Stones Cry Out

So. Tonight was the last of the bridegroom matins. This one has the Hymn of Cassia, which is a beautiful liturgical poem. Links?

1. Mr Obama’s assassination insurance still on the job, the bombing was “worth it” indeed.
2. Some cuteness. On the other hand, I recall returning from a business week-long trip to my 3-4 month old #1 daughter when she was at an age when strong emotions (both good and bad) evoked tears. She was sitting in the living room, not looking at me because it caused her to cry.
3. How Congress would unload trucks.
4. Torture noted.
5. Yes. I’ll go with “too paranoid.” Much of our supply lines to Afghanistan is via Russia itself. If they wanted to obstruct things, be easier shut that pipeline off by just say’n “nyet.”
6. But … it’s for the children!
7. Coincedence? I’d offer … probably not.
8. That can (usually doesn’t) cost upwards of (gasp) $50 … says a guy who apparently doesn’t ever buy a tank of gas, or take a family to the movies.
9. The libertarian choice discussed.

Hey. Holy week!

1. So. Growing up and the seeds of who you were where there from very early. A theme found here and here. I saw this film when it had 4 segments. Now it has 7.
2. Getting there (HT). A pet peeve of me is the dislike especially in cinema that people “are just born talented” and it isn’t a combination of talent and (the missing) hard work that got them to a level of excellence.
3. In case need a laugh.
4. Grumbling in the wings.
5. A book noted.
6. Using a shotgun to do maths.
7. “transplant” seems to be a word that would be far more colorful to describe what is being done in the vernacular.
8. Larmarckian vindication?
9. And to close … a word of warning. 😀

So … my sweet wife informs me that the “yellowing” of my pillowcases is due to “overactive sebaceous glands”. To which I replied (mindful of Franklin), “Oily to bed, oily to rise ….”

1. Technology advances.
2. So, the “wage/gender'” thing is being discussed in the beltway. Here’s a place to start, Ms Althouse has a key quote at the bottom of her link to it. But you can find un-serious discussions on left (and likely the right). Look, if you dispute this “The part of pay disparity driven by sexism is so small that it will be very difficult to detect in any given case, or even in aggregate.” then you have to substantiate your reasons for why you dispute it. If you accept that point, then there is nothing to do, nothing to fix.
3. The White House responds, heh.
4. The global warming credibility gap. Science News admitted the other week there’s a problem which needs explaining. Kinda makes the “science is settled” argument go by the wayside.
5. For those partaking in the Eastern Lenten fast.
6. I don’t buy the premise. The time between the two 20th century world wars was about one generation and the time between the big war of the 19th (Napoleon’s adventures) and WWI was much greater than suggested in the premise. The Crimean war wasn’t very big.
7. Speaking of which.
8. Narf narf narf narf. Slurp.
9. Now that is very cool.
10. Next we will find the canals had water too.
11. A lecture.
12. And finally a note on the Ali/Brandeis kerfuffle from a non-Ali fan. From which which we can glean a description of government in general and our government in particular. From the “it’s turtles all the way down” we can add and in this case, “turtles” represent incompetence.

Spring is sort of creeping in, snow is still however in some weekend forecasts and the trees are still bare.

1. Worried? There are reasons to worry, I doubt that is near the top of the list (HT).
2. Women not liked on the left. Is the dangerous girl an aspect to that? You’d think the whole “truth to power” thing would strike a positive chord.
3. Asses in church.
4. A suggestion for a development that we’d all applaud. How about knocking down our protective trade barriers too while we’re at it?
5. What the heck?
6. Putting the Elane case to a point.
7. So, need a pick-me-up? You’re feel good moment.
8. Evil made possibly by euphemism, an example.
9. Nothing could go wrong with that, eh? Training and supporting bin Laden worked so so well.
10. Giving restaurant reviewers a bad name … or a wake up call.

So, what’s out there today, eh?

