Iraqi Parliament Elects a “Kurdish” President

Filed in PoliticsTags: War on Terror

Gateway Pundit cheers the continuing successes of the nascent Iraqi democracy:

Wow... I thought that this was a country divided among warring minority factions? That's what the MSM has been saying since they were dragging that metal statue head of Saddam through the streets of Baghdad. But, now we here news that the newly elected parliament (you may recall that January 30th election?) just elected a Kurdish President!

Granted, the power-sharing structure was pre-determined, such that Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish factions would each hold one of the elected offices of Prime Minister, Speaker, and President (if I recall correctly); but having the General Assembly accomplish these elections peacefully certainly represents a watershed moment for the new government. (Which means the MSM will probably bury the story - or, at the very least, its signifigance.

Bill Gives Unborn Equal Protection

Filed in Politics, Science, Social IssuesTags: Sanctity of Life

ProLifeBlogs reports good news for innocent unborn humans in South Carolina:

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- An unborn child would have rights to due process and equal protection of the law under a bill passed by the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday. The measure passed on a 15-to-5 vote. It would establish that rights begin "at fertilization."

Not that the Fiat Federal Judiciary will let it stand... but it's about time some State decided to stand up to fight for the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for unborn humans.

Christian Carnival LXIV

Filed in ReligionTags: Christianity

Wish I would have found this 64 weeks ago:

Proverbs Daily is a blog that ventures to, amongst many other things, take a biblical proverb every day and apply its wisdom to today's world. In keeping with that theme, this week's Christian Carnival is grouped by topic using the proverbs as subjects. I hope you enjoy the posts as much as I did.

I think this is going to increase my blog-monitoring time significantly...

Top 10 categories of MSM/DNC bias

Filed in PoliticsTags: Media Bias

The Cassandra Page exhaustively chronicles the many manifestations of MSM bias:

Bias in the MSM/DNC takes many forms. I am forced to compare these forms each time I catalogue another "lie" for the 2005 list. Much of the MSM/DNC behavior constitutes mere spin or bias, slanted headlines or failure to report opposing points of view. Those items, while reprehensible, do not constitute "lies." For the sake of clarity and so that we can more easily discuss the tactics of the MSM/DNC, I have categorized here some of those MSM/DNC tactics

Great list, required reading. And by referencing it I give implicit permission for anyone to call me on using any of the bias methods mentioned.

(Hat tip:PoliPundit)

Random Act of Kindness

Filed in MiscellaneousTags: Military

Regardless which ending is true, as Gateway Pundit reports, Denzel Washington is More Than An Actor. Gateway Pundit sets up the story this way:

Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC (Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio,Texas) the other day. This is where soldiers that have been evac'd from Germany come to be hospitalized in the States, especially burn victims.

They have buildings there called Fisher Houses. The Fisher House is a hotel where soldiers' families can stay, for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the hospital. BAMC has quite a few of these houses on base but as you can imagine, they are almost completely filled most of the time.

Now, here's where the story, as propogated via email, apparently extrapolates from actual events:

While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He took his check book out and wrote a check for the full amount right there on the spot.

However, as the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer quotesFisher House Foundation spokesman Jim Weiskopf:

He and his wife were very impressed with what they saw, and in fact he and his wife have pledged to make a substantial donation to us, but he did not whip out his checkbook and write a check on the spot.

In either case, kudos to Mr. Washington for even making the trip, and spending time with wounded soldiers. That he pledged to donate to building another Fisher House doesn't seem to be disputed. And extra kudos for not making a media event to display how great a person he is for his charity - as so many celebs would do, or have done.

More Liberal Hubris

Filed in Politics

Conservative Dialysis dissects typical liberal hubris as expressed in a comment to an earlier post:

So let's review: According to the commenter, conservatives are stupid because all of their knowledge and experience failed to produce a political belief system which leans left, and everyone knows that in order to be considered smart your political beliefs must lean left. I don't think that this is much of an argument.

Quite to the contrary, this dogmatic liberal viewpoint was proven to be a resounding failure in the half-century experiment in socialism that was the Soviet Union. Whereas the 230 year experiment in democracy, free-market capitalism, and rugged individualism that is the United States remains the greatest nation in the history of mankind.

This arrogance exemplifies one of the primary reasons I chose to leave academia after earning "just" a Bachelor's degree: I wanted nothing to do with the Ivory Tower that produces just this kind of attitude.

