Guest Blogger sorta

My Uncle Frank is a faithful man, and I like the way he thinks.
He gave me a sweet astrodome mug, and he is a frequent commentor on this humble blog.
Anyway here are the contents of an e-mail.

Dear Friends,

A blessed Advent to all of you. As we begin this great time of
preparation I can not help think of those innocents who were
deprived of the chance to prepare to meet our beautiful Savior. We in
our arrogance and complacency decided for them--forty million strong
andcounting. May God have mercy on us all. In today's Sunday News I found a
not so interesting story in the Ideas section: On abortion, it's the "Bible of ambiguity." This was my response.

It is true that Catholics depend heavily on the Church's moral teachings,
but the bible certainly does not take a back seat as to how Catholics view the
issue of abortion. I cite the book of Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in
the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to
thenations I appointed you (JER 1:5)." I do not find this passage to be
ambiguous at all and only our Creator knows how many prophets, doctors,
scientists and world changers have been snuffed out by our selfishness and
arrogance made manifest in this scourge of abortion.

Rightly said.

another passage: "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (Ps. 51:5, NIV). Ok... so one must have life to be sinful right? So sinful from conception implies life starts at conception. (thanks Catholic Answers)

More from Catholic Answers

As the early Christian writer Tertullian pointed out, the law of Moses ordered
strict penalties for causing an abortion. We read, "If men who are fighting hit
a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely [Hebrew: "so that her child
comes out"], but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever
the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious
injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for
hand, foot for foot" (Ex. 21:22–24).

This applies the lex talionis or "law of retribution" to abortion. The lex talionis establishes the just punishment for an injury (eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life, compared to the much greater retributions that had been common before, such as life for eye, life for tooth, lives of the offender’s family for one life). The lex talionis would already have been applied to a woman who was injured in a fight. The
distinguishing point in this passage is that a pregnant woman is hurt "so that
her child comes out"; the child is the focus of the lex talionis in this passage. Aborted babies must have justice, too.

Catholic Answers always has... welll the answers. read the rest here

We're number 2!

Michigan ranks second in deer-car collisions according to state farm.
story here.

Be careful out there. even around here. Deer frequent north campus. I think some of them are engineers.

Team Rocket

Prepare for trouble...
...And make it double.
To protect the world from devastation......
to unite all peoples within our nation.
To Denonunce the evils of truth and love...
...To extend our reach to the stars above.
Jessie...
James!
Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light......
surrender now or prepare to fight.

Meowth that's right!

hmmmm....

Why is Mary Crying?

In California, at Vietnamese Catholic Martyrs Church, a statue of Mary appears to be crying.

These cases are always interesting, and of course the Diocese is skeptical at first.
A parishioner thinks it is a sign of something to come. I don't know. This matter of course is not binding on anyone's faith.

Regardless of the authenticity of the tears, we should be renewed in our honor of Mary. She is afterall the Queen of Heaven. She is our greatest interecessor. She delivers prayers to her Son for our sake. (She started his ministry off! Cana anyone?) I think we can all have a little more Marian devotion in our lives. I of course am not saying one has to pray the rosary daily. I don't. We can all start by saying a Hail Mary and asking for her intercession, asking her to pray for us and all of the people of the world.

But why is Mary Crying? Jack Chick thinks he knows. ( He's wrong, though. )

Bionic man

Here at the University, a professor from whom I have never had the pleasure of learning did something really sweet. ( He is teaching acoustics next semester, but I took it with Dowling earlier this year.)

He along with a fellow developed a micro-machined hydro-mechanical cochlea.
If you have any interest in science or engineering, check it out here.

my "Black Friday"
I managed to not do any shopping today.
I did go bowling and had some fun.
I got a Raiders mini football.
I ate food.
I played cards.
I played backgammon.
I played chess.
I mostly lost at everything.
I learned what Black Friday actually meant.
I put a McDonald's pie box inside a computer.

Later,
Andrew

YOUR DADDY KILLS ANIMALS!

Wow... just wow. Never underestimate just how low a group like PETA will stoop to promote their agenda. A quote:
"Until your daddy learns that it's not 'fun' to kill, keep your doggies and kitties away from him. He's so hooked on killing defenseless animals that they could be next."

Nice slippery slope, PETA.

I got word of this propaganda from Mark Shea's blog

And since it's Thanksgiving: The top ten reasons to feel bad about the fact that you ate turkey today.

This is the group by the way that says that says “A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. They are all mammals." (Ingrid Newkirk, PETA) This is the group that leaves vans and dumpsters full of euthanized animals.

