroots level.

In his column “How Bloggers Took on Harry Reid and Won on Earmark Reform” written for The Examiner, Bluey explains how Capitol Hill was affected by the grassroots internet community. A group of bloggers and a video posted on YouTube, a site for videobloggers, sparked interest in a House debate which ended in an amended reform bill. “It goes to the highest point in government, it’s really amazing.”

Blogs for Life focuses on strategically using internet networking technology to promote Christian pro-life messages. The Blogs for Life network includes personal blogs like “Tulipgirl—Ideas for mothering, theology, and gracious living,” and specialized blogs such as “Mary Meets Dolly—A Catholic’s Guide to Genetics, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.”

A “blog,” short for “weblog,” often contains personal reflections, links to other sites, and texts of other sources as well as issues analysis and commentary. “…[N]o one has the right to tell someone else that his or her own life has less value than their own. Abortion and Euthanasia are straight up murder,” says “Bro Robin,” a member of Blogs for Life. “I got into blogging mostly out of curiosity,” he explained “It started off as just posting my interests and some quotes and pictures I enjoy then kind of blossomed into a political, social, and news commentary where I can express my views in an uninterrupted manner…. I can do whatever I want with it, it's a great expression of our freedoms as an American citizen.”

LeShawn of LeShawnBarber.com, adds diversity to the “blogosphere.” Her website is considered the highest ranked black woman’s Christian conservative blog. Barber’s website, described by host Charmaine Yoest as “one of the top evangelical blogs out there,” addresses topics such as business, faith, and media bias.

Barber doesn’t believe in sugar-coating the truth. “On my site, I call abortion ‘murder,’” she said. Blogging gives her the freedom to be authentic. “I could never be in mainstream media calling abortion murder.” “Blogging has given me a fantastic platform to evangelize.”

Members of the panel encourage others to start and maintain blogs, and offer advice on how to do it. “Do it because you like to write,” Barber said. Network. “Networking with other bloggers is important…. Don’t get discouraged. Just remember why you’re doing it.”

David All, president of DavidAllGroup.com, explained that a variety of content is helpful in drawing a consistent audience to your site. “People are not stupid on the internet. Sometimes that’s hard for [site creators] to understand,” he explained.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Hospice Supports Prostitution

Douglas House hospice in Oxford, UK gave their support for a 22 year old patient to lose his virginity to a prostitute, The Daily Telegraph is reporting. Nick Wallis, who was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, was supported in the decision by Sister Frances Dominica, the founder of the hospice.

"I know that some people will say 'You are a Christian foundation. What are you thinking about?' But we are here for all faiths and none," she said. "It is not our job to make moral decisions for our guests. We came to the conclusion that it was our duty of care to support Nick emotionally and to help ensure his physical safety."

Now, I might be missing something here, but when the hell does allowing someone to have sex with a prostitute constitute caring for their emotional and physical well being?
"It was not emotionally fulfilling, but the lady was very pleasant and very understanding. I do not know whether I would do it again. I would much rather find a girlfriend, but I have to be realistic."
Wallis's reflection on the encounter was predictably typical, what else would you expect from a guy who just got laid for the first time with a hooker?

ACU Ratings

The American Conservative Union has posted their ratings for the Likely 2008 Presidential Candidates. Interesting ratings, although a few have been left off.

Now That's Funny!

Thanks to I Am Always Right for this one!


A man walked into a very high-tech bar near the Microsoft campus. As he sat down on a stool he noticed that the bartender was a robot. The robot clicked to attention and asked, “Sir, what will you have?” The man thought a moment then replied, “A martini please”. The robot clicked a couple of times and mixed the best martini the man had ever had. The robot then asked, “Sir, what is your IQ?” The man answered, ” Oh, about 164.” The robot then proceeded to discuss various subjects with him, including the ‘theory of relativity’, ‘inter-stellar space travel’, ‘the latest medical break through, etc……..

The man was most impressed. He left the bar but thought he would try a different tactic. He returned and took a seat. Again the robot clicked and asked what he would have? “A martini please.” The martini was, as before, superb. The robot again asked, “Sir, what is your IQ?” This time the man answered, “100, plus or minus a few points.” Now the robot started discussing Nascar racing, the latest basketball scores, and what to expect the Dodgers to do this weekend.

He was really intrigued. He feels compelled to try it one more time. So he left, and two weeks later returned and took a stool. And again ordered a martini. And again, the question was, “Sir, what is your IQ?” This time the man drawled out ” Uh . ’bout 50 er 60 I guess.”

