Sunday Afternoon

Here we go again.

Comments

[Jim Eagle]

Sure, TM, always shows up with another thread when everyone is engrossed by the golf tournament or wating baitedly for 60 minutes.

[Danube on iPad]

Hell, it's Sunday afternoon even on the left coast.

[narciso]

So, JiB whose favored for the World Cup?

[Danube on iPad]

Heat getting killed. Didn't see that coming.

[Jim Eagle]

narciso,

I don't thnk Brazil is that strong comapered to Argentina or Uruaguay but then its their venue. I like Belgium as a real problem for the big guys like Spain, Italy, Germany and Netherlands. They have some incredible players like Hazard, Kompany and Courtois. Watch out for the Red Deviils:)

BTW, under Klinsman, the USA athleticism is now more disciplined as a team and they could get pretty far this time. Its all about managing the logisticss and travel schedule.

[narciso]

we've learned dissapointment early.

Now that we know Crimea, was really about filthy
black sea crude;

http://www.interpretermag.com/category/blog/

[Jim Eagle]

narciso,

We said that here before Vlad made his move. No news to anyone who reads JOM.

[MarkO]

I thing LeBron is a force of nature and one of the great talents in all of sports. That said, how many points would MJ have scored with today's defensive rules? How many titles would Magic have captured? With Magic still in the game, would there have been so much attention on MJ?

I hope the Heat lose in 4.

[rich@gmu]

well played.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/wise-young-kid-gives-away-foul-ball-to-pretty-girl-025549368.html

[MarkO]

Thing? Thing. I thing so. Sorry. Think.

[rich@gmu]

when the koink kets toukh the toukh ket koink ...

[rich@gmu]

must be martini hour.

on the other thread...thank you to clarice and henry for answering my questions on th Wisconsin john doe "investigations".

[Miss Marple]

Funny you should say that, rich, as I am just finishing one.

[narciso]

It's curious, back in Stalin's day, there was not such solicitousness of ethnic identity

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/ukraine-marks-1944-deportation-crimeas-tatars-region-once-180731951.html

[narciso]

A little too blanc mange an analysis, but still better then most;

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/17/mr-politically-correct-obama-meet-your-opposite-india-s-mr-modi.html

[Extraneus]

Sheesh. I've been posting away at the previous thread. Don't know if anyone's interested, but lemme try to repost here.

[Extraneus]

For daddy:

Video: White House solves VA problem. “No question” this was a termination

DENIS MCDONOUGH: Well, Secretary Shinseki accepted Dr. Petzel’s resignation this afternoon. He was due to retire early next month and obviously there has been a nomination made for his replacement. I leave to Rick the explanation of his decision, but there is no question that this is a termination of his job there before he was planning to go. MAJOR GARRETT, CBS NEWS: So the President is unhappy?

DM: I think… you heard what Secretary Shinseki said yesterday, which was that he’s mad as hell. And the President is madder than hell. And I’ve got the scars to prove it, given the briefings that I’ve given the President, the conversations that he and Rick and I have had on these matters. So is one step, as important as it is, like this one sufficient? We’ll continue to look at that. But at the same time that we’re looking at accountability we want to be able to continue to perform and provide our veterans the services that they have earned.

Dr. Pretzel resigned!
Wait.

Dr. Pretzel was terminated!

Sorry.

Dr. Pretzel retired!

Btw, who's Dr. Pretzel?

[Extraneus]

Gen. Keith Alexander, the former head of the spy agency, warned in an interview with The New Yorker of a ‘growing’ number of potential attacks on the U.S.

A former top U.S. security official fears the nation could be attacked again by terrorists. Gen. Keith Alexander, who retired in March as director of the National Security Agency after eight years on the job, said the probability of another terrorist attack on U.S. soil is increasing. “The number of attacks that are coming, the probability, it’s growing,” Alexander said in a New Yorker magazine interview published over the weekend. “What I saw at N.S.A. is that there is a lot more coming our way.”

Er, how can 100% probability be increasing?

[Extraneus]

Italian women appeal to Pope Francis to end priests' celibacy vow

Group of 26 Italian women who state they are in loving relationships with priests call on Pope Francis to end ban on priests having sex

Best Catholic news I've read in a long time.

(I'm Catholic, so fire away at will.)

