Blessed Great Lent!

I'll be refraining from posting and commenting during the Lenten season, beginning today.

So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.

1 Samuel 7:6 (NKJV)

Next Door To Your Convenience Foods

Shippensburg University puts contraception in its vending machines. Sorta contradicts the notion of alma mater, eh?

Legendary

If you know anything about revolvers, you've heard of Jerry Miculek.

(Hint: It's full-moon clips, not speed strips.)

Baby Sis

A Glock 27 Gen 4 would make a nice counterpoint to my 22, but the Kahr PM9 catches my eye, too.

Racial Authoritarianism

I've just returned from Memphis. I should have stuck around for the fireworks.

Mitt And The Donald

Drudge and CNN were right; AP and NYT were wrong.

Faith In Pan-Religious Demons, You Mean

'If I'm willing to give something up as somebody who's been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that's going to make economic sense,' he said. 'But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus's teaching that "for unto whom much is given, much shall be required." It mirrors the Islamic belief that those who've been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others, or the Jewish doctrine of moderation and consideration for others.'

I'm still looking for Jesus' teaching about tax breaks.

Moscow's Support For Kosovo

Patriarch Kirill accused politicians of 'glaring injustice, double standards and lies, and declaration of their adherence of ideals of humanism and human rights while turning a blind eye to the hell created by extremists with support from their foreign sponsors.'

Wish In One Hand; Spit In The Other...

Fr. Vsevelod's economic generalities provide me with a steady source of entertainment.

Taking Care Of Our Own

All Orthodox churches in Russia will raise funds to help Greece mitigate the social impact of the euro zone crisis, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia announced on Thursday.

Don Cornelius, Farewell

Don Cornelius, creator of TV's Soul Train, died today.

If Adultery Weren't A Sin, It Wouldn't Be So Amusing

Newt Gingrich's whiny second wife revealed details about his adultery. Her complicity in his adultery blurs her moral status.

Hey Marianne, what's your game now, can anybody play?




I apologize to the Hollies.

Another Calendar Idea

Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy Protodeacon Andrey Kurayev suggests celebrating Christmas on January 1.

Blackout

In solidarity with Wikipedia, Ad Orientem (in the links), and freedom-loving folks everywhere, I'm blacking out my blog to protest a Congressional move to expand intellectual property protections.

I commented over at John's:

I'm interested in the larger issue of whether intangibles can be legitimately subject to property claims since they're amorphous to begin with. If I buy a bunch of tangible materials and fashion a machine based on another person's configuration, how can one legitimately claim that my engine doesn't belong to me?

Let's take it a step further. Does God own everything simply because He created everything? By creating free will, hasn't He deeded us to ourselves?

He Monitors The Media, But Not The State

Prime Minister, presidential candidate Vladimir Putin pledges to combat propaganda of violence, nationalism and smoking in the media, including the Internet.

Sir Elton John Got It Right

Madonna winning Best Original Song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit. Her acceptance speech was embarrassing in its narcissism.

David Furnish