The robot clicked, then leaned close and very slowly asked , “A-r-e y-o-u-r p-e-o-p-l-e g-o-i-n-g t-o n-o-m-i-n-a-t-e
H-i-l-l-a-r-y?”

What's The Name Of That Song?

Probably everyone has had one of those moments where you'll hear a song on the radio and you'll be humming it all day, yet can't remember the song name or artist to save your life. Well, wonder no longer, as a new music and voice recognition service is now being offered that can name that song for you! Midomi is in beta for now, but it will already let you hum a song into the microphone and give you the name that you can't remember. It's not perfected yet, the database is still growing, but it's a pretty cool concept all the same.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

User Driven Content

There are several user driven social content websites in use today that allow a blogger or internet user to submit stories or articles which he deems newsworthy but might not be covered by the mainstream media with the proper amount of coverage and panache it deserves. These sites allow anyone with an internet connection to drive up the readership of the piece no matter how newsworthy, or un-newsworthy it is. Digg.com is probably the most popular to date, and one that I use regularly. How about Sphere? Or, a new one that has just come to my attention is based solely upon conservative views and relevance. Brownbacktakeback is brand spanking new and should be a useful tool in the days to come.

Students For Brownback Videos

Students for Brownback hosted a rally at Catholic University on January 21st. The turnout and support was phenomenal. Here's the link to their website and videos from the event.

Mac v. PC Uncovered

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Censorship At Youtube, Google, And Myspace

A video came to my attention recently and it is one of the funnest music videos I've seen all year. Donnie Davies is a Christian minister of sorts from New Orleans who now resides in Houston. His "ministry" is called C.H.O.P.S., Changing Homosexuals into Ordinary People. His band, Evening Service, recently put out a video titled "The Bible Says," a lyrical denunciation of homosexuality. His theology is way off the mark, but the video is freaking hilarious! It has been uploaded onto Youtube, Google Video, and Myspace with several thousand views. However, just today, all three services removed the video and canceled his accounts. Like the video or not, he does have his first amendment rights protecting his freedom of speech, but all the video services don't seem to see it that way.

Youtube, Google, and Myspace have no problem with videos containing pro-homosexuality material, frivolous swearing, mockery of Christianity, and terrible rappers, but when it comes to someone espousing his views about a subject that to the majority of people in this country is morally reprehensible, they say it's "against their code of conduct," and "hateful." Whether it is or isn't, does he not have a right to express his views, just as those who promote their homosexual agenda do? The double standard is disgusting.

The video has actually been reposted on all three websites, however the lyrics have been dubbed over with The Village People's "YMCA." This one is titled "Donnie Davies - The Bible Says (Gay Friendly Version).
Click below to see the unedited version still up at College Humor.

The Price Of Tortilla's in Mexico

The price of tortillas in Mexico has more than tripled since last summer. Why? Because rising international corn prices, driven up by demand for ethanol which is produced from corn, has caused the price of Mexico's favorite food to skyrocket. Since the average Mexican daily wage is only $4.60, this rise in food price is playing a substantial role in the cause of illegal immigration. WaPo has the story here.

Friday, January 26, 2007

The Enemy At Home

Dinesh D'Souza's has a great article about the war on terror and the enemy in our own backyard. Read the entire article here, and check out this and this. The following is a great excerpt.


If you assume that the activist left wants to prevent the Islamic radicals, who already control Iran, from winning their second major victory in Iraq, then its rhetoric is baffling. If you presume the left-wing activist groups are working hard for the war on terror to succeed, their policies become incomprehensible. On the other hand if you assume they want Bush to fail in Iraq, they don't care if Iraq falls into insurgent hands, and they're generally on the side of Bin Laden and his allies, then their statements and actions make perfect sense.

But in a deeper way, the behavior of the left and its political allies is a mystery. After all, the Islamic radicals are the most illiberal forces in the world. Leftists know how the Bin Laden and Khomeini types feel about Hillary Clinton and Barney Frank. So why doesn't the left want to fight the broadest and most aggressive campaign possible against these sworn enemies of liberal values?

