Toyah

I enjoyed a grand Thanksgiving. To begin, the weather was perfect--nere a cloud in the sky, and daytime temps in the 60s and 70s. Spent a couple of days out at the farm with the whole fam (extended), got in a little quail hunting, and hung out with a few cousins I hadn't seen in a while. Dad had to leave the family shin-dig a day early so I drove back to Brady with him and enjoyed hanging out, watching the horns beat the ags, and just visiting. I really wish Thanksgiving weren't so close to finals and I would have enjoyed myself all the more.
I hope you had a wonderful weekend with friends or family, wherever you were!

This is in front of my grandmother's house in west Texas. We've had a lot of rain lately so there was actually water in Toyah Creek, though I neglected to take a photo.

Final Thought: C.S. Lewis reminds that "we ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is 'good,' because it is good, if 'bad,' because it works in us patience, humility, and contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country."

Apologies to any Catholics who might think otherwise, but to me it's just a grilled cheese sandwich. Yes, I see the face, but it's just the way it happened to cook. $28,000? I can think of better things to do with it...

I did.

What would a beaver do with thousands of dollars in cash? Beavers are sensible animals. You can't eat money, nor wear it. So they included it in their dam. Naturally!

From Khaleej Times, via Instapundit:

UNITED NATIONS - UN employees were readying on Friday to make a historic vote of no confidence in scandal-plagued Secretary General Kofi Annan, sources told AFP.

The UN staff union, in what officials said was the first vote of its kind in the more than 50-year history of the United Nations, was set to approve a resolution withdrawing its support for the embattled Annan and UN management.

Annan has been in the line of fire over a high-profile series of scandals including controversy about a UN aid programme that investigators say allowed deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to embezzle billions of dollars.

But staffers said the trigger for the no-confidence measure was an announcement this week that Annan had pardoned the UN’s top oversight official, who was facing allegations of favouritism and sexual harassment.

Good. The UN is a corrupt farce, hiding behind a veneer of respectability. The more light that gets shone on the integrity, or lack thereof, on the inner sanctum of the UN, the better.

Phil and Anthony have done their fair share of sermonizing, as well as speaking in church. Last
week the pastor and his family went on vacation. My normal job at church is to run the computer to put songs, scriptures, announcements, prayer requests, etc. up on the screens. However the pastor's wife plays the keyboard instruments for our services, so not only were we without our regular preacher, but without our accompanist (nope...not old school church of christ by any means) as well. So last week I was nominated to play the piano for all the services. During one of the services a couple of the 20-something guys from the church were called on to tag-team the sermon for the evening. The substitutions being deemed a success, I have been called on to play more often, and this sunday, to give my version of a sermon. I ruled out Song of Solomon. I considered calling a fast (a fast from certain habits with which the men of the church torment the nostrils of the congregation), but can't bring myself to it. Three topics came to my mind. One was motivated by my mother telling people that I was too much like my father...something that could be easily configured into a message. Another topic that I milled around was the recurring use of fruit as a metaphor in the Bible. I came to rest, however, on probably my favorite Bible story...Ehud. I love that story. It is funny, which will help me overcome any nerves that may pop up from this endeavor. It also shows two of the Bible's recurring themes. 1) God provides for His people, if they will call on Him 2) He chose a vessel that no one else would choose through which to work.
I don't know how long I am supposed to speak, but if ramble at all out loud like I have just done, my notes may be too long.

Who are you, and what have you done with my David Lee Roth? This sure doesn't sound like him. Can a leopard really change his spots? It's not that he's doing something good, but that he's got the team player mentality. I hope it works out for him. I wonder if he yells "JUMP" when he uses the defibrillator.

O'Toole's got a new post (11/9). Happy to see you are still having a good time!

Living history farm halfway between Johnson City and Fredericksburg, Texas.  

I’m preaching a sermon tomorrow, and chose Colossians 1 as the text. In reading and preparing for it, verses 12 and 13 seemed significant to me. Paraphrasing, they say that God the Father took us (Christians) out of darkness and moved us into the light of Jesus Christ.

