Expiration Dates

From the National Review: A long, long list of "inoperative" statements from President Barack Obama.

Expiration Dates

From the National Review: A long, long list of "inoperative" statements from President Barack Obama.

Government Approved

Back in the 'sixties Mad Magazine did a brilliant send-up of the ubiquitous little catalogs from mail-order outfits like Spencer Gifts and Lillian Vernon, which offered crappy, low-cost "gift" items. Mad, exaggerating only slightly, featured a catalog from the "House of Krudd (formerly Krudd Bros. Junk Yard)," peddling such items as the "Bent Coat Hanger Repair Kit: makes a great hobby for the senile and the stupid!" and, my favorite, the "Combination Tire Pump and Lemon Squeezer" which, as an accompanying illustration showed, was just that: a tire pump with a lemon squeezer attached to the handle with masking tape; the catalog copy advised it was "great for campers!" and that you could get it "personalized," if desired.

All that came flooding back with news from Instapundit concerning bogus items submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for certification for its "Energy Star" program. One item submitted and approved was a "Feather-Duster Fly-Strip Air Freshener," which, according to Popular Mechanics, was a "standard space heater spangled in strips of flypaper, with a feather duster perched up top."



Geniuses like those at the EPA will soon be in charge of our health care. Pray you don't get sick.

Government Approved

Back in the 'sixties Mad Magazine did a brilliant send-up of the ubiquitous little catalogs from mail-order outfits like Spencer Gifts and Lillian Vernon, which offered crappy, low-cost "gift" items. Mad, exaggerating only slightly, featured a catalog from the "House of Krudd (formerly Krudd Bros. Junk Yard)," peddling such items as the "Bent Coat Hanger Repair Kit: makes a great hobby for the senile and the stupid!" and, my favorite, the "Combination Tire Pump and Lemon Squeezer" which, as an accompanying illustration showed, was just that: a tire pump with a lemon squeezer attached to the handle with masking tape; the catalog copy advised it was "great for campers!" and that you could get it "personalized," if desired.

All that came flooding back with news from Instapundit concerning bogus items submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for certification for its "Energy Star" program. One item submitted and approved was a "Feather-Duster Fly-Strip Air Freshener," which, according to Popular Mechanics, was a "standard space heater spangled in strips of flypaper, with a feather duster perched up top."



Geniuses like those at the EPA will soon be in charge of our health care. Pray you don't get sick.

Preventive Medicine?

Via Instapundit, from the Telegraph:

Tens of thousands of [National Health Service] workers would be sacked, hospital units closed and patients denied treatments under secret plans for £20 billion of health cuts.

[snip

The proposals could lead to:

10 per cent of NHS staff being sacked in some areas.
The loss of thousands of hospital beds.
A reduction in the number of ambulance call-outs.
Medical professionals being replaced by less qualified assistants.

The plans are contained in a series of internal NHS documents uncovered by The Daily Telegraph.

Naturally, being creatures of the left, the Labour government is holding off announcing the bad news until the coast is clear.

The final details of the plans are not due to be announced until the autumn, well after the country has gone to the polls for the general election.

Well of course, what would you expect from the left, transparency? Naturally, HM's Loyal Opposition is not pleased:

The Conservatives and health campaigners said the public deserved to know the true extent of cuts at their local surgeries and hospitals before voting.

Regardless whether the voters in England know the true state of their National Health by elections, the timing could not be more propitious for opponents of ObamaCare, with news of the drastic cutbacks in England coming just in time for our own elections in November.

Preventive Medicine?

Via Instapundit, from the Telegraph:

Tens of thousands of [National Health Service] workers would be sacked, hospital units closed and patients denied treatments under secret plans for £20 billion of health cuts.

[snip

The proposals could lead to:

10 per cent of NHS staff being sacked in some areas.
The loss of thousands of hospital beds.
A reduction in the number of ambulance call-outs.
Medical professionals being replaced by less qualified assistants.

The plans are contained in a series of internal NHS documents uncovered by The Daily Telegraph.

Naturally, being creatures of the left, the Labour government is holding off announcing the bad news until the coast is clear.

The final details of the plans are not due to be announced until the autumn, well after the country has gone to the polls for the general election.

Well of course, what would you expect from the left, transparency? Naturally, HM's Loyal Opposition is not pleased:

The Conservatives and health campaigners said the public deserved to know the true extent of cuts at their local surgeries and hospitals before voting.

Regardless whether the voters in England know the true state of their National Health by elections, the timing could not be more propitious for opponents of ObamaCare, with news of the drastic cutbacks in England coming just in time for our own elections in November.

Armor of Light

From For What It's Worth comes the splendid suggestion we celebrate "Turn on the Lights Saturday Night" as a counter to the environmentalist cretins doing exactly the opposite that evening, presumably to prepare us for how things will look when they are in charge--a foreshadowing, you might say.

My only suggestion is use green lights if at all possible, making it absolutely clear to the Luddites we are on to their zealous agenda of decay.






















North and South Korea by night

Armor of Light

From For What It's Worth comes the splendid suggestion we celebrate "Turn on the Lights Saturday Night" as a counter to the environmentalist cretins doing exactly the opposite that evening, presumably to prepare us for how things will look when they are in charge--a foreshadowing, you might say.