Needless to say, I am no fan of peta or their deceitful tactics.

I do enjoy eating animals as well.

-Andrew

ummm. DUH!!!

This just in, The Catholic Church doesn't want active homosexuals joining the priesthood. I am so surprised. I can't believe the Church is following its 2000 years of Sacred Tradition, and trying to actually do something proactive to keep immoral men from becoming priests. What oppressive, regressive neanderthals. [/sarcasm]

I think all I can say is "D'UH!"

I don't see how this can be news to anyone. Homosexual activity is a sin. Someone who thinks that it is acceptable to be actively homosexual and become a priest, should not become one, period.
This is a good policy.

The irony...

... is not lost on me. "Friendship Church" dancing on someone's grave.

This bring me to something crucial about this weekend. Two of the most vile forces in the United States today will be descending upon Ann Arbor. Yes Fred Phelps and his WBC (of www.Godhatesfags.com fame) will be in town protesting the Laramie Project. Also, perhaps more vile, is the Ohio State University football team.

I don't like either group, and I hope they both are defeated tomorrow. Well, i want OSU to lose the football game of course. I want there to be no incidents on campus due to this Phelps fellow.

I'm pretty sure God doesn't hate homosexuals. I am also sure that he thinks that homosexual relations (aka buggery) is sinful and wrong. God is a loving God, but he is also a just God. He will enact judgement. It is not my position to say who is and isn't going to Heaven, but nevertheless Christians should be watching out for our fellow human beings. We should try to guide all to the path of righteousness. I am afraid Phelps' tactics aren't very effective and merely embolden his targets.

So point is... Fred Phelps is not representative of Christianity. He needs prayers.
OSU is not representative of college athletics. God doesn't hate fags, and he doesn't hate Fred Phelps. God may or may not hate Ohio State. I'll have to check my Catechism.

Either way...
GO BLUE! BEAT THOSE LOUSY BUCKEYES!
and only this week... GO (Michigan) STATE!

Best Case Scenario: UM wins, PSU loses
Decent Scenario: UM wins, PSU wins
Worst Scenario ever: anything involving an OSU win tomorrow. (unless of course it is Oregon State, I don't care about them.)

Religious Freedom

There is a report that says that the Chinese government has arrested Priests and Seminarians.

I'm sure the ACLU is just salivating over this.

Anyhow, I hear people complain about George Bush taking away our freedom. The USA is free. Our Constitution and the Bill of Rights are outstanding models. I don't see these 'lost freedoms.'
When I hear reports like this, I am grateful for being born in the United States. I have been blessed with freedom. In some countries people can't even practice their religion. China is not the only country who persecutes those of certain religions.

People like to complain about God in the pledge of allegiance, and crosses on city seals. These are an element of our history as a nation. These symbols may be intact, but people are still free to practice their religion or not care about it.

The whole issue of the ACLU suing Las Cruces to remove crosses from their city seal is ridiculous. The city's name means "THE CROSSES," for the love of Pete. The town does not force anyone to be Christian by having crosses on their city seal. This has nothing to do with the first amendment. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." It is a LOCAL government. Congress has nothing to do with the city seal.

Why does the ACLU do nothing about images of Minerva on city seals like that of Los Angeles. (They did however fight to remove the tiny cross from it.) She is after all a pagan goddess. Is that not an "establishment of religion" as much as crosses are?

Why is the ACLU so focused on removing Christianity from the public arena? Like it or not, a vast amount of this Country was founded/settled by Christians. All the French Jesuits, the countless missionaries, the pilgrims, etc. It is part of our History and must be acknowledged as such. This is not Congress establishing religion, but a recognition of our roots.

Yet despite all this Christianity in our origins, we have Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Atheists all living here without persecution. The ACLU however lives to suppress Christian symbols in the public arena. When they aren't doing that they are supporting the likes of the North American Man-Boy Love Association. They don't however suppress loud calls to prayer by a mosque in Hamtramck. They don't fight pagan symbols in the public square.

Prepare yourselves for the annual freaking out about nativity scenes.

Some things I found on the internet.