Never mind the theology for the moment: it reminds me of an argument I made awhile back about the nature of light and dark. We usually think of them as polar opposites: as equal and anti- to the other as the north and south poles on a magnet. But that’s not true. You can buy a flashlight, you can strike a match, or you can flip a switch and make light, but I have never seen a darkness-maker in Wal-Mart. Anywhere in the universe you go, if there is not-light, then there is darkness: it’s not made, it just exists. But the opposite is not true: something has to make light. Actually, even when there is light, darkness still exists; it’s just been driven into the shadows, under the bed and under the desk and other places where the light doesn’t reach. But when there’s no light, the darkness is complete and total, everywhere.

I’m not sure exactly what’s significant about this, although I’m sure there’s something there. I used the light-dark dichotomyto illustrate the difference between God and Satan in a discussion: ironically, God was represented by darkness, because darkness exists on its own, while light can only exist in opposition to darkness. On the other hand, Paul compared Christ to light, versus the darkness, which I think is also apt. Outside of the light, in our world, there is darkness and cold. Near the light, whatever that might be (sun, campfire, electric lights), there is not-darkness and not-cold (since light also produces heat, usually).

As I said, I’m pondering the meaning of the dichotomy-that-isn’t. Maybe it means nothing at all, and it’s just a product of an over-active imagination?

Dogbert on blogs, courtesy of the Dilbert Newsletter and Dogbert's New Ruling Class:

Dear Dogbert,

Lots of people write blogs, but I’ve never heard of anyone who actually reads them. What’s up with that?

Kurt


Dear Skirt,

Blogs exist to fill the important market niche of writing that is so dull that your eyes will burrow out of the back of your head to escape. People do read blogs, usually by accident, sometimes on a dare, but those readers are later mistaken for Mafia victims with what appears to be two holes in the back of their heads. On closer inspection, you might find their eyeballs clinging to the drapes directly behind them. Unless the cat gets them first.

Sincerely,

Dogbert

Even the New Ruling Class doesn't get it, sometimes!

Interesting...Mars is also experiencing global warming:

Michael Malin, president of Malin Space Science Systems, talked about gullies that may have been sculpted recently by liquid water; evidence of ancient seas; and the discovery that the planet's south polar cap of dry ice is losing weight.

"Mars is experiencing global warming," Malin said. "And we don't know why."

Also see this rather humorous take on Martian warming. Personally, I think it's the rover exhaust...

Yesterday I heard, for the first time, that the marriage proposals may have in fact helped Kerry. The idea was that minorities supported Kerry by a huge margin, and they also solidly backed the marriage amendments. Minority voters that turned out because of the proposals were still more likely to vote Kerry.

Now, among non-minority voters (white folks like us), I think it's safe to say that the majority that were lured to the polls by these proposals also voted for Bush. Still, the left would like you to believe that only Bush people voted for these things, which just isn't true. If, in fact, Kerry got a boost from minority turnout, it still wasn't enough to put him over the top. Bush supporters got the best of both worlds (and the best of both houses).

The left, with all their crying about how stupid we are for voting the way we did, certainly isn't wooing any of us idiots to their side. Hopefully this crybaby response to the election will not be forgotten by us morons in four years.

If you're not keeping an eye on the developing battle of Fallujah via The Belmont Club, you should be!

I noticed a friend of mine coming out of the bathroom at Wells Hall the other day, and he had opened the door with a paper towel. I asked him what in hell he was doing, and he said that he hadn't washed his hands just to get them dirty again.

I decided that there is a distinct hierarchy of germ Nazism. Here it is, as decided by...ME!

Level 0 - Pigpen: This person couldn't care less about germs. The Pigpen avoids showering more than once a week, and has no qualms about eating with dirty, if not filthy, hands. The most prominent Pigpen that all Toyah members have had to suffer through was the legendary Schmoop. Metzger also sneaks in here.

Level 1 - Spit Swapper: The spit swapper keeps himself clean via showers and grooming, but has no regard for keeping naughty microbes away. He will take a bite of your burger (the end that you've already bit off of) and doesn't mind shaking hands with someone who has just sneezed. Dallas is probably a Spit Swapper (and a Tit Twister).

Level 2 - Fence Sitter: The fence sitter picks his battles with germs. He will eat off of the same food or double-dip as long as the others sharing are family or close friends. However, this person is cautious to avoid those that are sick and always dresses properly in cold weather. I would call myself a Fence Sitter.