Here is the reason. If America's war on terror succeeds, the result is a big win for Bush and his conservative allies. Recall the left's seething hatred for Bush, a man whom historian Sean Wilentz terms "the very worst president in all of American history." Ted Kennedy says, "No president in America's history has done more damage to our country than George W. Bush." They left doesn't like Bin Laden, but it has a pathological hatred for Bush

From the left's point of view, Bin Laden wants sharia in Baghdad but Bush wants sharia in Boston. It is Bush, not Bin Laden, who threatens liberal values at home. The left blames Bush and his religious conservative allies for blocking the campaign for homosexual marriage. One more Bush court appointment and the abortion right secured in Roe v. Wade might be in jeopardy.

The left, once the party of unions and the working man, is today the party of sex and "gender issues." So the left regards Bush as a greater threat than Bin Laden to its social values, and in some ways it is right to feel that way. Bush, the near enemy, is more dangerous to the left than Bin Laden, the far enemy.

But is the left willing to risk an American debacle in Iraq and in the war on terror in order to rout its enemy at home? Does the left actually want "another Vietnam"?


Dinesh D'Souza is the author of The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11, just published by Doubleday. D'Souza is the Rishwain Fellow at the Hoover Institution. Website: dineshdsouza.com. Email: dineshjdsouza@aol.com.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Grassroots Restrictions Removed From Ethics Bill

Last Thursday evening the Senate passed the Bennett Amendment, striking down Section 220 which would limit the free speech of grassroots organizations. The bill, which passed with a 55 to 43 vote, was sponsored by Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah. Bobby Eberle from The Loft has all the details. Check your senator's vote here.

Yale Celebrates Roe v. Wade Week

Yale University's Reproductive Rights Action League has planned a number of events this week to celebrate the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. Among the events planned are a forum of women who have had abortions, a Master’s Tea on the new rhetoric of the pro-life movement, a workshop by medical students on an abortion technique, a question and answer session with Planned Parenthood representative Susan Yolen, and a screening of three documentaries that follow three pro-abortion Yale students as they interview pro-life sidewalk counselors outside of Planned Parenthood.

The worst part of this "celebration" is the Yale Medical Students for Choice who are hosting a workshop on manual vacuum aspiration for medical students, using a papaya as a uterine model. Manual vacuum aspiration is a surgical abortion method that uses a specially designed syringe to apply suction to remove the baby from the mothers uterus.

Read the entire disgusting article here. The Dawn Patrol has a great article on it here.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

The Communion Line From Hell!


The three most prominent so called "catholics" in public office.

SOTU - My Thoughts

Everyone and his brother has been talking/commenting/submitting their views about President Bush's state of the union address so I might as well give my two cents worth on the shebang.

The beginning of the speech was a complete bore. I totally do not agree with his portrayal of the No Child Left Behind act which he says has been such a huge success. Every teacher I've spoken with has said they have been forced to dumb down their tests so those students who are lacking can move ahead, rather than have the entire class stay behind because a few students can't meet the standards. GPA's may be up, but ACT & SAT scores are down.

Bush's health care plan will for sure get shot down by the Dems. The system needs to be overhauled so that those insured people who are in good health are not paying for the unhealthy and uninsured through their own premiums and deductibles. The first step in doing this would be to ween the masses off of the overabundance of prescription drugs being taken for every ache, pain, and discomfort. The focus should be on wellness, and not on sickness. The pharmaceutical and insurance companies are to blame for this one.

Oh immigration. Of course we all want secure borders and some type of immigration reform. However, granting those who are here illegally a temporary workers permit is not that answer. It may not be straight up amnesty, but it is definitely giving an unfair advantage to those who have broken our laws to begin with. Plus, Bush didn't even touch on the fact that the entire immigration system is so over-worked and under-staffed that many people with criminal backgrounds and ties to terrorism are falling through the cracks.

Bush's push for energy independence through alternatives is a great idea, however, it's still easier said than done. Of course, the system will never change unless its economically feasible for the auto and energy companies to develop alternatives. Here's an idea that might solve the problem, but could at least help with our dependence upon the middle east.

Great idea about electing the impartial, qualified judges. Of course they still have to go through the approval of the Senate. Good luck with that one.

Terrorism. This is where Bush sounded like the man of principle we elected. He sounded more confident and determined about this part of the speech than any other. The additional troops being sent to Iraq should help clean up Baghdad, however, we should've had this surge a long time ago, not as a last ditch effort. The Civilian Reserve Corps is a great idea, as is the increase in active duty military.