My only suggestion is use green lights if at all possible, making it absolutely clear to the Luddites we are on to their zealous agenda of decay.






















North and South Korea by night

Four Legs Good, Two Legs Better

What I most discouraging about the health care bill just signed by the President is not that it takes this country a giant leap further down the road to socialism, although it certainly does that. Nor is it the revelation with crystal clarity the ruling political class of this country's utter contempt for the rest of us and their Orwellian regard for us as farm animals; living only to eat and sleep with all our exigent need to be determined and doled out at the pleasure of our betters; although it certainly leads to that, too.

No, for me, the most discouraging aspect of ObamaCare is the appalling realization that we as a nation, via legislation, have invited into our homes to make make critical decisions affecting our personal weal, such deplorable mediocrities (and their satraps) like Madams Pelosi, Boxer and Waters and Messrs. Reid, Frank and Stupak.

Lord Acton (a Catholic and referring to Pope Leo Pius IX, for you Protestants out there!) wrote, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Gazing at the late deeds of our elected representatives, a corollary to that, it occurs to me, is that the lust for power is inversely proportionate to the competence of those who lust for it. While many of those in the rogues gallery seen above may well be turned out of office by a gratifyingly and increasingly angry populace, it remains to be seen whomever they are replaced by will be any more competent and thus resistant to the lure of exercising dominion over the people they are supposed to serve. Pray for our country.

Four Legs Good, Two Legs Better

What I most discouraging about the health care bill just signed by the President is not that it takes this country a giant leap further down the road to socialism, although it certainly does that. Nor is it the revelation with crystal clarity the ruling political class of this country's utter contempt for the rest of us and their Orwellian regard for us as farm animals; living only to eat and sleep with all our exigent need to be determined and doled out at the pleasure of our betters; although it certainly leads to that, too.

No, for me, the most discouraging aspect of ObamaCare is the appalling realization that we as a nation, via legislation, have invited into our homes to make make critical decisions affecting our personal weal, such deplorable mediocrities (and their satraps) like Madams Pelosi, Boxer and Waters and Messrs. Reid, Frank and Stupak.

Lord Acton (a Catholic and referring to Pope Leo Pius IX, for you Protestants out there!) wrote, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Gazing at the late deeds of our elected representatives, a corollary to that, it occurs to me, is that the lust for power is inversely proportionate to the competence of those who lust for it. While many of those in the rogues gallery seen above may well be turned out of office by a gratifyingly and increasingly angry populace, it remains to be seen whomever they are replaced by will be any more competent and thus resistant to the lure of exercising dominion over the people they are supposed to serve. Pray for our country.

Europe's Turn

Gerald Warner in the Telegraph about the latest, but certainly not the last, sex-abuse scandal in the Catholic Church:

It has become fashionable to claim that the sex abuse scandal currently afflicting the Catholic Church is “its biggest crisis since the Reformation”. Oh, really? Tell me about it. The abuse issue is just a small part of the much larger crisis that has engulfed the Church since the Second Vatican Catastrophe and which is more serious than the Reformation.

[snip]

How could clergy transgress so gravely against the doctrines of the Church? What doctrines? These offences took place in the wake of Vatican II, when doctrines were being thrown out like so much lumber. These offenders were the children of Paul VI and “aggiornamento”. Once you have debauched the Mystical Body of Christ, defiling altar boys comes easily.

Archbishop Dolan of New York has also pointed out the Church's egregious error for years of subscribing to the trendy notion that monsters who raped young men could be "treated" for their crimes, then placed in their midst again; only to do it again (and again and again).

(Thanks to Augustine)

Europe's Turn

Gerald Warner in the Telegraph about the latest, but certainly not the last, sex-abuse scandal in the Catholic Church:

It has become fashionable to claim that the sex abuse scandal currently afflicting the Catholic Church is “its biggest crisis since the Reformation”. Oh, really? Tell me about it. The abuse issue is just a small part of the much larger crisis that has engulfed the Church since the Second Vatican Catastrophe and which is more serious than the Reformation.

[snip]

How could clergy transgress so gravely against the doctrines of the Church? What doctrines? These offences took place in the wake of Vatican II, when doctrines were being thrown out like so much lumber. These offenders were the children of Paul VI and “aggiornamento”. Once you have debauched the Mystical Body of Christ, defiling altar boys comes easily.

Archbishop Dolan of New York has also pointed out the Church's egregious error for years of subscribing to the trendy notion that monsters who raped young men could be "treated" for their crimes, then placed in their midst again; only to do it again (and again and again).

(Thanks to Augustine)

Aftermath

Despite the ghastly healthcare bill being passed last night, I remain optimistic. Isn't it remarkable, despite the left's hegemony over over our media, education and culture for over two generations, a sizable majority in this country is still opposed to government takeover of our health care?

It would have been better in the short term, of course, if the bill had been defeated but with its passage we, including members of the Congress, finally have the opportunity of taking a nice leisurely look at the thing to learn just what horrendous goodies are contained inside. As each excruciating detail is revealed public rage will be stoked and re-stoked, the Democrats ever more on the defensive; until a good number, perhaps a majority of them, are thrown out of office, this fall and two years from now.

