Toyah

Remember that bad news makes good news, but it ain't all the news.

According to Radley Balko at Fox News: American kids are okay, America is cleaner, the world is less violent, less poor, cleaner, and healthier than ever before.

As we head into a new year, both the U.S. and the world are growing safer, healthier, and less violent. Most of the world is getting freer. It may not seem like it, given the images we’re seeing on the news, but man on the whole is making himself better.

For once it won't be Dick Clark dropping the ball on New Year's Eve, as he is unable. Not to worry, ABC lovers, Regis Philbin will be filling in for Clark for what I'm sure will be an equally cookie-cutter New Year's Eve gala. After Dick Clark, the next thing that comes to my mind when someone says New Year's Eve is all-day marathons on cable. So if you've got the day to do as you please, consider some of these Dallas-esque alternatives...

AMC will be running a Three Stooges marathon from noon until midnight. That's 36 shorts from Larry, Curly, and Moe (and some cameos by Shemp and Joe I'm sure). If you want to share a mental moment with Phil, tune in to AMC.

SciFi will be running their Twilight Zone marathon. I recommend dropping by this channel a few times. Twilight Zone is a great show, and the episodes are just as spooky today as they were meant to be in the days of black and white. If you know what "It's a cookbook!" means, then you know how great a show this is.

Spike is showing manly movies all day (no surprises here). The last five movies of the year consist of three Eastwood's and two from VanDamme. Bloodsport at 8PM: Chong Li! Chong Li! Chong Li...

Other New Year's Eve TV phenomena include the "100 Greatest" whatevers of the past year or of all time. Most of these end at 11PM. This year we have...

100 Greatest One Hit Wonders on Vh1. 867-5309 Jenny gets my vote.

100 Greatest TV Moments will be on TVLand.

101 Most Sensational Crimes of ??? on E! I am guessing it is either all time or the last century.

Last but certainly not least, we will have football galore. Bowl season is upon us, and it will be in our face until the last second has ticked off the clock. New Year's Eve contests consist of:

Minnesota vs. Alabama (12:00PM ESPN)

Purdue vs. Arizona State (2:00PM CBS)

Boise State vs. Louisville (3:30PM ESPN)

Florida vs. Miami(FL) (7:30PM ESPN)

And, because NCAA football has the lamest excuses in the land, I care about zero of these games. Perhaps if these were playoff games I would care. In fact, I would be parked in front of the set all day if they were. Morons.

Well that is all. Really we should be doing other things besides gluing our faces to the tube. But if you must or if you have some down time, don't tell me that there was nothing to watch! Happy New Year to all!

Thanks to my fellow bloggers for their contributions to Toyah: it's been a lot of fun. Thanks also to our legions of fans (or maybe just Mom and Dad) who read our musings from time to time. Toyah wishes everyone a safe, happy Christmas with family and friends.

Christ was almost certainly not born on December 25th, but it doesn't really matter. We can be thankful that He was born, and December 25th is as good a day for that as any, if we have to pick a day.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)

with thanks to visionsnet

I feel like being a bit Scroogish at the moment. Don't worry, I'll make a nice spirit-of-Christmas post sooner or later.

We were at the pharmacy yesterday, buying an ink cartridge. I saw a couple of Amish guys there, examining the Walkman-style CD-players very carefully. I thought the point of being Amish was to separate yourself from the sinful Gentile community? Buying a CD-player, even if it runs off batteries, is rather hypocritical, it seems to me. It always bothers me, just a little, when I see Amish people at Wal-Mart or at the hardware store. They refuse to have anything to do with "us" or contribute in any meaningful way to general society, yet they're happy to take advantage of what the rest of us produce with our "sinful" technology and whatnot, from tools to food to CD-players.

It's not a big deal. We're not getting cheated: they trade money for stuff, just like the rest of us do. They get the stuff they want, we get money that we want, to buy other stuff. But it always makes me wonder. I suppose to some extent it's simply not possible to completely separate yourself, as the Amish try to do. As self-sufficent as they are, there are still some things they can't make, services they can't provide for themselves. But CD-players?

Let's be a light in the darkness. Tell someone about Jesus, sing carols about the birth of the Savior, honor your father and mother by spending time with them, go to church, and don't be ashamed to call the holiday what it is: Christmas.

Enjoy sports talk radio? Sick of hosts who kiss butt all day? Like hearing commercials for ice cold Miller Lite? Starting this week, The Huge Show can be heard on the internet at MLive. Just click on the microphone and follow the directions from there. He is on from 3-6PM and gets some pretty decent guests. I have even been known to call in from time to time. Huge is based in Grand Rapids and has affiliates all across the lower peninsula (except in places like Detroit and Hillsdale). He can be a real riot to listen to, once you get used to him that is. He has a voice that requires some patience but, like Jim Rome, he is pretty funny after about a week of listening. You can also check out some of his old interviews at his website. I recommend the Connie Call, Jim in Jail, and the interview with tennis analyst Luke Jensen. Hilarious stuff.