I don't agree with the president's HIV/AIDS relief plan. Although he did not mention the specifics of it, generally the idea of AIDS relief is to give them all condoms, thinking that will help stop the spread of disease. We all know how high the failure rate of condoms is so how is this going to work? Teach them to control themselves, don't give them a reason to be more self indulgent.

Everything being said, it wasn't the president's best speech ever, but he certainly came out with a lot more firepower than I was expecting.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Soft People, Hard People

Selwyn Duke

If the 1976 western The Last Hard Men has it right, we Occidentals metamorphosed into jellyfish sometime around the early twentieth century. Although this title is more movie marketing than historical statement, there may be something to it. After all, Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant general in the British Army, was motivated by the belief that western boys were becoming too soft when he originated the Boy Scouts in 1907.

Regardless of the origin and rapidity of our transition from he-men to she-men, one thing is for certain: We have become a very soft people.

When pondering this, I think about how it is now common to see men cry publicly. Just recently George Bush Sr. broke down while rendering a speech, something unthinkable a generation ago. Why, presidential aspirant Edmund Muskie saw his campaign scuttled by a few inopportune tears in 1972. And before you score me for not embracing the metrosexual model, remember the impression this gives the rest of the world. Feminization may be fashionable, but it doesn't engender respect among the more patriarchal peoples.

Then I think about our unwillingness to discipline our children, something to which our jungle-like schools bear witness. And should someone use punitive measures harsher than the euphemistically named "time-out" — something that may actually work — he is often excoriated for damaging the little darlings' "self-esteem." And a spanking? Perish the thought. We're told this could scar a child irreparably (although we seldom ponder the ravages of pickling a young brain with Ritalin), and the idea is so foreign to many parents they cannot even conceive of placing a hand on their cherubim's sanctified little posteriors.

In contrast, the people of the Third World — and especially the Moslem fanatics who have designs on the West — are hard as stone. We fret over the fact that Saddam Hussein endured some taunts during his execution, while next door in Saudi Arabia they may still chop off the hand of a thief. We cater to the religious wants of incarcerated terrorists, providing everything from the Koran and prayer rugs to desired foods, and the soft set still laments the terrible privation these poor victims must endure. In contrast, the terrorist's brethren often disallow the practice of other religions in the Abode of Islam. We let illegal aliens run roughshod over our nation, sometimes bestowing government benefits upon them, then still feel guilty about not exalting them sufficiently. In the Third World, however, foreigners are often treated like second-class citizens. Under the Mexican Constitution, one foreign-born will never enjoy the full rights of citizenship. In many Moslem societies, a certain kind of second-class status is reserved for "infidels"; it's called dhimmitude.

All this is not surprising. After all, luxury and living high soften the sinews and, regrettably, sometimes also the head. The hand that spends its entire existence inside a velvet glove will remain soft and delicate. The one wielding workmen's tools dawn till dusk becomes calloused and hard, more able to inflict injury and more resistant to it.

I know, I know what's coming. That's what makes us better than the nations in question, proclaim some, allowing themselves a rare foray into the realm of cultural superiority (what ever happened to the notion that all cultures are morally equal?). As for me, I'm not awash in moral relativism, but neither do I fall victim to blind cultural chauvinism. For, anyone who believes we have a monopoly on virtue is living in a fantasy-world of smug self-delusion. Don't get me wrong, we are better in some very significant ways, but also worse in a few ominous ones. We lack certain manly virtues, qualities on which national survival may hinge.

There is an immutable truth of human nature: When soft people clash with hard people, the soft are vanquished. That is, unless they become harder.

People may laugh. That's crazy, say they, we have the greatest military in the world, the most advanced technology, and a nuclear umbrella. Yes, that's true. But first, I don't claim we'll fall tomorrow, next month, or next year. Even more significantly, though, external enemies would not initiate our undoing. The fact is that no body, no matter how strong, imposing and well-armored, can survive an untreated disease metastasizing rapidly within. The smallest bacteria can kill giants as easily as dwarves.

And that is what ails us. Every time an action designed to preserve western civilization is taken or even proposed, a great internecine battle ensues. We capture combatants on the battlefield and then spend millions in legal fees debating whether to adjudicate their cases in civil or military courts. We rightly scrutinize Imams making a scene at an airport and then spend millions more arguing about so-called "racial profiling." And it's incessant. Every act nowadays, from singling out illegals for deportation and the suspicious for scrutiny to getting swatted by "Tigger" to a six-year-old boy giving a girl a peck on the cheek, is met with hand-wringing and a disproportionate reaction. And far too often litigation results, costing us valuable resources.

