Some current events

Things happening lately that concern me:

Abortion "doctor" George Tiller shot dead at church Sets pro-life movement back 20 years.

San Diego pastor and wife told to cease their weekly Bible study or face fines (updated) Over zealous jobsworth or something more sinister?

Obama admin to silence critics of porkulous What does this even mean?

Chrysler shuts down GOP dealers, spares Dems/Obama contributors ? speculations

A Haunting

I love the show, I really do. Even with its cheesy re-enactments and "cheap" scares. And you know that if TAPS were there, they'd debunk the hell out of that shit. One thing that does bug me is the lighting. Why is everything so dark? They have every light in the house on and it's still all doom and gloom. And who gets up in the middle of the night hearing the proverbial "bump" and not turn on a light? I'd break my neck trying to run around here in the dark chasing after vague noises. Then there's smudging. That's where you take some sage and burn it and walk around your house. I guess ghosts don't like the smell or something. But, apparently, the ghosts never got the message because every time a homeowner/ghost victim tries the "smudging" it never works. Neither does calling in a "psychic" to "guide them to the other side". Just ask the Johnsons. That pathetic little wiccan ceremony did jack squat. They had to call in TAPS later. Not that TAPS got rid of whatever it was, they don't do things like that. They just proved that whatever was haunting them was still hanging around.

So yeah it's cheesy and me and my eldest love to riff it MST3K style, but it can still give me the heebie-jeebies and have me reaching for the Holy Water, Rosary and Scapular.

Eco-stupidity

Here is a classic example of stupid laws with the intent to "save the environment" that end up doing more harm than good.

Apparently in Spokane, WA one cannot purchase certain dishwasher detergents because it's "bad" for the environment. So all that is available on the shelves are "green" products which aren't very effective. So what are people doing? Driving to Idaho to buy the detergent that actually works; no doubt in their SUV's. So not only is Spokane not keeping phosphates out of the water supply, they're adding carbon emissions from the cars that make the trip to the next state over. Some are running their dishwasher on the "pots and pans" cycle, which uses more water than the normal cycle.
This is just like the stupid "low-flow" toilets now mandated by the Government. You use less gallons per flush, yet have to flush more often just to get the shit to go down, therefore using more water than if you just flushed once with a "regular" toilet. More proof that government interference creates more problems than it solves.

I found this little tidbit via Hot Air

Kansas Man Allegedly Had 2 Wives in Same Apartment Complex

Friday , March 20, 2009

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. —

A Kansas man faces a bigamy charge after allegedly being married to two women who lived in the same apartment complex.

Charles L. Clemens Jr., 61, of Overland Park is charged with bigamy and other felonies, according to authorities.

Officials say police were called to the complex in November when the second wife went to first wife's apartment to confront Clemens and found out he was married to someone else.

Clemens was arrested this week and made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Erickson says Clemens married his first wife 22 years ago. Court records say the second marriage occurred in January 2006. Both women are in their 50s.

Clemons is also charged with using his father's Social Security card to lease one of the apartments and with stealing jewelry and money from his second wife

First, I'd like to point out the idiocy of trying to date two women at the same time who live in the same apartment complex, let alone being married to two women, in the same apartment complex. Secondly, this raises a question for me: if the marriage laws are either changed or abolished altogether, (thus allowing for bigamy/polygamy) what recourse would these women have?

File Under "Nasty"

My emphasis and comments in green

Higgins High School teacher arrested after allegedly masturbating in classroom

Posted by apowell March 19, 2009 17:30PM

A teacher at a Marrero high school has been arrested after authorities say he was caught masturbating in a classroom by students and another teacher Wednesday. He was suspended without pay.

Joey Lehrman, 22, of New Orleans, was booked with obscenity and taken to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. He was expected to be released from custody late Thursday on $5,000 bond.