[Miss Marple]

Extraneus,

Is it they want to be able to have sex? Without marriage?

Or is it that they want to be married?

Those are 2 different things. I am only a convert of 5 years, so I pretty much go with whatever the Magesterium teaches.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

OT - I was reading this old post about the State Dept. employees put on leave after Benghazi - http://diplopundit.net/2013/08/19/the-other-benghazi-four-lengthy-administrative-circus-ended-today-another-circus-heats-up/

It also brings up that sketchy situation about Huma Abedin being paid by State while working another job.
Whatever happened with THAT?

"The NYT report points out that Ms. Abedin, in addition to being a “special government employee” at the State Department also worked for three other entities:"

What a sewer.

[Extraneus]

Well, the women claim that they're in loving relationships, which would seem to imply that at least some of them would want to be married if they could.

In my adolescent years (I went to Catholic high school), I encountered numerous priests who I thought might have been normal if not for the vow of celibacy. Some were homosexuals, and I've known others since then, but some surely weren't, and would have been just fine if they could have had wives and families of their own.

Weird as many of them seemed, and were, I've always had sympathy for them because of this.

[narciso]

I would say the former, Mrs. Marple, the whole thing has a 'Thorn Birds' feel to it

[Miss Marple]

narciso, THAT is the book I was trying to think of.

Extraneus, do you really think gay men (priests or not) would not be gay if they only had access to women?

I think you had better do some more research.

[Beasts of England]

After reading about Obama's upcoming regulation of carbon dioxide via the EPA, I truly weep for our country's middle class. Utility prices will grow significantly. Coupled with current and near-term increases to healthcare premiums, the cost of gasoline, food prices, and the horrible labor participation rate, I find this administration nothing short of criminal, bordering on treasonous.

How are ordinary Americans going to withstand this economic assault? All of this financial stress is only exacerbated by my feeling that the son of a bitch doesn't even care. Not for one damned minute. Hell, he may even relish in it.

All I can do is hope and pray for a Senate victory and that a Republican led congress will exert every afforded power to neuter this abomination. Damn, this situation is depressing. And the totality of this fiscal punishment is completely ignored by the traditional media. They are complicit and need to feel the wrath of justice, somehow, some way.

Ora et labora.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

Btw, who's Dr. Pretzel?

He's the scapegoat for the VA scandal.
'Dr. Pretzel, meet Nakoula, Eric Boswell, Charlene Lamb, Steve Bultrowicz and Raymond Maxwell...also the IRS Cincinnati office workers.'

Once the Obama administration's tyranny ends...maybe there can be a big 'Scapegoat Reunion'.

[Extraneus]

do you really think gay men (priests or not) would not be gay if they only had access to women?

No, but I think fewer gay men would become priests if it weren't for the vow of celibacy, and more normal men surely would.

[Miss Marple]

Beasts, we are fairly well off here and live in low cost-of-living Indiana. I am still getting stretched and am pretty sure cable is going to go next month.

Doug Ross has an article on how food costs will double in the next 5 years.

[Happy, happy, joy, joy Ignatz]

Mandatory celibacy for priests is not of biblical origin.

[Extraneus]

They say that men think of sex 700 times per day, or something like that. So priests, they think of sex zero times per day? Surely not. 10% of average men; only 70 times per day? 1%?

It's not zero. That's all I'm saying. And what are they allowed to think of if it's not zero?

[Miss Marple]

Ignatz, you are right. It is a tradition in the church which isn't observed in the Orthodox church.

I am not saying yay or nay. I don't have an emotional investment n it one way or another.

I am not well-versed enough to comment, except I do know St. John Paul II opposed lifting the ban.

One thing Catholic parishes are not used to is wives and children. This is often a difficulty in Protestant Churches. Should the wife work, or should she devote her time solely to the church? Should the children be expected to be paragons of virtue?

[Beasts of England]

Only 700 times per day? Slackers...

[Miss Marple]

Extraneus, That is why priests should be respected, because they have given up a LOT for the Church.

[Happy, happy, joy, joy Ignatz]

MM,
I would go further and say it is actually an anti-biblical tradition.
1 Tim and Titus both state an elder, bishop or pastor should be the husband of one wife.

Now that doesn't mean a celibate man can't necessarily hold that office since Paul himself stated elsewhere for some like himself it was better to be single and presumably Paul would be good enough to head up a church or two.
But clearly in most cases it was assumed by Paul, who wrote both books in question after all, that married pastors was the norm.