And let's be very clear: Every dollar in currency and passion we spend on litigation is one less we have to fight those who would see us in ashes. This means fewer resources — in terms of not just money but also attention and zeal — to secure our borders, ensure domestic tranquility and root out terrorists within and without. A united people would confront threats as a monolithic front; we are expending ourselves fighting a cold civil war. And the end result is that the lawyers get richer, we get weaker, and the hard people, waiting and watching in the darkness, laugh louder.

Lest I be misunderstood, I don't suggest we become the Hunnish Empire. It's noble to recognize that Saddam Hussein's tormentors might have demonstrated more dignity. It's a sign of civilization to expect our troops to behave as professional soldiers, not rampaging warriors. And it's most divine to realize all God's children are valuable in His eyes. But to the excesses of justice, correction or interrogation, we react not with measured admonition but with hysteria. Our civility should be the fruits of manly virtue, but it's the putrescence of pusillanimity.

And here I think of G.K. Chesterton's profound description of our condition:

"Nowadays, we have Christian values floating around detached from one another. Consequently, we see scientists who care only about truth but have no pity, and humanitarians who care only about pity but have no truth."

The Moslem world is one extreme, we are the other, the humanitarians who have no truth. Why can't we control seven-year-olds, prosecute a war efficiently or strike fear into the hearts of criminals? It's all for the same reason. We're soft-headed pseudo-humanitarians to whom the kind of action or punishment necessary to deter evil behavior seems medieval. This is why we had a national conniption when teenage vandal Michael Faye was to receive a typical Singaporean punishment, caning, for his misdeeds. We should bear in mind that you can walk Singapore's streets safely in the dark of night. The same cannot be said of ours.

Oh, this is just the price of freedom, some say? They are wrong. This is the price of abused freedom.

You may think I'm missing the boat, that the problem lies not with the weak but with the malicious, those who are the enemy within. And, of course, but for their meddlesome hands, we wouldn't be at this precipice. But a minority tyrannizes only at the deference of the majority. For instance, if enough of us rejected the media that disseminated footage of Abu Ghraib far and wide while refusing to show Muslim beheadings, we'd not have reporters who were more internationalist than nationalist.

And a juxtaposition of Abu Ghraib and Moslem beheadings tells the tale, as too many of us are epitomized by panties while our adversaries are by swords. While they bat nary an eye at the torture of an innocent, we eat ourselves alive over the humiliation of the guilty. But what is truly humiliating is when the hard people laugh, watching the soft people play the fools, bray at one another, and commit cultural suicide.

And make no mistake, they laugh. Why do you think the Mexican government distributed literature instructing its citizens on how to best violate our southern border? Why did Islamists issue advice on how to play the victim card in the American legal system? They don't tolerate such under their dominion, but they know about our lawsuits, protests, pandering politicians and capitulating clergy. They know the game. They know us. And they don't really think we're barbaric or unjust.

They just think we're weak and stupid.

Soft people and hard people, two sides of the same world. Of course, we were harder too, a long, long, long time ago. But it would be nice to find that happy medium, something that seems ever elusive. A bane of man is that he jumps from blind prejudice to blind tolerance and back again, without ever making a stopover at the ethereal land known as enlightened distinction.

Will we find it within ourselves to strike that balance? That is doubtful. But fairly certain is that we won't much longer have the luxury of being a soft republic. With enemies on both sides of the gate, it's only a matter of time before we see a 9/11 that is not a 9/11, but 9/11 squared. Thus, to use a play on Otto Von Bismarck's metaphor, we can proceed with a velvet glove, but within must lie an iron fist. We have no other choice. Unless, that is, we fancy death a viable option.

Selwyn Duke is a columnist, public speaker, and Internet entrepreneur whose work has been published widely online and in print. His articles appear at RenewAmerica, American Thinker, The Conservative Voice, and Blogcritics, as well as many other sites. He has been featured in The American Conservative (Pat Buchanan's magazine), on the Rush Limbaugh Show, and has a regular column in Christian Music Perspective.

March For Life Pictures & Video

Mommylife took some great pictures at the March for Life. You can find them all here. this is one of my personal favorites.
















UPDATE: More pictures from Concerned Women for America. Great video directly from the March. Hat tip Franciscan University Conservative.


Priests For Life recap video.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Brownback For President!