1. Well, there was a study it seems which in part showed that highly politically partisan did worse at objectively evaluating data the better at maths they were. So, birds of a feather, for example … here and here. Flock off.
2. And on the subject of Obamacare, an study in miniature.
3. I have to say, my #1 daughter when she was that age. Absolutely loved lemons. So much we had to limit them as we thought they’d ruin her teeth.
4. That mythical plan rears its ugly head. I think calling Mr Obama’s “plan” for Nuclear Zero a, well, plan, insults everything else that might be termed plan.
5. So, liberals have a “plan” for cleaning up elections, apparently it involves burning the Constitution. The other “counter” plan the libs bruited involves full disclosure of donations for political groups. ‘Cause that would have worked really well in the McCarthy era … and gosh why not suggest full disclosure of votes as well? Hmm.
6. For your efficient triple tap.
7. Liberal Mozilla reaction apparently illegal. Woops.
8. Grist for your discussions on unions an NCAA sports.
9. Geometry and Saturn.
10. Of elections and numbers.

So. Spring seems to be slowly springing.

1. Spartacus is on form. Woo!
2. I’d imagine so, if you thought liberals were consistent. Heh.
3. The Mozilla fallout continues, noted here, here, and here.
4. Of course, things could be worse.
5. If that’s the story, more stupidity in our educational system.
6. Of ignorance and politics.
7. Insurance (and un-)  rates.
8. Going with the Sarge, “not awesome”.
9. Our President and liberal press, disloyally serving the cause of disinformation, alas, effectively.
10. Dodd-Frank and obvious yet apparently unintended consequences. One (should) wonder how, if a consequence is clearly going to happen how it is not intentional.
11. No. The “idiots” didn’t win, the idiot has a talk show.
12. Now there’s something to celebrate.j
13. Ghostbusters and real science.
14. A lesson for the President.

Thor’s day?

1. Somebody gets it.
2. Somebody else doesn’t.
3. A Lutheran crosses the Bosphorus.
4. Good news vis a vis the NSA.
5. Demographics may drive our near future.
6. Well, that’s a simple trick.
7. So, who knew? The African slave trade of the 18th century was just recapitulating geology.
8. Two? Two different ways?! Imagination failure is clearly present. There are probably 20 different ways, easy.
9. That’s just silly.
10. Miffed? Miffed at whom? Obama miffed at self apparently. What a maroon.
11. Not getting the whole first shall be last thing.
12. Jesus remarked that the poor will always be with us … fools will be too I guess.
13. Yah, in the late 1950’s my dad worked his way though college with they money from his summer job.
14. So, Mr Clinton is to blame in a large measure. Bet you didn’t know that.
15. The ludicrous position the left has put itself with respect to the first amendment highlighted here.

Yo!

1. Cry Havok! And let loose the (false) accusations of racist!
2. Our Brave New World, it has such creatures in it … and good reasons for concealed carry.
3. Your (sort of) feel good story for today.
4. Given that most of the very rich are liberals I don’t understand their objection to these kinds of results.
5. Now the TPM (a very strictly liberal blog) has been holding a stupidity seance and has attempted to trawl news feeds for any and all mentions of misuse of firearms. Odd then that they seem to have missed this story. Oh, wait. He’s a Democrat, that must lead to some confusion on their part.
6. Half of a conversation about climate. The questions seem reasonable as do the responses.
7. Liberal responses to bread lines is confusing. They seem to envy the shortages and lines of the Communist era countries. I’m confused why long lines forcing to people to get stuff they don’t really want is seen as a good thing.
8. Because it is very important that the working poor fund the arts and not rich donors.
9. More liberals waxing stupidity and intolerance. It’s like a theme or something.
10. Location location location.
11. So, one of important “cause cutting” measures in Obamacare was to curtail and penalize re-admissions because they were a sign of … oh, what? Oops. Oh. I see, it’s a sign of people making unwarranted assumptions.
12. A man and his lies, exposed.
13. Well, to be honest, not just Democrats are stupid. Take modern dating trends, how’s that for dumb?

And so it goes …

1. So, why might one suggest that the US put troops alongside the Poles in Poland, so “can” becomes part of the equation.
2. Why I prefer rural roads.
3. One of the more imaginative posts for the first.
4. I enjoyed this one too.
5. Another April first suggestion, with a tweak at Neville Obamerlin.
6. One more.
7. Death and Mr Obama’s healthcare, if true, just the first of many.
8. Why global warming will take a long time to die.
9. A stitch in time may save a brain or three, given time.
10. Now there’s a election campaign strategy we will not see again for sometime …. hopefully.
11. Yer feel good story of the day.
12. Of political demographics and the evil rich. Woops.