[Miss Marple]

Ignatz, I don't have enough background on this to discuss it intelligently.

Therefore, I am taking a pass on this.

[rich@gmu]

Miss Marple-

>>>I am still getting stretched and am pretty sure cable is going to go next month.<<<

you won't regret it.

[rich@gmu]

Posted by: Extraneus | May 18, 2014 at 07:37 PM -

i had a comment here, but i'll just delete it.

[Happy, happy, joy, joy Ignatz]

Okey doke, MM.
My only interest in it as a non Catholic is how much I think it would invigorate the church were the celibacy requirement modified.

[Bori]

Narciso,

Brazil is not as strong as past times but at home in close games that could be significant. I think the draw will whittle down some teams, USA is in a group with Germany (probably the best team in Europe, right now), another perennial power Portugal, and Ghana one of Africa's best teams only 2 move on.

I agree with JiB Belgium has a good team and a much easier road into the knockout rounds. Spain and Uruguay have similar situations of being in tough groups.

[Extraneus]

I had a priest for English, I think it was 10th grade. One day, he brought up the Sears catalog. (What can I say? It was the 70s.)

"I bet you boys like to look at the women in the underwear ads in the Sears catalog."

(It was an all-boys high school.)

We all looked at each other. Nobody had the guts to say "Sure, I love those women in the underwear ads!"

But he knew. We all realized at that point that he knew.

[Miss Marple]

http://nypost.com/2014/05/18/obamacare-risks-for-the-elderly/

New stuff in this article, about "observation" status to avoid re-admissions and the patient gets stuck with the bill!

[Extraneus]

it would invigorate the church were the celibacy requirement modified

I agree.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Anybody who thinks that letting priests get married will "solve" anything should look at the cesspool of the Episcopal church as the result of bending all the rules to fit whichever cultural tide is coming in.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

And greetings from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[Beasts of England]

@Miss Marple: And those are the types of cuts that people everywhere will be required (forced) to make. Unfortunately, those thousands, if not millions, of small cut-backs accumulate into a significant contraction of the economy and a triple dip recession can't be far behind. A vicious cycle.

I've seen estimates that regulations cost our economy more than a trillion dollars per year. And that doesn't include the new EPA carbon insanity. If some of that can be repealed, that alone would revive the economy. But, nobody asked me.

[Porchlight]

If it weren't for Turner Classic Movies I would have ditched cable ten years ago. Damn Ted Turner for creating a product I don't want to live without. Chiefly due to Robert Osborne.

Happy birthday TC and glasater! Wishing you both the best.

[Bori]

There have been many Popes who had wives and many more who had children. Perhaps priests should be given the choice. I just don't know if that will create more problems than it would solved.

[Miss Marple]

I think I side with Captain Hate on the priest thing.

By the way, why don't these disaffected people just become Anglicans?

[Jim Eagle]

Iggy,

Are you Catholic? If so, good try.

"The reasons Latin rite priests can’t marry is both theological and canonical.

Theologically, it may be pointed out that priests serve in the place of Christ and therefore, their ministry specially configures them to Christ. As is clear from Scripture, Christ was not married (except in a mystical sense, to the Church). By remaining celibate and devoting themselves to the service of the Church, priests more closely model, configure themselves to, and consecrate themselves to Christ.

As Christ himself makes clear, none of us will be married in heaven (Mt 22:23–30). By remaining unmarried in this life, priests are more closely configured to the final, eschatological state that will be all of ours.

Paul makes it very clear that remaining single allows one’s attention to be undivided in serving the Lord (1 Cor 7:32–35). He recommends celibacy to all (1 Cor 7:7) but especially to ministers, who as soldiers of Christ he urges to abstain from "civilian affairs" (2 Tm 2:3–4).

Canonically, priests cannot marry for a number of reasons. First, priests who belong to religious orders take vows of celibacy. Second, while diocesan priests do not take vows, they do make a promise of celibacy.

Third, the Church has established impediments that block the validity of marriages attempted by those who have been ordained. Canon 1087 states: "Persons who are in holy orders invalidly attempt marriage."