In my opinion, the best man (or woman) running for '08 presidential nomination is Kansas Senator Sam Brownsback. Although I don't agree with him on every issue, (who actually agrees on every issue with a candidate?) I do agree with him on the majority of social issues, namely abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, family values, tax reform, term limits, judicial constraint, less government involvement and many others. His senatorial website can be found here.



March For Life Updates

President Bush telephoned the crowd this morning at the 34th annual March for Life, as he has done every year of his presidency. The complete text of his remarks can be found here. Pro Life Blogs has all the updates and pictures here.

34th Annual March For Life

Today marks the 34th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Americans all across the country are mourning and remembering today's date. Nowhere is this more apparent than in our nations capital where the annual March for Life is held annually. The events begin the night before the March with the National Prayer Vigil for Life, a huge Mass held at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, led by Cardinal Justin Rigali and con-celebrated with hundreds of priests from all across the country and attended by thousands of youths and their families as well. The actual Rally begins on the National Mall today at noon, and is followed by a march to the steps of the Supreme Court. Last year there was a record number in attendance, with estimates of well over 100,000 people.

Pro Life Blogs is hosting their second annual blog 4 life conference today, encouraging more bloggers to get involved with the cause for life and offering ways to help spread the pro-life message. Among the many notable speakers at the conference are:
Tony Perkins, Family Research Council President
Bobby Schindler, brother of Terri Shiavo
Jill Stanek, pro-life speaker
Peter Samuelson, President, Americans United for Life
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Ramesh Ponnuru, Senior Editor, National Review
David Prentice, Senior Fellow for Life Sciences, Family Research Council

One of the greatest causes of abortion today that practically no one wants to address is the direct correlation between contraceptive use and abortion. No Room for Contraception is a website dedicated to responding to this issue, and they have all the research and statistics to back it up. They have a great article about it here, and their blog with all the latest info is here.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Pro-Life Weekend From Nashville

Once again it is the anniversary of the terrible Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion. This is the first time in several years that I will not be Washington, D.C. for the annual pro-life march, it has been a tradition for me over the past 10 years to attend with over 100,000 other pro-life supporters. Since I'm not in D.C. this year, it gave me the opportunity to help out with several events in the Nashville area, the first being the erection of a memorial of the innocents in support of pro-life week. This annual occurance happens on the front lawn of Aquinas College.

The other event was the annual Rally for Life sponsored by Tennesse Right to Life and the Diocese of Nashville. The rally was precluded by a youth Mass celebrated by Bishop David Choby. The actual rally was held at the Nashville downtown Sheraton and followed by a march to the state capital. The local Knights of Columbus provided a color guard, and they were led to the capital by a bag piper and drummer.
There were close to 700 people in attendance at the rally and march, with only a few pro-aborts across the street in protest. Of course they got more media coverage than the pro-life majority, but what do you expect from the VERY biased Nashville media?
A few of the speakers at the rally were Bishop David Choby, pastor Henry Coles, and Dr. Richard Land. Here's a few of the pictures of took over the weekend.






Wednesday, January 17, 2007

A Few Words of Wisdom

There are many things the government can’t do – many good purposes it must renounce. It must leave them to the enterprise of others. It cannot feed the people. It cannot enrich the people. It cannot teach the people. It cannot convert the people.
Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.
      ~Lord Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton

How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distort the soul and damages the personality.
      ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Dispatch: The Undercover Mosque

Little Green Footballs and Bare Knuckle Politics report on the United Kingdom Channel 4 documentary Dispatches: Undercover Mosque, which shows how blatant the radical tendencies of Islam towards terror are. The videos are quite reveling and eye opening.

In other news, Wizbang has a great article on the horrors of growing up Muslim.

Still Think Mitt Romney is Conservative?


Read even more here.

On Imigration

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

-Theodore Roosevelt 1907

iPhone Price Plan in 3D

We all want the new Apple iPhone, right? Think you know how much it costs? Think again. Gizmodo's got the scoop here.
iPhone

Monday, January 15, 2007

Jack Bauer on Privacy

Gapingvoid on Blogging

Here's some random notes about blogging by gapingvoid, I found it quite interesting. Check it out. Also has some cool info about being an entrepreneur here.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

24 Season Six, Finally Here!

In my humble opinion, the best show on television is "24". I'm a pretty late edition to the 24 bandwagon as I just began watching Season One a couple days after Christmas. Needless to say, after staying up all night to watch the entire riveting 24 hours of the first season, I became instantly addicted. Since then I've rented all five seasons on DVD in order to catch up for the premiere of Season Six which began tonight. After watching the premiere it looks like this is going to be the best season yet.
I think part of the reason the show has had such success and popularity is the Americans want to believe that there is a place like CTU, and a guy like Jack Bauer who is out there trying to protect us. Plus the non-stop action/adventure and gripping suspense don't hurt either.
Drudge Report has info about the new season and it's real life impact here. Kiefer Sutherland gives a great interview about his character and the show here. I've even stumbled across a cool Bauer blog, blogs4bauer, lots of info and trivia. Get ready to enjoy a wild ride this season!

