A True Progressive

Picture this...

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:53:00 +0000

Airport security: the most expensive illusion in history...

It's a tale of shocking ineptitude: CBS 2 has learned a series of missteps unnecessarily added to the mayhem at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday. The six-hour delay stranded thousands of people, creating extreme crowding and chaos.

The sign at the Transportation Security Administration screening post at Newark read: "Premises Under Constant Video Surveillance."

What it should add is: "If We're Lucky."

That's because CBS 2 has learned that when an unidentified man breached a secure area at Newark on Sunday night, delaying thousands of passengers for hours, the TSA cameras weren't working.

That's right – they weren't even recording, sources said, and needed a reboot, which the agency apparently didn't ask for. That set off a chain reaction of even more missteps that caused needless chaos and inconvenience for several thousand hapless passengers.

But don't worry: when our growing multitude of 'security' agencies aren't letting equipment sit idle, they're on the case and in the face of those who... threaten.... oh, never mind...

Got arrested at the Seattle airport for refusing to say how much money I make. (The uniformed ones say I was not "arrested", but they definitely handcuffed me.) Their videos and audios should show that I was polite, but simply refused questions that had nothing to do with national security. Port authority police eventually came -- they were professionals -- and rescued me from the border bullies.

For more about Michael Yon, click here.

The long view

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:01:00 +0000

A couple of quotes to consider:

In 1840, Alexis de Tocqueville observed that, “preachers in America are continually coming down to earth. Indeed they find it difficult to take their eyes off it. The better to touch their hearers, they are forever pointing out how religious beliefs favor freedom and public order, and it is often difficult to be sure when listening to them whether the main object of religion is to procure eternal felicity in the next world or prosperity in this.”

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. -- C. S. Lewis

In matters of faith, it's very easy to put the cart before the horse. It's true Christ said He had come that we might "have life, and have it to the full." Unfortunately, our tendency is to think the present world is the measure of that life. It's but a part of it. Just as obedience to Christ flows from a grateful understanding of what He did to provide that new life, the best things in the present from our pursuit of holiness for the next. The common grace that benefits society is but a faint reflection of the saving grace available to those who will accept it. We hear that churches need to be 'relevant,' but that's often meant to be merely practical for the here and now. In reality, those that effectively minister provide "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow."

Next they'll be finding monoliths...

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:03:00 +0000

There's a hole, there's a hole, there's a hole in the crust of the Moon....

The moon may not be made of Swiss cheese, but it appears to have at least one deep hole, a vertical skylight that could serve as a protective lunar base for future astronauts.

"We discovered a vertical hole on the moon," an international team of scientists recently announced.

The gaping, dark pit on the near side of the moon is as big as a city block and deep as a modest skyscraper. It is thought to be a collapsed lava tube...

Is that the opening of Also Sprach Zarathustra I hear???

Saturday Sounds

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:03:00 +0000

New Year Calvin-ism

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:01:00 +0000

Don't let the babyface fool you...

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:34:00 +0000

Faulty goods and Federal failures

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:11:00 +0000

What would you think of a company who, when shown their product is fundamentally flawed, continually suggested that buying more of it would fix the problem?

You can stop laughing now. It isn't funny -- it's happening to us every day:

No one can deny that if the guy on that international flight to Detroit had succeeded in blowing up the plane, the Big Government advocates would be using that as an argument for having the federal government crack down even more on civil liberties. ((Heck, he didn't even have to succeed for that to happen... -- Jemison))

And isn’t it interesting that the massive post-9/11 crackdown on civil liberties didn’t prevent the guy from apparently almost bringing down the plane.

That's because the government apparently isn't very effective at USING all that information they're collecting 'in order to make us safer.' Things that make you go hmmm.....

This is but one example. The feds promised to save the financial day with the bailouts... doesn't seem to have worked. We were told that all the years of struggle in Iraq and Afghanistan would make us safer. Not only are we still there, we now have Yemen in our crosshairs.

You'd quit doing business with a company compiling this kind of track record. Something to think about.

An army of citizens

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:06:00 +0000

From Mark Steyn:

On September 11th 2001, the government’s (1970s) security procedures all failed, and the only good news of the day came from self-reliant citizens (on Flight 93) using their own wits and a willingness to act.

On December 25th 2009, the government’s (post-9/11) security procedures all failed, and the only good news came once again from alert individuals.

Given this particular trend line, it would seem the government might consider empowering such alert individuals, instead of forcing them to be unarmed sitting ducks.