This impediment remains as long as the priest has not been dispensed from it, even if he were to attempt a civil marriage, even if he left the Church and joined a non-Catholic sect, and even if he apostatized from the Christian faith altogether. He cannot be validly married after ordination unless he receives a dispensation from the Holy See (CIC 1078 §2, 1)."

There are reasons and I respect them. Tough duty, dude.

[Bori]

MM,

Have you noticed how the 5lb bag of sugar, is now 4lb but at the same or higher price?

Same thing with packages of pasta, used to be 16oz now they are 12oz. Can vegetables went from 12oz to 10oz. All while retaining the same price as the larger containers.

I don't want to even get started on the Meat prices.

[Jim Rhoads f/k/a vnjagvet]

I have noticed that, Bori. And the old half gallon of ice cream is a thing of the past for the most part. Now the comparable size is not much more than a quart for the same price as the old half gallon.

[DrJ]

I haven't noticed the food price increases -- I don't do the shopping -- but I have noticed the increased price of beer and wine (for example).

I used to be able to find regular sales of decent mainstream brews, such as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, for a bit under $10. Now I'm lucky to find it for $13, and $14 (all on sale) is more common. That's for a half case, FWIW.

And it is the same for vino.

*sigh*

[Miss Marple]

Bori, I have noticed the size differences, too. Orange juice is one that went to 60 opunces or so from 64. The reason I noticed it is because for a while Kroger had a sign up which said "STILL 64 OUNCES!" Then they changed theirs, too.

Meat is out of sight and is going to get more expensive. Some weeks we cannot even get it at Gleaners Food Bank for the food pantry. Or all we get are chicken wings and gizzards.

I went to a local meat processor and bought a meat bundle for the freezer. Saved quite a bit doing that and will probably get some more in June.

Bought a can of powdered eggs for baking and will order another. Those keep for quite a while.

As much as I dislike sticking vegetables in with the flowers, I am putting tomatoes and peppers in this year.

[rich@gmu]

good thing food and fuel prices are counted as part of the core inflation number because of their volatility.

had to fill up the car, 4.19 a gallon.

[Happy, happy, joy, joy Ignatz]

--Are you Catholic?--

I'm neither a Catholic nor a Protestant, which I consider no different than the dispute between the followers of Apollos or Paul in 1 Corinthians.
I am a follower of Christ and Him crucified.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5

5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Should I follow the reasoning and doctrine of men or the inspired word of God?
Not a hard decision for me. Thanks for the unwarranted hostility though.

[rich@gmu]

DrJ-

is that 13 or 14 for just 6 beers?

[rich@gmu]

...and are not counted...

crap.

[narciso]

If not a happy ending, a learning opportunity

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/05/guns-save-lives-armed-nigerian-villagers-defeat-boko-haram-over-200-terrorists-killed/

Unlike Noonan's lets free the hostages, and tellno one, or Leonard Pitts Garnell, comparing this act of war, to a disease in the family,hence justifying the hashtag,

Palmerston had the port of Lagos bombed, in order to put an end to the slave trade in the region,

[DrJ]

rich, that is for a half case: 12 bottles. Bud is a lot cheaper, particularly if you buy it in the weight-lifter's 30-pack.

[Jane on Ipad]

Ex,

I believe that at one point a lot of gay men, who thought being gay was wrong, entered the priesthood in the hope it would keep them celibate.

[DrJ]

Response to the ZH auto channel-stuffing post:

http://jalopnik.com/that-zero-hedge-article-on-unsold-cars-is-bullshit-1578124255?utm_campaign=socialflow_jalopnik_twitter&utm_source=jalopnik_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

Short form: it is nonsense, according to a decent auto blog.

[anonamom]

We are Catholic.
My sister married a great guy, who is a Lutheran minister. They have two children, two years apart.
When the boys were three and five, after a long day on the lake at the cottage, my brother-in-law was trying to write his sermon for Sunday. His boys came in from outdoors, reminding him that he'd promised to pitch the whiffle ball to them and their cousins.

As he put away his pad and pen and got up, he turned to me and said
"I see now why the Catholic church established celibacy."
He was smiling as he said it, but I got what he meant. It's tough to do right by both a family and your flock.

We've had a married priest in our parish, father of four. A number of Episcopal priests were accepted by the Church when they left the Episcopal church over its position on abortion.