International Calling for Free?

How about this for a cool internet find, allfreecalls.net, a company based out of Iowa that lets you make international calls free by using an Iowa number as a gateway. The only charge incurred would be the cost of calling the number, 712-858-8094. There's more info about using it internationally at roam 4 free. Even more info about VOIP type calling can be found here.
You've gotta love how fast technology is moving, everyday it seems like things are getting cheaper, going faster, and doing more. What's next?

Friday, January 12, 2007

Pelosi's Hypocrisy on Wage Bill

From the Washington Times.

House Republicans yesterday declared "something fishy" about the major tuna company in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco district being exempted from the minimum-wage increase that Democrats approved this week.
"I am shocked," said Rep. Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican and his party's chief deputy whip, noting that Mrs. Pelosi campaigned heavily on promises of honest government. "Now we find out that she is exempting hometown companies from minimum wage. This is exactly the hypocrisy and double talk that we have come to expect from the Democrats."
On Wednesday, the House voted to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour.
The bill also extends for the first time the federal minimum wage to the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. However, it exempts American Samoa, another Pacific island territory that would become the only U.S. territory not subject to federal minimum-wage laws.
One of the biggest opponents of the federal minimum wage in Samoa is StarKist Tuna, which owns one of the two packing plants that together employ more than 5,000 Samoans, or nearly 75 percent of the island's work force. StarKist's parent company, Del Monte Corp., has headquarters in San Francisco, which is represented by Mrs. Pelosi. The other plant belongs to California-based Chicken of the Sea.
"There's something fishy going on here," said Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican.
During the House debate yesterday on stem-cell research, Mr. McHenry raised a parliamentary inquiry as to whether an amendment could be offered that would exempt American Samoa from stem-cell research, "just as it was for the minimum-wage bill."
A clearly perturbed Rep. Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who was presiding, cut off Mr. McHenry and shouted, "No, it would not be."
"So, the chair is saying I may not offer an amendment exempting American Samoa?" Mr. McHenry pressed.
"The gentleman is making a speech and will sustain," Mr. Frank shouted as he slammed his large wooden gavel against the rostrum.
Some Republicans who voted in favor of the minimum-wage bill were particularly irritated to learn yesterday -- after their vote -- that the legislation did not include American Samoa.
"I was troubled to learn of this exemption," said Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, Illinois Republican. "My intention was to raise the minimum wage for everyone. We shouldn't permit any special favors or exemptions that are not widely discussed in Congress. This is the problem with rushing legislation through without full debate."
A spokeswoman for Mrs. Pelosi said Wednesday that the speaker has not been lobbied in any way by StarKist or Del Monte.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Senate Ethics Bill More Than it Seems

Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family is reporting that senate ethics bill S.1 will do more than just rid Washington of unethical behavior, it will also curb free speech for private citizens by limiting the ways they can stay up to date of what goes on in Washington. From Citizen Link"

At issue is S. 1 -- the first bill the newly Democratic Senate will consider next week. While much of the bill, which aims to clean up recent lobbying scandals, is good, it contains a provision that would severely limit the ability of Americans like you to stay abreast of important issues being discussed and voted on in Washington.

It also would subject groups like Focus on the Family Action to miles of red tape that could critically hamper our ability to rally concerned Americans like you to make your voices heard by your elected officials. We could even face $100,000 fines for running afoul of the oppressive regulations.

"Clearly, the objective here is to hide what goes on from the public," Dr. Dobson says on today's edition of his daily radio broadcast. "And to punish and silence those of us who would talk about what the Congress is doing."
The actual wording of the bill can be read here.
Very interesting...about what I would expect from those now in power.

UPDATE: American Family Association has more info here.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

At Long Last....the iPhone!