Level 3 - Hypocrite: My buddy from above fits into this category. When he's in the bathroom and has this stuff on his mind, he's meticulous about what he touches. Once his mind goes elsewhere, however, he does a million different things that are far more germ attracting than touching the faucet knob. I could see someone like Parks or Wolfgang as Hypocrites.

Level 4 - Butler: The Butler is basically the Hypocrite...except he is that way all of the time. He is aware of every germ inducing action, and reacts according to Newton's Third Law of Motion. He is also a bit obsessive-compulsive, and cannot resist offering to take your coat when you come to visit. I get the impression that Phil can be a Butler on his most Nazi-rific days, or when the rest of us neglected to do chores. Saga Steve is also a Butler.

Level 5 - HIV Positive: This fellow is concerned to the max about contacting germs and overreacts to the smallest of dangers. He dons the gloves to touch things other than himself, especially other humans. This guy wouldn't be caught dead in an elevator. Spartan grad Magic Johnson fits the bill here.

Level 6 - Hypochondriac: This guy is like his compatriot from Level 5, but he is much more level-headed. He has his germ control down to a science, and has better defense than the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Not only is this guy afraid of germs, those germs never get close to touching him. He has conquered his fear through inpenetrable protection. Dating is difficult for the Hypochondriac, as it is hard to deliver a good-night kiss through a breathing mask. No hypochondriacs are known to me, as they are never in public long enough for me to see them.

And that's about it. Now that the election is over, we can get back to the really stimulating posts that make the world go around.

Revenge of the Sith.

Teaser trailer does not disappoint.

Although I'm farther to the right than this writer, the sentiments are similar to my feelings, and reflect the things I think the Democrats need to learn from this election. But given what I've heard from the left, I'm not hopeful.

I'm glad the election is finally over: happy as I am with the results, I'm more happy that I can think, and blog, about something else now! Not sure just what, yet, but surely I can come up with something.

In the meantime, here are some fall colors pictures, taken about two weeks ago. Debbie and I went on a tour of Hillsdale County, not much more than a week after the peak color, with perfect weather. Enjoy!

Wow, check out USA Today's county-by-county map! I'm amazed at how red even the blue states are.

Indiana U.S. House District 2

Chris Chocola (i) - Rep 140,426 - 54 percent - x
Joe Donnelly - Dem 115,470 - 45 percent

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Illinois U.S. House District 8

Melissa Bean - Dem 139,235 - 52 percent - x
Philip Crane (i) - Rep 130,192 - 48 percent


UPDATE: Chocola is Hillsdale College class of '84, Crane is class of '52. Crane had been in Congress since 1969 and had been chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. His was a big loss and served to offset some of the Republican gains in Texas. Here's an article giving some explanation for Crane's defeat.

I've been cruising the so-called blogosphere to gauge the reactions of folks to today's outcome. I found this Andrew Sullivan comment interesting. I have been a little amused by Andrew Sullivan's position in the election. His opposition to Bush—one reminiscent to that of some of the other Hillsdale bloggers—is founded on an unease with the explicitly moral tone of the President's rhetoric, campaign, and administration.

This relates to the exit poll data that a large number of voting Americans listed "moral values" as of very high importance to them when deciding their votes. Bush's higher minority results confirm that moral issues hold importance for voters beyond mere economic concerns, and this NYT editorial shows how the blue-state elite still don't get it.

Though I disagree with the presumptions at the beginning of his article, I think Andrew Sullivan's remarks on federalism are relevant here. It’s all about economies of scale. Strong federalism provides room for these policy differences, and as the gay-marriage battle has shown, federalism can work to the advantage of both republican and democrat causes. Federalism brings control of government closer to the people by recognizing that states, not the federal government, are a more manageable locus of power in a republic as large and diverse as ours.

Two final comments:
Thank you Senator Kerry for your graceful concession.
And President Bush, please vindicate those of us who gave you our support with reservations.

Last election I hosted a watch-the-returns party of about a dozen people or so. Most people watched for a couple of hours and then headed home about 10 or 11pm. Dallas and I stayed up and kept watching, and watching, and watching. I just knew that if went to bed I’d wake up to President Gore! So I kept watching, which was actually rather fun, what with Florida going back and forth and all. Phil came home about 3am from the Republican party in Lansing, not in a happy mood.