That's my take. There are others, smarter than I, who are more glum.

Aftermath

Despite the ghastly healthcare bill being passed last night, I remain optimistic. Isn't it remarkable, despite the left's hegemony over over our media, education and culture for over two generations, a sizable majority in this country is still opposed to government takeover of our health care?

It would have been better in the short term, of course, if the bill had been defeated but with its passage we, including members of the Congress, finally have the opportunity of taking a nice leisurely look at the thing to learn just what horrendous goodies are contained inside. As each excruciating detail is revealed public rage will be stoked and re-stoked, the Democrats ever more on the defensive; until a good number, perhaps a majority of them, are thrown out of office, this fall and two years from now.

That's my take. There are others, smarter than I, who are more glum.

Keeping the Promise

Back in January of last year I recounted the sad tale of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York. A thriving parish, responsible for numerous good works in that depressed city, it had recently parted company with the Episcopal Church because of the never-ending apostasies and aligned with a diocese in the Anglican Church of Kenya. Good Shepherd had dearly wished to keep its property and had, in fact, offered to pay the Diocese of Central New York full market value for it despite the collapse in the real estate prices that had occurred earlier.

The diocese refused and instead sued the parish (a very popular activity in the Episcopal Church, sort of their evangelism for the 21st century) to force them to vacate. The court ruled in the diocese's favor, ordering the parishioners to surrender the property and everything in it. That they did, taking up quarters in an unused Catholic church nearby where, happily, they continue to thrive, mercifully unshackled from the Episcopal Church.

At the time the diocese promised new parishioners would be found to take the place of those who departed but with membership in the Episcopal Church plummeting, particularly in the the Diocese of Central New York, whose membership is down over thirty-percent since 1998, that seemed a particularly tall order. But surprise, surprise! The Diocese came through and once again a religious organization calls the former Church of the Good Shepherd home, an organization that's growing in leaps and bounds.



Yep, the former home of the Church of the Good Shepherd is now owned by Muslims who, according to Good Shepherd's rector, the Rev'd Matt Kennedy, paid the diocese a bargain one-third the price offered by Good Shepherd's parishioners a year-and-a half ago. Fr. Kennedy also reports while driving by the place the other day, he watched as the new infidel occupants yanked the cross off the steeple; the green door speaks for itself.

These days I don't dwell as much as I used to on the Episcopal Church but every now and then still find myself asking if that organization could possibly become a viler institution than it was when I left it. So far the answer has always been yes.

(Thanks to Chris Johnson at the MCJ.)

Keeping the Promise

Back in January of last year I recounted the sad tale of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York. A thriving parish, responsible for numerous good works in that depressed city, it had recently parted company with the Episcopal Church because of the never-ending apostasies and aligned with a diocese in the Anglican Church of Kenya. Good Shepherd had dearly wished to keep its property and had, in fact, offered to pay the Diocese of Central New York full market value for it despite the collapse in the real estate prices that had occurred earlier.

The diocese refused and instead sued the parish (a very popular activity in the Episcopal Church, sort of their evangelism for the 21st century) to force them to vacate. The court ruled in the diocese's favor, ordering the parishioners to surrender the property and everything in it. That they did, taking up quarters in an unused Catholic church nearby where, happily, they continue to thrive, mercifully unshackled from the Episcopal Church.

At the time the diocese promised new parishioners would be found to take the place of those who departed but with membership in the Episcopal Church plummeting, particularly in the the Diocese of Central New York, whose membership is down over thirty-percent since 1998, that seemed a particularly tall order. But surprise, surprise! The Diocese came through and once again a religious organization calls the former Church of the Good Shepherd home, an organization that's growing in leaps and bounds.



Yep, the former home of the Church of the Good Shepherd is now owned by Muslims who, according to Good Shepherd's rector, the Rev'd Matt Kennedy, paid the diocese a bargain one-third the price offered by Good Shepherd's parishioners a year-and-a half ago. Fr. Kennedy also reports while driving by the place the other day, he watched as the new infidel occupants yanked the cross off the steeple; the green door speaks for itself.

These days I don't dwell as much as I used to on the Episcopal Church but every now and then still find myself asking if that organization could possibly become a viler institution than it was when I left it. So far the answer has always been yes.

(Thanks to Chris Johnson at the MCJ.)

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

The only day of the year I'm glad I'm not Irish.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

The only day of the year I'm glad I'm not Irish.

Is That a Promise, Mr. President?

From the Telegraph:

Barack Obama has said he will not campaign for any Democratic congressmen who fails to support health care reform.

The president will refuse to make fund-raising visits during November elections to any district whose representative has not backed the bill.

He's gone back on his word so many times, they'll make him swear to it if they're smart.

Is That a Promise, Mr. President?

From the Telegraph:

Barack Obama has said he will not campaign for any Democratic congressmen who fails to support health care reform.

The president will refuse to make fund-raising visits during November elections to any district whose representative has not backed the bill.

He's gone back on his word so many times, they'll make him swear to it if they're smart.