Slimming Down the Body of Christ

Filed in Religion, Social IssuesTags: Health/Nutrition

Christianity Today writes about the ever-expanding waistline of the body of Christ. I totally agree with preaching the Biblical principle that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that Christians should be setting an example with respect to physical fitness; however, those with expertise on Biblical matters regarding the body and nutrition should not try to speak as experts on matters of secular nutrition. For instance:

From Atkins to South Beach, fast and easy weight-loss programs tend to be the goal of most people seeking a new diet. But virtually every health expert agrees that the path to true wellness lies not in the latest diet craze but in a permanent lifestyle change.

Now, the irony here is that both of the weight-loss plans mentioned are designed precisely and explicitly as lifetime ways-of-eating. Both are written with an emphasis on diet/nutrition as a component of overall weight management, including exercise, and a focus on long-term success, not quick weight-loss.

I applaud the effort to integrate Biblical principles into our daily lives, but we get in trouble when we don't discern between Biblical principle and our own knowledge or beliefs. For example:

"The healthy diet," Dr. Enriquez says, "is what we find in the Bible—the fruits and vegetables in Genesis 1:29. God added meat in Genesis 9:3, but we're not supposed to let go of the carbohydrates [as the Atkins craze would suggest], because we need them for our energy. But we need the right carbohydrates, not the simple ones you find in white bread or white pasta or white rice. They give us calories, but they have no nutrients. We need more complex carbohydrates in the form of fruits and vegetables."

Again, Dr. Enriquez is apparently speaking from a position in which he as just about no knowledge of the tenets of the Atkins Diet. Fruits and vegetables are exactly the carbohydrates that are included in the Atkins Diet. But that is beside my point. First, what kind of twisted theology is it that says that we eat fruits and vegetables in priority over meat because God gave them to us earlier than he did meat? Does that mean also that I should prefer to dress myself with fig leaves because Adam used them before God clothed he and Eve in animal skins? (Thankfully for those of you who would have to be around me, the answer to that question is "no".) Second, Dr. Enriquez then takes that faulty premise as a basis for stating that the human body "needs" carbohydrates for energy - an assumption that has been proven resoundingly untrue again and again.

I don't so much have a problem with espousing nutritional beliefs that differ from my own; I do, however, have a problem with trying to use the Bible to back up those views. So, stick to using the Bible to preach Biblical principles: The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, we are to honor God with our bodies, self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit borne in the life of one living by the Spirit, gluttony and drunkenness are listed among the sins of the flesh - while at the same time allowing and encouraging Christians to study and learn sound nutritional principles and other matters of specifics on which the Bible remains silent on their own.

Weinstrasse Season – How Safely To Enjoy A Wine-Tasting Trip

Filed in MiscellaneousTags: Food/Wine, Missouri

'Tis the season... now that spring has arrived, it's time to resume the weekend drives to the many wineries in the St. Louis area. My usual weekend-afternoon trip involves a drive down MO-94W between US40 and Hermann, MO - a stretch of road better known as the "Weinstrasse." I normally make stops at Sugar Creek Winery, Montelle Winery, Augusta Winery, Mount Pleasant Winery, and depending on how much time I have, and how far I want to go, Balducci Winery and Stone Hill Winery.

Now, lest you get worried about drinking and driving, there are important rules to the winery road trip:

First, you have to take your time at and between wineries. Generally, it's a good idea not to rush at the tasting itself, as doing so would be inconsiderate of the hosts, who are serving you wine for free. Also, the longer you take, the more you will enjoy the experience, and the longer you allow for the alcohol to metabolize. While you are at the tasting, get to know your host, and their selection - known as the flight - of wines. If you take a genuine interest in the winery and their offerings, I guarantee it will be appreciated, and you will be remembered.

Second, limit the selection and amount of wine you sample. Probably a no-brainer, but herein lies one of the biggest abuses of wine-tasting. Especially for we amateur wine-tasters, the pallette can probably only handle 4-5 different wines before the tastes become indistinguishible. And you really only need an ounce or so of a given wine sample in order to ascertain the smell, bouquet, color, body, taste, mouthfeel, etc. of the sampling. And doing so, you'll only drink the equivalent of one glass of wine, at most, at each winery.