Democrats are now searching for ways to reconnect with middle America. Former Reagan speech writer, Peggy Noonan, has an idea in Thursday's WSJ OpinionJournal:

I know something the Democratic Party can do right now that will improve its standing and increase its popularity. It can be done this week. Its impact will be quick and measurable.

It is this: Stop the war on religious expression in America. Have Terry McAuliffe come forward and announce that the Democratic Party knows that a small group of radicals continue to try to "scrub" such holidays as Christmas from the public square. They do this while citing the Constitution, but the Constitution does not say it is wrong or impolite to say "Merry Christmas" or illegal to have a crèche in the public square. The Constitution says we have freedom of religion, not from religion. Have Terry McAuliffe announce that from here on in the Democratic Party is on the side of those who want religion in the public square, and the Ten Commandments on the courthouse wall for that matter. Then he should put up a big sign that says "Merry Christmas" on the sidewalk in front of the Democratic National Committee Headquarters on South Capitol Street. The Democratic Party should put itself on the side of Christmas, and Hanukkah, and the fact of transcendent faith.

This would be taking a stand on an issue that roils a lot of people, and believe me those people don't think conservatives are scrubbing America of Christmas, they think it's liberals; and they don't think it's Republicans, they think it's Democrats. Confound them, Terry! Come forward with a stand. It is the stand that is the salvation, not mysterious words or codes or magic messages.

Do this, Democrats. Announce you will apply pressure to antireligious zealots throughout the country. You have nothing to lose but a silly and culturally unhelpful reputation as the party that is hostile to religious expression. What you could gain is respect and gratitude. Pick up that Christmas tree, Terry, take it outside and put a star on top, stand next to it, yell Merry Christmas and ring a bell. . . .

Apparently there's a new bin Laden video out today, in which he praises the attack on the American consulate in Saudi Arabia, earlier this month. The terrorist world rejoiced at the attack on American property, no doubt. If I recall correctly, I even heard some anti-war Americans pointing to the attack as evidence that we are losing the war against terror.

But it seems to me that both are wrong. The attack on the consulate was a dismal failure, actually: 4 of 5 attackers were killed, and no Americans (but six non-American workers were). Three years ago, bin Laden and his people didn't waste time making very small attacks on secondary U.S. targets: they went after the World Trade Center. The fact that a consulate (in anti-American Saudi Arabia, no less), was the best they could do demonstrates to me that they are becoming increasingly ineffective, and incompetent in what they do attempt.

The alternative is that the purpose of the attack was not so much to kill Americans or damage American property as to scare Americans and those who might want to work for the Americans. In which case, it could be a success, or at least a break-even operation (you lose some people, but achieve the objective). Still, no one thought before the attack that Saudi Arabia was a peaceful place that loved Americans, so I can't see that this attack would have had much impact, other than to reinforce already-existing tensions.

Any way you cut it, I think the attack proves more that Al-Queda and the terrorist movement is weak and getting weaker, than that the U.S. and its allies are losing the anti-terror fight. Indeed, if anything, the very weakness of the attack suggests, at least, that the U.S. is having sucess.

-i have spent a fair amount of time in the past few weeks trying to reconcile some things in my head. people in my life seem to be unavoidably drawn to people that don't share their religious convictions, or even their faith at all. my brother's girlfriend is catholic, and everyone knows that the religion of matt o'toole must be wrong. my cousin is getting engaged to a girl that doesn't go to church, and hasn't even visited church with him. you have all borne witness to the struggles that come as couples try to combine their lives and have to address this ultimately important aspect. we "let" God in on our marriage at the wedding, but where does He rank in the decision making process.
-2 Corinthians 6:14 - Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
-maybe not every difference in belief constitutes darkness v. light, but we hold to certain beliefs with purpose. if we didn't, we wouldn't go to church where we go, right?
-it isn't my business...it isn't my place...i have said both of those things...but what happens when it is?
-in my head this conversation always gets back to "i don't know"

i had a class this week as part of the state requirements to get my life insurance sales licensing. the teacher of this class was probably one of the 5 best teachers i have ever had in any class. his soapbox moments were about how life insurance sales was not "jippy" but the only industry that can bring money "when everyone else brings bills" andhe had many "war stories" about different claims that his company has paid over the years. now i have to take a test, which is said to be difficult, but which i feel will be easy, to receive my license. i will also be able to answer questions that people may have about their life insurance policies, in fact, my mom has already assured me that i will "get to" look at hers when i am home next.
the sunday school department is having a teachers' dinner tomorrow night. many of these teachers have children, and few of them have baby sitters...i have a feeling that i may be watching a few of the little munchkins...maybe i should sell some minor term-life insurance to the parents, like airports have at the terminals for the flights. i wonder how many people starting buying those after 9/11

Just a reminder, today is the 63rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

It began at 7:55am, with a first wave of 183 aircraft, followed by a second wave of 170.