Apple has just announced the unveiling of their latest have-to-have gadget, the iPhone, at the annual Macworld Expo. It is part ipod/pda/phone/web browser all rolled into one. Macworld has all the details about the latest and greatest updates from the coolest company around here. CEO Steve Jobs announced that Apple Computer has officially changed their name to Apple Inc. More info on the whole shebang here.

An Iranian Impeachment?

Wizbang is reporting that members of the Iranian parliament are calling for the impeachment of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Hopefully the 72 signatures needed for an impeachment summons can be had.

Monday, January 8, 2007

A New Direction For America

The Democrats New Promise: "A New Direction For America"

The stock market is at a new all-time high and America's 401K's are back.
A new direction from there means, what?

Unemployment is at 25 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Oil prices are plummeting.
A new direction from there means, what?

Taxes are at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs.
A new direction from there means, what?

The Federal deficit is down almost 50%, just as predicted over last year.
A new direction from there means. what?

Home valuations are up 200% over the past 3.5 years.
A new direction from there means, what?

Inflation is in check, hovering at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Not a single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11/01.
A new direction from there means, what?

Osama bin Laden is living under a rock in a dark cave, having not surfaced
in years, if he's alive at all, while 95% of Al Queda's top dogs are either dead
or in custody, cooperating with US Intel.
A new direction from there means, what?

Several major terrorist attacks already thwarted by US and British Intel,
including the recent planned attack involving 10 Jumbo Jets being exploded
in mid-air over major US cities in order to celebrate the anniversary of the
9/11/01 attacks.
A new direction from there means, what?

Just as President Bush foretold us on a number of occasions, Iraq was to be
made "ground zero" for the war on terrorism -- and just as President Bush
said they would, terrorist cells from all over the region are arriving from the
shadows of their hiding places and flooding into Iraq in order to get their faces
blown off by US Marines rather than boarding planes and heading to the
United States to wage war on us here.
A new direction from there means, what?

Now let me see, do I have this right? I can expect:

-The economy to go South
-Illegals to go North
-Taxes to go Up
-Employment to go Down
-Terrorism to come In
-Tax breaks to go Out
-Social Security to go Away
-Health Care to go the same way gas prices have gone

But what the heck!
I can gain comfort by knowing that Nancy P, Hillary C, John K, Edward K,
Howard D, Harry R and Obama have worked hard to create a comprehensive
National Security Plan, Health Care Plan, Immigration Reform Plan, Gay Rights Plan,
Same Sex Marriage Plan, Abortion On Demand Plan, Tolerance of Everyone and
Everything Plan, How to Return all Troops to the U.S. in The Next Six Months Plan,
A Get Tough Plan, adapted from the French Plan by the same name and a How
Everyone Can Become as Wealthy as We Are Plan.
I forgot the No More Katrina Storm Plan.

Now I know why I feel good after the elections. I am going to be able to sleep
so much better at night knowing these dedicated politicians are thinking of me
and my welfare.

Arizona State & 'North Americanists'

According to their website, Arizona State University is advocating for a borderless North America, even calling for a common currency and a unified military. World Net Daily has the entire scoop here.

Friday, January 5, 2007

Catholics Standing up

This is a great picture, unabashedly standing up for the truth of Catholicism. Thanks to What Would Charles Martel Do? for the link.

What a Contest!

Thanks to the Infidel Bloggers Alliance for this photo and contest.
The Los Angeles Billboard Project is here.
Do you know about this? Pretty disturbing. A Muslem states his case. The religion of peace is here.
A great picture.

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

The Ashley Treatment, aka Eugenics

Meet Ashley, a nine-year-old disabled girl who's parents have had hormone surgery performed on her so that she will not grow past her 4 ft 5 in, 75 lb frame, even though she has a normal life expectancy but the brain capacity of an infant. As part of her "treatment" she has had a hysterectomy, high-dose estrogen treatment and removal of her breast buds. Doctors have diagnosed her condition as “static encephalopathy of unknown etiology”. In layman's terms it means her mental and motor skills have never developed. All this her parents claim is for Ashley's benefit and not their own ease or convenience. The family has refused to disclose their names, only stating that they are both "college-educated professionals". Read more here and here, and her parents blog here.
Even if her parents intention is solely for Ashley's benefit, something still rings me as morally lacking here.

Political Websites

Amidst all the hype about who is running for president in '08, here are two sites to help iron out the confusion over the potential candidates and where they stand on the issues. On The Issues and Political Derby are very informative.