Lehrman is an English teacher at L.W. Higgins High School on Lapalco Boulevard, said Beth Branley, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson Parish public school district. He was hired through the Teach for America program and had worked at the school since August. She said no other complaints have been lodged against him.

According to an arrest report, three students and a substitute teacher saw Lehrman masturbating in his classroom Wednesday about 8 a.m.

When Lehrman was questioned by deputies, he admitted exposing himself, but said he was applying lotion because of a medical condition, [lamest excuse evar] according to a news release from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. He then admitted that he masturbated, according to the arrest report. [ew] Lehrman has no prior criminal record, according to authorities.

Lehrman's arrest shocked parents who arrived to pick up their children Thursday, with many of them saying they were unaware that anything had happened.

Parent Roy Ashworth, who was waiting to pick up his son, said he might consider home schooling his teenager next year. Ashworth said that during the first week of school, his son told him that authorities found a gun at the school, and students were forced to enter through metal detectors. Not only are Lehrman's actions disturbing, Ashworth said, but the school's failure to notify parents is troubling.

"If I would have known about it, my son wouldn't be coming to school," Ashworth said. [Which is probably the very reason they didn't notify parents]

Parent Anna Nimenibo agreed that the school did a poor job of notifying parents about the arrest. She said she learned about it after her daughter sent her a text message Thursday. The teenager wanted to come home early because she heard rumors that Lehrman had purposely exposed himself to a female student. Nimenibo said she discounted her daughter's account at first, but now she thinks it might be true.

"She was scared to go to school, but I told her to go to school," Nimenibo said. "What kind of teacher would do something like that in front of the students? ... He's sick if he would do that in school.

Branley said the school system does not have a written policy to notify parents because incidents that require notification happen infrequently. She also said the system's collective bargaining agreement along with state and federal regulations prevent it from disclosing certain personnel matters.

Branley could not confirm or deny Ashworth's claims about a gun being found on the Higgins campus early this year.

So I've Neglected the Blog

That's right. Had a few other things on my plate, i.e. bebehkins. But hey. At least my kitchen doesn't look like a nuclear bomb went off anymore.

Good grief.

Planning under way for Obama holiday

The Capital-Journal

Published Sunday, November 09, 2008

Plans are being made to promote a national holiday for Barack Obama, who will become the nation's 44th president when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20.

"Yes We Can" planning rallies will be at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the downtown McDonald's restaurant, 1100 Kansas Ave., until Jan. 13. The goals are to secure a national holiday in Obama's honor, to organize celebrations around his inauguration and to celebrate the 200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, who was born on Feb. 12 1809.

At 7:30 a.m. on Inauguration Day, Obama Cake [Obama cake!] will be served at the downtown McDonald's, and a celebration is scheduled for 8 p.m. to midnight Jan. 20 at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th.

FlyLady Failure: a whine

I discovered the FlyLady a couple of years ago. My ex was trying to get full custody of our son, my house was indeed in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and I was depressed and had undiagnosed hypothyroidism which not only piled on 30 lbs but also left me in a permanent "blonde moment" and in constant need of a nap. It was horrible.
I liked the concept of FlyLady: baby steps, doing just a little at a time so it's no so overwhelming, getting rid of shit you don't need a/k/a "clutter", setting a timer for 15 minutes. I've always been a slob. Always. Even in the Navy I had a hard time keeping my barracks room fit for inspection, even fear of being written up (there was a word for this but I can't remember it now) didn't motivate me. So I tried FlyLady. But I never really "got with the programme" 100%. I never "got dressed to shoes" because nothing fit except sweatpants and I slept in those, I couldn't do a load of laundry a day because I don't have a washing machine. I didn't put post-it notes up everywhere to remind me to do things. I did manage some of the FlyLady habits. I would, mostly, do the dishes before bed and clean out the sink. I would "swish and swipe" and had somewhat of a morning routine. Not a good one. I was constantly tweaking it, and never could find a routine that worked.
But like most things, I crashed and burned. FlyLady says she designed her system so we wouldn't crash and burn. But there was always something to be done: put out a "hot spot" and the "do it now" approach. Having a toddler at the time, it was overwhelming. I'd no sooner tidy up one room only to find 2 others trashed. There was also a obsessive/compulsive feel to the shiny sink. And there's this expectation that if your house doesn't look like a bread & breakfast, or company ready all the time, it's not the system, it's you. There's also a lot of guilt tripping about making "magical moments" with your children and/or spouse and that you'll have all the free time in the world to lavish attention on them because your house will practically clean itself! I don't know, some of it seems utterly unrealistic. For example, from a FlyLady email about gearing up for the Holidays:

The very first thing that we all have to do is maintain our homes.
Now I am talking about having your routines established so your home
practically cleans itself. I know you don't believe me, but it will
happen if you will just get up and dress to shoes every single day,
commit to keeping your sink shining and lay out your clothes for
tomorrow.

FlyLady worked better for me when I was a smoker, for a couple of reasons. First, I would wake up and go have a cigarette. The only place I smoked in my house was under the oven fan. This would prompt me to put away last nights (clean) dishes in the drainer, and also remember to take my meds (I keep meds in a kitchen cabinet). So I had a bit of a routine to go there. I have no reason to go into the kitchen now and it looks like it should have hazmat warnings posted with yellow caution tape.
Another reason FlyLady worked better for me as a smoker was a "reward" for getting through a 15 minute session: a smoke! It was like a little 5 minute break, and then I'd be ready for the next 15 minute task. I'm not ready to take up smoking again though.
End of this rant.

Oh the Irony!

I'm probably going to Hell for laughing at these people but I can't help it.

Obama workers angry over unpaid wages

Indianapolis - Lines were long and tempers flared Wednesday not to vote but to get paid for canvassing for Barack Obama. Several hundred people are still waiting to get their pay for last-minute campaigning. Police were called to the Obama campaign office on North Meridian Street downtown to control the crowd.

The line was long and the crowd was angry at times.

"I want my money today! It's my money. I want it right now!" yelled one former campaign worker. (Apparently The One has better use for it.)

A former spokesman for the Obama campaign said 375 people were hired as part of the Vote Corps program and said people signed up to work three-hour shifts at a time. Three hours of canvassing got workers a $30 pre-paid Visa card.

The workers showed up to get their cards Wednesday morning at 10:00 am.

"There was a note on the door saying 1:00 pm and then at 1:20 pm everybody was like why is nobody here. They just got here and they're trying to get it organized," said Heather Richards, a former campaign worker.

The large gathering of around 375 people prompted police to call in extra officers and set up temporary barricades. The barricades helped keep the crowd from spilling out onto Meridian Street. Police say the several hundred people in line were for the most part orderly.

"No arrests. Some of the people were upset at first because the line wasn't moving as fast as they thought it should. But we really haven't had any problems," said Major Darryl Pierce, Metro Police.

Eventually people did start getting paid, but some said they were missing hours and told to fill in paperwork making their claim and that eventually they would get a check in the mail.

"Still that's not right. I'm disappointed. I'm glad for the president, but I'm disappointed in this system," said Diane Jefferson, temporary campaign worker. (Better get used to it Diane)

"It should have been $480. It's $230," said Imani Sankofa. (It's called "spread the wealth")

"They gave us $10 an hour. So we added it. I added up all the hours so it was supposed to be at least $120. All I get is $90," said Charles Martin. (wah-wah-wah! Stop being "selfish" Chuck. That $$ went to someone else, who didn't do the work.)

"I worked nine hours a day for 4 days and got paid half of what I should have earned," said Randall Waldon. (Welcome to the Obama tax plan!)

Some people weren't satisfied with filling out a claim form for money they felt was still due to them.

"They say that they gonna call you or they going to mail it to you, but I don't know. We'll see what happens," said Antron Grose.