- 2,403 Americans were killed in the attack
- 1,178 Americans were wounded
- 8 battleships (every battleship in the Pacific Fleet) were sunk or damaged: Arizona, California, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Pennslvania. All but the Oklahoma and Arizona were raised and repaired.
- 12 other ships were sunk or damaged: only 1 did not return to active service.
- 169 U.S. aircraft were destroyed
(source)

USS San Francisco

How the world has changed

War as an adventure

Original BBC report

The war is long over, and time has moved on, but let's not forget that day of infamy.

Texas vs. Michigan. Road trip? Friendly bet?

From the WSJ: Voters will hold Republicans accountable if they keep spending like Democrats. A presidential line-item veto wouldn't hurt, either.

i took a week off of work following thanksgiving, and will now reflect for your collective enjoyment. my brother came back to greenfield with me on thursday night, and after
work friday we drove up to c-town (columbia) for my "vacation"
i spent the week with at mom and dad's house, but leaving often to spend time with my friends from home...i went to 3 friends' houses with activities like tv, games, and cattle farming taking up the time. i also went to watch my high school girls teams play...j.v. victory, varsity defeat. i helped one of my friends coach his home-school boys basketball team. the goal: to reduce the ratio of turnovers to points from 1:1....ouch. i also watched plenty of movies...the main attratction being spiderman 2...as well as seeing dickie roberts, the punisher, and van helsing. i returned to greenfield last night so as to attend disney's finding nemo on ice this morning with the sunday school department. "just keep swimming...no eating here tonite. you're on a diet....i will call him squishy, and he will be my squishy" ellen is not cool, but her character sure was. tonite, possibly a michael english concert...we'll see. back to work on tuesday, but i will not be in my office till friday, and i am ignoring the calls from them...let them call another branch...i'm on vacation!

Alright, I want to know if campus life is really as debased at America's "elite universities" as the new Tom Wolfe novel makes it out to be. One of Derbyshire's informants says "yes." I guess I am even happier than ever that I did not attend an "elite university".

Part of me has looked forward to seeing Stone's new film, Alexander, while part of me has tired of the ancient epic genre, not helped in the least by the Troy disappointment. But after reading Victor Davis Hanson's review, I think I'll find a better use for my money. I'm thinking Bridget Jones or even Man of the House.

Well, I have a little time today, so in between studying and checking email, I've been browsing the web, and the Austin web in particular. While reading the Austin Chronicle, a very liberal mouthpiece for the wacko-Keep-Austin-Weird crowd, but also a good source for events and music around town, I came across a letter from the Austin Unitarian Universalist Church (about the UUC) preacher, Rev. Davidson Loehr (I have always had trouble attaching the title "Reverend" to anyone, and this guy reinforces that--no man is perfect, much less reverend). The letter referred the reader to his recent sermon, "Living Under Fascism."

I think the prayer at the start of the sermon sets the stage for the reverend's outlook on life. The prayer, offered on behalf of a recently assaulted acquaintance, concludes, not with a confession of reliance on God, but a reliance on the "necessary but fragile web of interrelatedness which alone can give us both safety lines and safety nets as we go--whether bravely or timidly--into our future." The sermon then goes on to explain why the convergence of political power with the imperialist "neo-cons," the Pat Robertson "Christian Reconstructionists," and the corporate plutocracy certify that we now live in, or on the verge of, an American fascist state.

This man's world view represents the breadth of the divide in our country. How can we ever hope to make any headway in reforming (or arresting) our culture when, as this guy's sermon reveals, we don't even speak the same language? I am reminded of Dr. Budziszewski's contention that the fundamentals of the natural law are "written on the heart" of all mankind, and assure that, at some deep level, there exists in all men a common language.

I think for we Christians, the task is to appeal to this common knowledge by speaking the truth in our actions. We should live lives of love and humble purity such that the hearts of those who don't know Christ will be touched, compelling them to ask us, "what makes you tick?", "from what source to you derive your joy?" And we should be ready to give an answer.

UPDATE: I neglected to mention the Netherlands case of "mercy killings" of "terminally ill newborns" that has received some recent coverage. I would argue that the reverend's world view is much more amenable to infanticide than is my own. And I'm the Nazi?

I promised earlier that I'd tell you when my baseball-loving friend Dave Damiani had a new article at The American Enterprise Online. Well, I've been letting you down, but here's his most recent post from a little over a week ago: Cy Young Popularity Contest.

I don't know much about Clemens and the Cy Young award, but I do know that lots of folks didn't think Bush's first round performance merited his winning the presidency again, but in his case many of the intangibles put him over the top. I wonder if the same can be said about a professional sports award that recognizes Clemens with a seventh Cy Young even when there were other statistically better pitchers around (could help that he's from Texas). Of course, in pro sports (and often in college sports, for that matter), there is one tangible that always gets attention: the bottom line.