But then, that would share the power, now wouldn't it?

(HT: Instapundit)

PS: I'll say it again: the only thing TSA is effective at is conditioning the public to unquestioning obedience.

Two can play this game...

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:19:00 +0000

Sign recently photographed, of all places, at Ft. Hood:

Rebuttal read online:
"The Nazis required gun registration... are you a Nazi?"

Love it.

As has been pointed out by many, the Ft. Hood shooting has one central thing in common with similar turkey shoots at places like the Luby's Cafeteria and Virginia Tech. If even ONE of the 'targets' had been carrying a concealed weapon with which they were competent, the body counts would have most likely been lower. It's a lot easier to empty several clips, reload and repeat ad nauseam when you know you don't have to worry about return fire.

Quote of the day

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:04:00 +0000

...as Americans survey the post-holiday damage to their already shattered credit lines...

"We are in danger of being overwhelmed with irredeemable paper; mere paper, representing not gold or silver; no sir, representing nothing but broken promises, bad faith, bankrupt corporations, cheated creditors and ruined people."

-Daniel Webster

Saturday Sounds

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 01:04:00 +0000

The Musketeers' Mom found this one. Both unexpected and funny!

For unto you a Savior is given

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:01:00 +0000

In what do you place your faith?

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:44:00 +0000

The invasion

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:01:00 +0000

One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe--a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease, and sin. The difference is that Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees with Dualism that this universe is at war. But it does not think this is a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.
Enemy-occupied territory--that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening-in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going. He does it by playing on our conceit and laziness and intellectual snobbery. I know someone will ask me, 'Do you really mean, at this time of day, to re-introduce our old friend the devil-hoofs and horns and all?' Well, what the time of day has to do with it I do not know. And I am not particular about the hoofs and horns. But in other respects my answer is 'Yes, I do.' I do not claim to know anything about his personal appearance. If anybody really wants to know him better I would say to that person, 'Don't worry. If you really want to, you will. Whether you'll like it when you do is another question.'
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

The marvel of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:08:00 +0000

That any of us should be willing to seek after the lost is nothing wonderful—they are
of our own race; but that He, the offended God, against whom the transgression has
been committed, should take upon Himself the form of a servant, and bear the sin of
many, and then should be willing to receive the vilest of the vile, this is marvelous.

- Charles Spurgeon

Stooping down to raise up

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:41:00 +0000

Note: I've scheduled daily "gifts," but this blog will be on autopilot the next few days while I enjoy unplugged time with family. Make sure you do the same!

The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this. . . .

In the Christian story God descends to re-ascend. He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity . . . down to the very roots and sea-bed of the Nature He has created.

But He goes down to come up again and bring the ruined world up with Him. One has the picture of a strong man stooping lower and lower to get himself underneath some great complicated burden. He must stoop in order to lift, he must almost disappear under the load before he incredibly straightens his back and marches off with the whole mass swaying on his shoulders.

Or one may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then gone with a splash, vanished, rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the death-like region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to colour and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing that he went down to recover. He and it are both coloured now that they have come up into the light: down below, where it lay colourless in the dark, he lost his colour, too.

C. S. Lewis, Miracles (New York: Macmillan, 1947), 112, 115-17.

Waiting expectantly

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:02:00 +0000

One reason "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is among my favorite Christmas hymns is that it expresses the longing for God's promise to be fulfilled. Many looked forward to the Advent. We have the privilege of looking forward to the Appearing!

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."

Luke 2:25-32

Saturday Sounds

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:52:00 +0000

Some of the footage for this was taken from the Visual Bible presentation of Matthew -- a video I highly recommend.

The Divine Comedy

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:31:00 +0000

God truly has a wonderful sense of humor:

World leaders flying into Copenhagen today to discuss a solution to global warming will first face freezing weather as a blizzard dumped 10 centimeters (4 inches) of snow on the Danish capital overnight.

Denmark has a maritime climate and milder winters than its Scandinavian neighbors. It hasn’t had a white Christmas for 14 years, under the DMI’s definition, and only had seven last century. Temperatures today fell as low as minus 4 Celsius (25 Fahrenheit).

This kind of thing happens often enough with 'global warming' related events that I'm becoming convinced it isn't just coincidence. And while I'm sure God's having a celestial chuckle at the expense of these hot air salesmen, I'm equally sure He's sending a message.

Let those who have ears, hear.