[rich@gmu]

still pricey but cheaper than the bar.

a tall here runs 6.25 and mixed drinks start at 7.00

[clarice]

My tip for saving food dollars--is shop at big box stores like Costco or Sams, invest in a decent vacuum sealer and a chest freezer. Shop no more than every other week.
Make your own bread--it's better and much cheaper.\

In fact, buy fewer prepared and processed foods even if they come with coupons--coupons generally are only for highly processed foods.

[Miss Marple]

Ignat,

The disagreement about sola scriptura is an old one, and won't be settled here. Catholics count sacred tradition as being important, too.

The only thing I can tell you is that I had a Methodist minister tell me in Bible study that Jesus had girlfriends. He had interpreted the writing in the New Testament to mean this.

I, of course, dissented. Which is why I am in a church where everyone is on the same page and not running off into heresy territory. I appreciate the Magesterium, the teaching arm of the Church.

You haven't had such a bad experience, so of course, have different views.

[Eric in Boise2]

How are ordinary Americans going to withstand this economic assault?

Well, this ordinary American is making plans to move to Japan and teach English when he retires in 5-7 years.

Yeah, I know. Japan is even more indebted than we are. Their population is shrinking, since they aren't having kids and eschew immigrants. They're even more screwed than we are.

But at least I'll be able to travel freely in their larger cities without worrying about my safety. And when their OPM runs out (as it will here as well), I don't think the food riots will be nearly as severe.

I really wish I was more focused on voting in the next election than voting with my feet. But I've gotten to the point where I agree with DoT - the cancer is malignant, and the odds of it being cured is zero.

I know that Jane, Janet, and other patriots strongly disagree. I respect that, and I appreciate you fighting the good fight. Obviously, I hope you succeed. Please forgive me as I make preparations based on my belief you won't , and that the country can't be saved.

I need to do what's best for myself and my family, and sadly, at this point, I think it's better to leave than to fight.

We've always had a good chunk of adult children in this country, but there were always enough responsible adults to keep a lid on things. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case any longer, and it seems to be getting progressively worse.

Feel free to savage me for being a quitter. You're right. I wish I were made of stronger stuff. I know that most of the regulars here will continue to fight the good fight, and I wish you all the best.

Interestingly enough, I just walked by the living room before hitting "post". My grandson is watching The Incredibles. One of the themes of that movie, as you all well know, is a spoiled, selfish country where excellence and achievement are denigrated, and that's probably not worth being saved.

Out,

Eric

[Miss Marple]

Clarice, Good ideas. I have been looking at those sealers but didn't know if I wanted to invest in one. I am glad to know someone who uses one!

Here is another tip, since coffee is supposed to go up this summer. CVS (the drug store) often sells coffee as a loss leader. Check their ads and run over and grab cheap coffee when it's available!

[MaryD]

"..buy fewer prepared and processed foods .."

Clarice,those are words to live by. I really believe that just about all of the malignant things in our diets would be eliminated if we followed that advice.

[narciso]

Where did they come up with such a crazy notion, Miss Marple, were they relying on the dead sea scrolls, some other apocrypha,

Paul focuses a great deal on discipline, particularly in Corinthians, to avoid distraction from the mission of bringing
people to Jesus,

[Beasts of England]

You've hardly said anything to be savaged about, Eric. I think it's a toss-up about the future of this great nation. The next two national elections will tell us a lot. If we don't retake the Senate and then the White House, the skids are likely greased.

I've noted this several times, but the young adults that I'm exposed to are quite impressive. Not just for their seriousness, but for their love of country and the almost universal contempt they have for BHO. It's impressive.

I guess the last thing I'd say, without being too verbose, is that the country has been through a heck of a lot worse. Several times. I would concede that the character of most citizens during those times was extraordinary, but that resolve could be found again. Perhaps.

[Beasts of England]

It's been a while since I expressed my appreciation of Tom Maguire for hosting this great site. Thank you, sir.

[Jane on Ipad]

Eric,

I walk down that same path every say. I have no idea if I have the guts to pull the trigger.

[Miss Marple]

Eric,

My husband already spends all but a few weeks a year in Ghana. he had to go there to get work, as the mines are closing here.(He's a mining engineer.)

I have grandchildren here, so cannot abandon them. And I just refuse to leave my house and land; I have flowers brought back from homesteads in Missouri and Texas.