"Talking about they'll mail it to us. I ain't worried about that, man. They're not going to mail nothin'," said Martin. (Sucks to be you)

I can't help but snicker. What did these people expect? These are the geniuses that elected Obama.

Looking over my shoulder

Ever since oh around 10 o'clock last night, I've had this impending sense of doom and dread. Utter doom. "Welcome to the USSA, comrades"

New Blog?

I had a dream where I started a blog that wasn't really themed on anything; just random stuff typical of what goes on in my head. But then got to thinking "why? Just pick up this one where you left off." So, I guess I could do that. If I stick with it.
I had considered this my "catholic" blog, talking about churchy stuff. But I never update it because I'm such a terrible Catholic, it's embarrassing really. But, now I say heck with it, not like anyone actually reads it but myself and maybe one or two friends. Also, I'm such a coward at saying anything "controversial" which makes for lousy blogging; but at least my blogging is consistent with the rest of my life. So, no new blog. I have a habit of not finishing things and wanting to start from scratch after I've made of mess of it. It doesn't work.

Imperious Lenten Post

Fasting, Almsgiving and Prayer. The 3 buzzwords every Catholic knows (or should know) about Lent. We received the Ashes on our foreheads yesterday reminding us that God created us from dust and to dust we will return. Besides not eating meat on Friday (which of course is really the only day of the week I'll crave it), a lot of Catholics give up something else as well, something they enjoy but is not really necessary like going out to eat, chocolate, smoking. I usually try to come up with a penance I will be able to stick with by Sexagesima, Quinquagesmia by the latest. Not this year. No, I finally came up with something after a long discussion with a friend yesterday. And it seems an odd sort of penance at first. Being the good little ana that I am, I hop on the scale about 8-10 times a day. It's really become a habit I hardly think about. After lamenting about a 1.5 pound gain, she told me "Get off the damn scale!" (her exact words). She suggested I not get on the scale all during Lent. Knowing this is impossible I thought, "well, how about once a week?" This I can do. So I went in there once last time, weighed myself and wrote the number down (no, I'm not going to tell). But, it being a habit and all, I hopped on it late last night. And wouldn't you know, the scale didn't work. Just nothing. Battery must have died.

Nanny State Strikes Again

The Mississippi Legislature, in its infinite Wisdom, wants fat people banned from restaurants. It has introduced a law that would prohibit restaurants from serving anyone considered "obese". Who determines what is "obese"? Why, the State of course. Here is the Bill in it's entirety:

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2008 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Human Services; Judiciary B

By: Representative Mayhall, Read, Shows

House Bill 282

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS FROM SERVING FOOD TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OBESE, BASED ON CRITERIA PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE WRITTEN MATERIALS THAT DESCRIBE AND EXPLAIN THE CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A PERSON IS OBESE AND TO PROVIDE THOSE MATERIALS TO THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The provisions of this section shall apply to any food establishment that is required to obtain a permit from the State Department of Health under Section 41-3-15(4)(f), that operates primarily in an enclosed facility and that has five (5) or more seats for customers.

(2) Any food establishment to which this section applies shall not be allowed to serve food to any person who is obese, based on criteria prescribed by the State Department of Health after consultation with the Mississippi Council on Obesity Prevention and Management established under Section 41-101-1 or its successor. The State Department of Health shall prepare written materials that describe and explain the criteria for determining whether a person is obese, and shall provide those materials to all food establishments to which this section applies. A food establishment shall be entitled to rely on the criteria for obesity in those written materials when determining whether or not it is allowed to serve food to any person.

(3) The State Department of Health shall monitor the food establishments to which this section applies for compliance with the provisions of this section, and may revoke the permit of any food establishment that repeatedly violates the provisions of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2008.

Keep kissing your rights good-bye America.

Monstershack Fourms

Dennis over at the Monstershack has opened up a Forum. If you like cheesy, sci-fi, crappy B-movies, go and check them out! (There's also a section for MST3K fans).