Don't move... you might break a law

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:55:00 +0000

Our current approach to federal law serves lawyers and prosecutors, not justice and the public:

It's for good reason that our Constitution mentions only three federal crimes (treason, piracy, and counterfeiting).
The Founders viewed the criminal sanction as a last resort, reserved for serious offenses, clearly defined, so ordinary citizens would know whether they were violating the law.

Yet over the last 40 years, an unholy alliance of big-business-hating liberals and tough-on-crime conservatives has made criminalization the first line of attack -- a way to demonstrate seriousness about the social problem of the month, whether it's corporate scandals or e-mail spam.

At one point on Tuesday, (Supreme Court Justice) Breyer protested: "I thought there was a principle that a citizen is supposed to be able to understand the criminal law." Good luck with that.

There are now more than 4,000 federal crimes, spread out through some 27,000 pages of the U.S. Code. Some years ago, analysts at the Congressional Research Service tried to count the number of separate offenses on the books, and gave up, lacking the resources to get the job done. If teams of legal researchers can't make sense of the federal criminal code, obviously, ordinary citizens don't stand a chance.

As the author points out, this massive framework essentially provides discretionary (read: arbitrary) tools to those in authority, undermining the fundamental principle of equality before the law.

"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." -- Aesop

But they'll handle healthcare just fine...

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:13:00 +0000

Your government services at work:

If your mother-in-law's mail goes through the Waterbury or Wallingford post offices, she might not have received the birthday card you sent in time.

Apparently managers at the post office have been hiding mail, Ray Arcovio, president of the Waterbury area postal worker’s union, told the Waterbury Republican-American. And he wants to sincerely apologize.

Workers have been stuffing mail into closets and unused rooms at mail facilities in Waterbury and Wallingford because they don’t know how to keep up with such a high volume of mail, he told the newspaper.

The spokeswoman suggests this shouldn't be portrayed as routine. Really?

James Stempnik Jr: Mailman Hoards 20,000 Pieces of Mail
Mailman Steals Mail To Support Drug Habit
Muncie mail carrier accused of stealing mail
Ex-Mailman Sentenced for Stealing Mail
N.C. Mailman Gets Probation For Keeping Junk Mail

(HT: Rebellion University)

Not exactly leading by example...

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:23:00 +0000

I can't claim credit for this compare/contrast, but I certainly applaud it (and found it regrettably easy to expand the list, as well)...

"Although a legitimate government was elected by the Afghan people, it has been hampered by corruption..." Barack Obama, preaching to his faithful in Oslo.

A few random stories, still fresh on the Internet, that give Obama's moralizing a little perspective:

Ex-Rep. Jefferson Sentenced to 13 Years for Bribery

Pennsylvania official admits to bribery

Former NY Senate majority leader guilty of corruption

Blagojevich's lawyers seek FBI interview with Obama

Former Army major gets 17 years for bribe scheme

Two District of Columbia employees charged with corruption

Baucus defends recommending his girlfriend for U.S. attorney post

Now that's funny

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:49:00 +0000

Read online in some comments:

"...that's the problem with warmist model predictions... they've been using the wrong AlGorethm."

Well done!

Slowpokes

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:10:00 +0000

One way to look at it:

A cataclysmic flood could have filled the Mediterranean Sea — which millions of years ago was a dry basin — like a bathtub in the space of less than two years. A new model suggests that at the flood’s peak water poured from the Atlantic into the Mediterranean basin at a rate one thousand times the flow of the Amazon River, according to calculations published in the Dec. 10 Nature.
“In an instantaneous flash, the dry Mediterranean became a normal Mediterranean like we see it today,” says lead author Daniel Garcia-Castellanos of Spain's Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) in Barcelona.

But if you think that's impressive, try this account:

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights...
For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than twenty feet. Every living thing that moved on the earth perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind.
Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.

Can't dig out of the hole

noreply@blogger.com (Jemison Thorsby) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:51:00 +0000

AP: Democrats plan nearly $2 trillion debt limit hike.
Reminds me of a song...

Deeper and deeper he's going down
Driving his future right into the ground
He thinks he's closer the further he goes
But he's still on the bottom
And he can't dig out of the hole.
I tried to throw the man a life line
I tried to send him down a rope
I don't think he hears me calling
But everyday I pray and hope
Somehow he finally gets the message
Every spade of dirt he throws
Only gets him closer to the devil
And he can't dig out of the hole
- Randy Travis, "The Hole"