G’day. I’m back in the saddle (bike). Woooo!

1. Well, I’ve been listening to a WWII history on audible. It’s a shame our President is so clueless when it comes to history. So … are we asking the Poles if we can move troops to assist their preparations? Or not? If not, why not?
2. Lent and the endurance athlete.
3. This is a common American conceit. Mr Sandefur also noted the uniquenes of America as founded on ideas/ideals with the Constitution. This book offers another example of such a nation, if I read it rightly. This one might counter the linked post.
4. The mouse that roared (at the snake).
5. If true, yet more academic malpractice.
6. Families love.
7. Nerd power.
8. Armored up.
9. A lawyer asks “Can I show everyone how stupid I am, or should I just sit in the corner quietly, … alas”
10. Hmm. I think of these things more symmetrically, especially in the beltway. How about “D” for duplicitous and “R” for rascally? Any more suggestions can go in the combox.
11. I wonder how Mr Schraub and other liberals defend the indefensible?
12. Proof positive that God exists. Heh.

You’ve no doubt heard them yourself. I’ve heard them quite a bit; on social media, on blogs, and even in TV commercials. I’m talking about people with their own personal stories about how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka ObamaCare, has helped them personally.

It’s great to hear that people are able to get coverage for things that they either couldn’t get covered for before, or for less money. Who wouldn’t be in favor of that, and be glad for these people? It feels good hearing how people have benefited from this government program.

And that’s what those, especially on social media, are trying to say with their success story; this is a good thing, because it worked for me. Then I have to ask, what do we make of this story?

William Rivers Pitt, is the senior editor and lead columnist at the leftwing web site TruthOut. He has his own story which he posted at the Democratic Underground website, a forum for the far Left. (Have we figured out where this guy’s politics lie on the spectrum?) He first extolled the wonders of Obamacare, writing about his experience in getting signed up. System goes down in the middle of the session. No problem. Call the 800 number and finish the process there. “No. Big. Deal. Thanks, Obama.” That’s how he signs off that post.

And then reality set in. In another post later on, he relates his experience, not with signing up for Obamacare, but actually trying to use it.

What I’ve learned after a three-month war with these fiends: the ACA says the insurance companies cannot deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, which is true as far as it goes. But they can deny coverage for the life-saving medications necessary to treat those conditions. The insurance company I signed up with through the ACA exchange just denied coverage of my wife’s multiple sclerosis medication. We’re "covered," to the tune of $700 a month…just not for what she really needs.

He signs off that post quite a bit differently. Later he said he feels like a dupe, and wishes he had a time machine to undo what he’d done. His criticisms get to the point that the DU folks stopped allowing him to comment on his own post.

So then let’s consider this. Does this prove that Obamacare is an abject failure? No. Additionally, good experiences with it don’t prove that it is a success, either. If you contend that one is true, then you have to accept the other, and they come to opposite conclusions. Well then, what does any of this prove, other than that some people are doing better and others doing worse?

The answer is, it proves nothing.

Read the rest of this entry

No, but he does seem to be watching their Supreme Court case.

Pope Francis and Vatican officials on Thursday told U.S. President Barack Obama they were concerned about "religious freedom" in the United States, an apparent reference to the contraception mandate in Obama’s health care plan.

The talks included "discussion on questions of particular relevance for the Church" in the United States, including "the exercise of the rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection," a Vatican statement said.

Obama’s 2010 healthcare law, widely opposed by Republicans, includes a provision that requires employers to cover the cost of contraception in their health insurance plans.

Catholic and other religious groups say the mandate forces them to support contraception and sterilization in violation of their religious beliefs or face steep fines.

Just wondering if all those Democrats who have been falling all over themselves over the Pope when he seems to be saying something they like (whether or not he’s actually saying what they think he’s saying) will take note of this rather obvious political stance.