I will just stay put. My ancestors survived the Scottish clearances, the Civil War, both World Wars and the Great Depression.

I figure I can make it.

[DrJ]

Eric,

A very dear friend did what you propose, but at a much earlier age and for different reasons. Currently he is an English and Drama teacher at one of the best private boys high schools in Tokyo.

Please post if you would like an introduction.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Eric, I've seen the benefits in France of living in a homogenous culture and it's very tempting in a lot of ways; particularly in comparison to this diversity trash that gets pushed here contra assimilation. As long as you understand that there's no perfect escape...

[DrJ]

In other news, AT&T is acquiring satellite TV provider DirecTV in a deal worth $48.5 billion, and YouTube is buying Twitch.tv for $1 billion.

I'm in the wrong business.

[DrJ]

Don't miss Rabinowitz's review of a book that tries to revise the Duke Lacross rape history:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304081804579558413534190406?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304081804579558413534190406.html

[Miss Marple]

DrJ, Thanks for linking that review by Dorothy Rabinowitz!

I forwarded to a friend of mine in Raleigh, who despises Mike Nifong with the heat of a thousand suns!

[Ann]

What is this carp about leaving the U.S.A. without a fight! You guys need some guts.

My husband spent the weekend teaching a class at the Savannah College of Art and Design,and came across every liberal professor you can imagine.

One old vegetarian hag mentioned that she hadn't had meat since GWB was re-elected. Some wrap/with meat she picked up mistakenly, made her violently ill and she blamed it on Bush.

My husband told her that the last time Obama was re-elected he was so violently ill and distracted that he shot the dog.

I probably missed something in the retelling of this story this afternoon, but I love the guts it takes to tell a liberal that you shot the dog and they believe it.

[narciso]

Cohan, a former investment banker, basically related a tale, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, told by an idiot,' in his last book on Goldman, a pointilesque confection, that doesn't illuminate their part in the subprime fraud, or the climate change scam, or other elements, but this last is something viler, I can only relate it to the carp that Stone, conjured nearly a quarter century later, justifying the Clay Shaw witchhunt by Jim Garrison,

[Danube on iPad]

700 times? For me it's only once a day, but the thought lasts for 24 hours. Every day.

What the hell else is there to think about?

[Miss Marple]

Good night, all!

[Eric in Boise2]

I guess the last thing I'd say, without being too verbose, is that the country has been through a heck of a lot worse. Several times

I appreciate that, Beasts, and I think you're spot on. I feel more than a little bit ashamed that by relocating overseas, i'll in effect be walking away from great people - great Americans - like you.

Or maybe I just want to live in a country where they have women's panties in vending machines

http://www.snopes.com/risque/kinky/panties.asp

[Frau Kulich]

Eric - if you move, I know you will stay in touch. Funny, you think of leaving ID which sounds so much better than CA where we may likely go down with the ship.

A friend from Russian was married in Hollywood (1970s) by a Russian *monk*. He was celibate but the *priest* at the same church was married. I was told it was a choice. Interestingly, the monk rode a motorcycle and was a wild and crazy happy fellow who liked pop music. The priest was quiet and conservative. I have no idea if that is the norm. The Hollywood Russian congregation was happy with their two clerics. We had other orthodox group here in Cleoville that did not accept converts. They later moved to Mexico.

I always thought the monk or priest option was a good one.

[Eric in Boise2]

Thank you Frau K. I actually grew up in Southern California (Torrance - hello Toyota) and would not want to live there now, as well as many places in this country (um, OK, make that most of them).

I love Idaho and will miss it, as I feel like it represents what America used to be. But things are starting to change here as well, even in one of the last (IMO) bastions of decency.

[narciso]

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/05/dr-ben-carson-schools-david-gregory-on-slavery-and-neo-marxist-movement-video/

I know it's like trying to teach a pig, French, but someone's got to do it,

[clarice]

Dorothy Rabinowitz remains my hero..what a reporter!

[Eric in Boise2]

Please post if you would like an introduction.

Thanks, DrJ. My timeline for pursuing this is measured in years rather than months, but I really appreciate your offer. Thank you.