Millions

If you were born after this date in 1973, be thankful you were not one of the 46 Million (46,000,000) who have been murdered in the womb since Roe vs. Wade.

To fully comprehend this horror, visit this site (no, nothing graphic).

I wonder what my teachers in High School...

Would think of this:

Pope Celebrates Mass Versus Deum, World Does Not End

But cliches abound in an Assoiciated Press article. Father Zuhlsdorf lays a Fisheater smackdown.

The Apostles by Pope Benedict XVI

From March 15, 2006 to February 14, 2007, His Holiness gave a catecheses during his weekly General Audiences. These have been gathered together and placed in book form. I found this slim volume at my local library and snatched it up. I am so very glad I did.
The more I read Pope Benedict the more I love him. He writes clearly and beautifully. I'm only in the middle of Chapter 5, but he wrote some amazing things I want to share with you. (Both of you).
In Chapter 3 he writes about Communion in Time: Tradition. He writes that that by being in Communion with Christ and His Church "all believers of the past and of the future form with us a single great Communion". It made me reflect on the vastness of what we call the Catholic Church, that it is bigger than just here and now. Much, much bigger.

About Tradition itself he writes:

"Apostolic Tradition is not a collection of things or words, like a box of dead things. Tradition is the river of new life that flows from the origins, from Christ down to us, and makes us participate in God's history with humanity"

What an excellent image of Tradition: a living river flowing down to us to make the past present in a sense.
In his Chapter on the Apostle Peter he makes an interesting point. Peter wanted the Messiah to "impose His power and transform the world instantly." But Jesus took another way, one of suffering and humility. This spoke to me very loudly. We want God to change the world NOW! But that's not His way. He writes

"This is the great alternative that we must learn over and over again; to give priority to our own expectations, rejecting Jesus, or to accept Jesus in the truth of His mission and set aside all of our too human expectations."

How true! See, I just love this Pope!

Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of Jesus at the Temple

Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas is only 2 days away! I finally made it to the Traditional Latin Mass today, Deo Gratias! I just couldn't stand one more Novus Ordo Mass. I honestly think going to that Rite (or whatever you want to call it) was part of my problems in actually getting to Sunday Mass. It was also the first time I took the new car too. Okay last Joyful Mystery.

41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch, 42 And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, 43 And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. 44 And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. 45 And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.

46 And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. 48 And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father's business? 50 And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them.

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. 52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men. Luke 2:52

This is a joyful mystery, the joy of finding Jesus. Unfortunately, I concentrate too much on Mary and Joseph searching for Him. Any one who is a parent knows the panicky feeling they must have felt; mostly like multiplied a hundredfold. He wasn't just their Son, he was the Messiah. St. Alphonsus de Liguori says that Mary loves Jesus more than all the love of Mothers in the history of the world. For some reason, I focus way too much on this part of the mystery instead of the joy they felt at finding Him alive and well, and on top of that, He was astonishing all those smart guys in the Temple. Notice also, He was gone three days. The fruit of this mystery is, obviously, the Joy of Finding Jesus.

All the Bible quotations were taken from the Douay-Rheims version of the Holy Bible.

Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation

21 And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: 23 As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: 24 And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons: 25 And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.26 And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 28 He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: 29 Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; 30 Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: 32 A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; 35 And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. 37 And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. 38 Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. 39 And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.

Luke 2:21-39

This mystery is probably the one out of all 15 that gives me the most trouble. Most likely because my meditations on it are so short. I imagine Mary and Joseph bringing the Baby Jesus to the temple. Then the old man, Simeon takes the Baby and recognizes Him as the Messiah. The the old lady, Anna who does the same. These just keep going over in my mind (if I'm lucky and don't start thinking about something else, like fixing dinner or what I need to clean etc). The fruit of this mystery is Obedience. Mary and Joseph were obedient to the Law. Now we must be obedient to Him Who surpasses the Old Law.