Well, the on-site work last night went past midnight, hence my cunning plan for a post from the hotel didn’t quite work out.

1. Some four months ago or so, I read that book on recommendation by an acquaintance. I’d recommend this one too. I was joking that my reading that was the unintentional cause of the Putin/Crimean adventure, and that I’d better be careful about reading World War history in the near future.
2. So, “how you hold your drink” apparently is making the rounds. A rebuttal (without mentioning beer helmets … wine helmets anyone?)
3. Saint Gregory Palamas on the Zen Koan “Does a dog have Buddha Nature?”
4. A man remembered.
5. Whew!
6. What happens when you misread “Hetpa” as “Herpa” … and go into a post thinking it’s about snakes.
7. A whole winter’s worth for a continent is not “weather”, it’s getting close to being “climate”, eh.
8. Or to put it more succinctly, you should be going to, not running from.
9. Why check? Who has standing to sue?
10. Aristophanes revenge.
11. Mr Obama misses Tom & Jerry.
12. This will make news.

I don’t know how much the Vatican’s Chief Justice holds sway in terms of official church policy, or how much his opinion reflects the position of the Catholic church, but I thought I’d pass this along.

In an interview with Polonia Christiana magazine –and transcribed by Life Site News — Cardinal Raymond Burke said that Obama “promotes anti-life and anti-family policies.”

“It is true that the policies of the president of the United States have become progressively more hostile toward Christian civilization. He appears to be a totally secularized man who aggressively promotes anti-life and anti-family policies,” Burke told the magazine.

The former archbishop of St. Louis stated that Obama is trying to “restrict” religion.

“Now he wants to restrict the exercise of the freedom of religion to freedom of worship, that is, he holds that one is free to act according to his conscience within the confines of his place of worship but that, once the person leaves the place of worship, the government can constrain him to act against his rightly-formed conscience, even in the most serious of moral questions,” Burke said.

Burke took a swipe against Obama’s Affordable Care Act over the law’s birth control mandate, saying “such policies would have been unimaginable in the United States even 40 years ago.”

“In a democracy, such a lack of awareness is deadly,” Burke told the magazine. “It leads to the loss of the freedom which a democratic government exists to protect. It is my hope that more and more of my fellow citizens, as they realize what is happening, will insist on electing leaders who respect the truth of the moral law as it is respected in the founding principles of our nation.”

Since this was transcribed by Life Site News, you know there’s an abortion angle, and there’s just a bit more at the link.

The freedom of religion vs. freedom of worship is a distinction that I’ve heard elsewhere, and it’s good to hear it given voice by someone at the Vatican. These days, it’s almost like you lose that First Amendment right upon leaving the church building. You don’t, even if you own a business (i.e. Hobby Lobby). This is a serious concern.

G’day

1. So, how does a liberal conscious of the Black slavery history think gun control a good idea?
2. Alas, it is indeed pretty much a guarantee of diversity.
3. Bracket madness of a ‘nother sort.
4. Actually, neither of those resemble science. Actually science more resembles hunting for problems or experiments that are interesting and feasible, doing/solving them. Rinse and repeat.
5. The modern mirror.
6. What we want vs what the our beltway masters think we want.
7. What throwing away information gets you.
8. Not 19th century, alas. Those ignorant of history, doomed to, well, look ignorant at best.
9. The term “Oriental” is Not Racist. The loony left notwithstanding racist terms are not “accidentally” insulting or racist.
10. So, a study finds drug to be ineffective. Which wins, the study or the drug?
11. That invincible scientific consensus. Policy momentum (like the above) will ignore that for quite some time to come.
12. So, the liberal echo chamber has been pushing that one reason to ignore the Koch brothers (on energy matters) is their investments in oil sands. Hmm. I guess this means one reason to ignore Mr Gore and the like are their investments in alternative energy and carbon offset providers. Consistency is one of those rare things.
13. Noah and some good signs.
14. High drone.
15. Hobby Lobby. Read the brief, note the lack of counter argument from the left of the aisle that actually address the points made.
16. Or as the demotivational poster puts it, “None of us is as dumb as all of us”.
17. It’s called, “education” for a reason ya knucklehead.
18. Word migration.