[rich@gmu]

Eric-

we all have our dreams and have to do what is best. i am doubtful we'll be able to turn it around but i have no where else to go. i was goofing off with saying i'd go to Australia, but never got beyond thinking about it for about half a day (i filled out a form to figure out how many points i had for their sponsored and unsponsored technical visa programs). anyway, glad you have been able to work around typhuspad and have been able to post recently.

beasts-

your contributions make this place great.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

Don't give up on America yet, Eric!
Even if the outlook is bleak (I agree with you there)...we can't give up.
We are called on to do the right thing. The outcome is in God's hands, but we still have to take the right actions.
I spent 5 hrs. at a farmer's market today to try & stop a local streetcar. We got about 10 sign-ups for our newsletter. Was it worth it?...I don't know, but at least I've met some like-minded people in Arlington.
& it sure seems like the more we speak out & encourage one another...MORE people get brave to speak out.

I recently listened to a Prager/Metaxas talk - Faith & Freedom in the Public Square

2 strong points were:
*speaking up while we still can - Metaxas raised Bonhoeffer & Germany & how the ability to speak out against evil became harder & harder & harder. Polite silence is a LOSER strategy.

and
*this is AMERICA...we can think & say whatever we want. We all should really be outraged at any attempt to silence the exchange of ideas.
Speak up. Take action. Begin NOW.

[narciso]

True, rich, and this was before we realized he was like our own version of Tony Stark,tech aerospace contractor,

It's rare there are so few reporters with Dorothy's determination and integrity, we can probably count them on two hands,

[Threadkiller]

http://www.orlytaitzesq.com/breaking-news-breitbart-com-secret-revealed/

[Eric in Boise2]

I spent 5 hrs. at a farmer's market today to try & stop a local streetcar

And for that alone, notwithstanding all of your other efforts, you are truly blessed, Janet. As much as I despair over this country's future, you and your kind give me hope.

[Threadkiller]

Eric, you are right to escape. This country is F'd. All countries are F'd.

Squaredance was crucified for saying it, but he was right.

[Bori]

Eric,

I am not as pessimistic as you but I have thought of an exit strategy myself. I own a small farm in the mountains in Puerto Rico where I can grow my own food and while the coastal areas are going to the pits with crime the mountains at least are still peaceful.

I do agree with BoE we have survived worse but the core beliefs and social structure that existed then is corroded and getting deteriorating. The country will survive just not as we have known it.

Will the new generation of young Americans finally learn to appreciate our country enough to stop the decline, I surely hope so.

[Threadkiller]

The new generation believes that anal rape of a citizen is well within the 4th Amendment's constraints.

This country and its schemes are over.

[Threadkiller]

The Continuation of the Scheme"

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/early-draft-constitution-found-philadelphia

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

No matter where ya go...there are people...& people are the problem. People apart from God.
As fewer & fewer Americans embrace a relationship with The Almighty...we're gonna get to SEE what a Godless society looks like.
A group of Godless people in power trying to control a mob of Godless people. They won't be able to write enough laws or hire enough Godless policemen to control the mayhem!

I have to admit that I get kinda sick of hearing the whining about crime, single parenthood, STDs, gangs, addictions....from the same crew that mock & tear apart Biblical faith & families.
I shoulda probably spent the 5 hours handing out Gospel tracts...Jesus is the answer to our nation's problems. And that change comes one individual at a time.

[Bori]

A group of Godless people in power trying to control a mob of Godless people. They won't be able to write enough laws or hire enough Godless policemen to control the mayhem!

It that not hitting the nail on the head, I don't know what is. That is the conundrum of our society now, if everything is permissible then nothing is wrong. There are no rules, no law, only chaos will reign.

[Stephanie]

Simple solution:

Step one: Found St. Jane's Island on one of the "empty" or lightly inhabited islands just off shore in Alabama, Mississippi or Texas.

Step two: Secede.

Step three: Open a casino there and allow visitors for 3 nights a month only.

GDP will be flowing in no time...unless I start playing the progressive slots, then we'll need to mortgage the island.

Didn't have any luck last night (dropped $300 of the $1,500), but went by Margaritaville on the way out this morning just to grab a player card for the future and a "Pirate Looks at 40" flag for the new patios and got $10 free play credit (has to be played to convert it to cash) and drove out with $30... in 5 minutes - which paid for the flag plus some.

Planning our next pillaging of Mississippi as we speak. :)

Anyone here have a musical opinion on the Corey Smith Band??? Just found out a HS friend is their lead guitarist and they are playing the GN in Biloxi next month.