I ended up staying up all night watching the returns, which I don’t intend on doing tonight. Probably will be up later than usual, though. The future Mrs. A-Train is over too, and she may contribute comments from time to time, too.

8:27pm
I see Barak Obama won the Senate race in Illinois, which was obvious. I do hope the Illinois GOP gets their act together next time. Keyes was a disaster as a candidate. I’ve lost all respect I used to have for him: were I an Illinois resident I would have voted for Obama, if that tells you anything!

9:02
Just got off the phone with Phil. We almost got excited when Michigan was reporting 73% to 27% for Bush. But then we realized only 1% of precincts had reported, too bad. We also discussed what will happen if Daschle loses in South Dakota, which seems probable. Could loosen the deadlock in the Senate as to judicial appointments, which could be very important if Rehnquist is sicker than they’ve said so far, especially if Bush has to make a recess appointment.

9:31
I’m playing chess with my computer in between paying attention to the election. So far I’ve been losing quite badly.

10:11
Looks like the proposition to require voter approval for new casinos has won. Normally I’d say that was good but there’s an exception for the three casinos already in Detroit, and something about Indian casinos too. Looks like a bad idea to me. So far it appears that most of my candidates and votes are losing. I turned the chess level all the way down and managed a bit of offense before losing badly. I guess that’s progress!

11:08
Comedy Central’s audience is quite pro-Democrat, I would guess, given the applause when Rhode Island’s count was announced, something very heavily for Kerry.

12:08
It’s interesting to flip between the news channels. CBS seems to have nearly thrown in the towel and given the election to Bush. ABC has a few less votes for Bush: must be one or two states that CBS has called which ABC hasn’t. And NBC has yet another count. I’m greatly annoyed tonight that I don’t get CNN and Fox News; I don’t know what they are saying.

1:03am
NBC has called Ohio for Bush and has Bush at 269 with some certain Bush states still to come in (like Alaska). ABC has been the most conservative about calling states and only has Bush at 249. Not sure exactly what CBS is showing: less than NBC, more than ABC. All the networks are talking like Bush is going to win and Kerry will lose. Doesn’t appear (at this point!) like lawsuits and whatnot are going to happen this year. I hope not!

1:21am
If my liberal friends are upset and disappointed (that would be an understatement) and my conservative friends are upbeat, does that make a Bush win official? NBC has made it 269, as Fox apparently has too, along with CBS. I’m confident enough now that I think I’ll go to bed. Looks like Bush wins re-election, not by a landslide, but by enough that there won’t be a repeat of the 2000 fiasco, plus he won the popular vote. And the Republicans picked up maybe two seats in the Senate. Hopefully that will ease if not end the gridlock, especially if Daschle ends up losing in South Dakota.

Last night I was lamenting the fact that I was ineligible to vote, since I never changed my
driver's license, thus not registering to vote here in Indiana. I decided to check if I was
still registered in Ohio. In Ohio once you register and vote in one general election you don't
have to register again. The eligibility rules are 18+, and resident. I am clearly over 18, but
the residency is quite shady. The Ohio Dept of Elections defines residency as "the place,
when absent, to which you plan to return" and absent may not exceed 4 years. I have only
been down here for 2 years, and I keep saying I would like to get back to northwest Ohio, so
I decided I would drive up there. I got to mom and dad's at around 1:00 a.m. I got up this
morning at 6:30 and voted, as my brother said, vigorously, for George W. Bush. I also voted
for the proposed marriage amendment in Ohio. If Bush wins the battleground state of Ohio by one vote...I take full credit.

Proposal 2 in Michigan is an effort to define marriage in the state's constitution as a union between a man and a woman. It appears that the proposal will pass.

The real issue with this proposal is not the content, but the nature of the initiaitive. It's a move where the people are saying "before some court can decide what is right and wrong in our society, we're going to put it to a vote of the people."

What I am wondering is if this will have an effect on judges nationwide. There have been many states that have had or are having a vote on a marriage amendment. Will judges be influenced into being more conservative in their decisions or will in stoke them to be even more radical?

Socially (and economically), this country could use a big dose of conservativism. I see these amendments as a cry of the people and a positive in the fight against rampant radicalism.

Now somebody call my momma!