Third, drink plenty of water, and eat before and/or during your tasting trip. The water will keep you hydrated, help prevent inebriation, and help clean your pallette to allow you better to taste each sampling. Eating will also help prevent inebriation, and can also add a really enjoyable element to the trip. Most wineries have outdoor patios or dining areas that often offer great views of the surrounding country, and that make a great place for a picnic, or just to sit down, relax, and unwind. In addition, while most wineries have rules prohibiting bringing outside alcohol on the premises, they encourage you to bring your own food.

Fourth, try to include wineries that offer tours of the facilities (in this area, Mount Pleasant and Stone Hill both have great tours). In addition to learning a lot about the facility, wine production, and the history of the region, you will do a fair bit of walking, and again will be adding more time between drinking occasions.

Fifth, try to end your wine trip by visiting a winery offering some form of entertainment, which can range from free to somewhat expensive and may include live music, dancing, chef-prepared dinner, or even a murder-mystery event. The entertainment provides a great way to spend an evening, and again, will give you plenty of time to assure that any alcohol has had ample time to run through your system.

Follow these guidelines, and you will have a great, and safe, time on your wine-tasting trip. And if you are ever in the St. Louis area and would like a guided tour, let me know!

Movie Review: Hitch

Filed in ReviewsTags: Movies

I saw Hitch over the weekend. I kept hearing good things about it, and usually like Will Smith movies. Here's what filmcritic.com had to say:

Hitch asks one question: Just how far can a film coast on Will Smith’s charm and some hilariously bad dance moves? The answer is, pretty far, but not nearly far enough.

Smith plays the titular hero, a guy who’s so smooth he turned it into a career as a “date doctor,” helping a succession of schlubby but good-hearted guys make it into the arms of gorgeous women who otherwise wouldn’t have looked twice at them. But although he’s like a consultant for romance, Hitch doesn’t use his powers to find true love for himself, leaving marriage and lasting relationships for his clients.

Hitch Movie PosterActually, if you read the entire review, the reviewer misses the point of the movie. He recognizes Will Smith as the main character, but oddly thinks the main plot arc and character development revolve around someone else. What he criticizes the filmwriters for as unnecessary distraction from the main story is actually a well-crafted dovetail of sub-plots into the main story - not on the level of say, a Tom Clancy or Frank Peretti novel, but impressively thorough for a romantic comedy. Apparently, the reviewer missed that the entire point of the movie was the development of Will Smith's character, since that very element is the one he dismisses as superfluous.

Generally, the movie follows the Hollywood-standard, "guy meets girl, guy falls for girl, guy loses girl, guy gets girl in the end" romantic-comedy formula. Despite being typically formulaic, the movie, fortunately, dispenses with much of the typical stereotyping of the genre.

For the most part, the characters are black-and-white. There is, of course, development, primarily of the principal characters - but not much nuance. The good guys are good, the bad guy is bad - pretty much what one would expect from the genre. I would have liked to see more depth of character development - especially with Amber Valletta, who plays a young heiress and romantic interest of Albert (Kevin James, King of Queens) - but the primary plot arc involves the character development of the title character, Hitch.

Will Smith and Kevin James play well off of each other in this movie. Eva Mendez (Sara, gossip columnist and romantic interest of Will Smith) turned what I first thought would be an imitation of Jennifer Lopez in The Wedding Planner into a decent performance. The flashbacks to Will Smith's character in college reminded me way too much of myself in high school and college - though I can certainly relate to the growth/maturation process with respect to women and relationships.

Overall, the movie is what it is. Though the genre isn't my favorite, the movie is by far better than most romantic comedies. Hitch is a good movie to take your signficant other to see. It will be worth the two-hour investment just for a refreshingly decent movie. You probably won't take away any life-changing new ideas, but the movie just might give you pause to remember to look at people from the inside, and that it's okay to be true to oneself on the outside.

Rest In Peace

Filed in ReligionTags: Christianity

Vatican Says Pope John Paul II Dies at 84:

Pope John Paul II, the Polish pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter century and became history's most-traveled pope, died Saturday night in his Vatican apartment. He was 84.

I'm a Christian, but not Catholic. I don't understand or agree with everything regarding the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church, but I mourn the loss of a courageous and Godly man.

To my brothers in sisters in Christ who are of the Catholic faith, I pray that the Holy Spirit will minister to and guide you with His grace and peace from God the Father, in this time of great loss. Pope John Paul II was truly a man who ran the race God set out for him, and now God has called him heavenward, to claim the prize for which He has called him.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace...

Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Acts 20:24, 32 (NIV)