"why i luv fanco? let me count the ways... :)
i luv fanco, because:

1. of his eyes+lashes
2. he is brainy n resourceful
3. his fastidiousness & attention to details
4. he can bring laughters
5. he is cute (when he's well behaved)
6. he is HOT (when he's serious)
7. he almost looks good in everything
8. he can cook
9. he is similar to me in some ways
10. he is always forgiving
11. he learned french
12. of his well spoken and written english
13. he read newspapers and watch news on tv to keep himself abreast w/ current affairs
14. he looks like a lil' kid when he's sleeping
15. he is always clean n tidy
16. he always smells good
17. he looks v. well groomed
18. he treats his parents well
19. he is my mentor, friend, and luver
18. he is fanco"

Ok, this is obviously not about me since I'm not clean or tidy, I didn't learn french, I probably don't smell good, and I'm not a 'luver'. I don't "almost look good in everything.' I always look good in everything!

So who is this imposter? I guess it's just some dude.

Another Gem:
"Mr Fanco is like a little drill sargent im telling you, yet i still have alot of respect for the man."

I am much too lazy to write all the necessary [sic]'s in there.

-Andrew

Abortion up under Bush?

Despite Howard Dean's and John Kerry's statements to the contrary, abortion continues to decline as it has since the early '90s.

Dean: "You know that abortions have gone up 25 percent since George Bush was President ?"

That is patently false.

I'm glad that guy is the Chairman of a major political party.

This is kind of old news, but I post what I want!

-Andrew

Bridge to the 21st Century

Here's a step in the right direction.

"The Senate Appropriations Committee removed earmarks for two controversial "bridges to nowhere" in Alaska: the Gravina bridge, which would connect Ketchikan to an island of 50 people, and the Knik Arm bridge, which would link Anchorage to a sparsely populated area."

One trouble with Republicans controlling both the legislative and executive branches is pork. I'm glad some of it is being trimmed.

-Andrew

Drink Beer

Drinking helps maintain the brain according to a study.
I'm glad that my occasional drinking of the beer will help me in the future.

There is an old joke/theory:
Brain cells are like gazelles, while alcohol is like a pride of lions. Just as the lions overcome the slower and weaker gazelles, the alcohol destroys the weakest of the brain cells. This trims away useless brain cells increasing brain operation efficiency.

Perhaps there is an element of truth in the above theory.

Shop at Target.

Bravo to Target, for allowing their pharmacists to refuse to be complicit in murder.

Funny how those for "personal choice" and "tolerance of others" are quite intolerant of those who express their personal choice of not supporting what they feel is murder.

Funny how Christians need to be stopped from "imposing their views on others" when that is the clear intent of Planned Parenthood and other Leftist groups.

-Andrew

PS:
I wonder what would happen if a Muslim employee refused to handle ham. Or an atheist refused to ring up someone's Bible. Or a liberal refused to sell Ann Coulter's latest book. Would they be regarded as heroes? Would there be a boycott of their store if the store kept them on?
Who knows.

You tell me; I tell you.

You tell me that Embryos are only potential life.
I tell you that Embryonic Stem Cells are only potential cures.

You tell me that we shouldn't be at war, that we should wage peace.
I tell you that just because we aren't at war, doesn't mean there is peace.

You tell me that it's your body, and your choice.
I tell you it's in your body, it's only half your genetic material, and it's God's choice.

You tell me that we should outlaw guns.
I tell you that then only outlaws would have guns.

You tell me we should curb racism with affirmative action.
I tell you affirmative action is racism.

You tell me I am intolerant.
I tell you, you are not tolerant of my views.

You tell me I am stuck in the past.
I tell you that you have forgotten yours.

You tell me the government is stomping on your civil liberties.
I tell you that we obviously have free speech and a free press.

You tell me that I'm a liar.
I tell you the truth.

-Andrew

Survey

Kind Reader,

Please take this survey about styrofoam coolers.

Thanks,
Andrew

Pirates: awesome?

Pirates are thought to be a thing of the past. That however is not the cast of the coast of Somalia where over 30 "pirate" attacks have occured this year. These "pirates" are armed with machine guns and RPGs and have targeted unsuspecting ships in the region. I know the commonly held belief is that Pirates arrr awesome. These "pirates" of today show evidence to the contrarySome of the things stolen: Rated Aarrrrrrr DVDs, Arrrrrrrby's roast beef, and a caarrrrrrr. That wasn't even funny. That's okay because nobody reads this crap anyhow.

Point is: Pirates of the stories of olde are sweet. They used cutlasses, weapons more noble than machine guns. The cannons shot only cannonballs not grenades. The pirate was a cosmopolitan seafarer, going from port to port, and finding adventure in every day of his life. These pirates said cool things like "Shiver me Timbers," "Avast ye, matey," and "Arrrr, me harties." They also sang songs and looked an awful lot like Tim Curry and Johnny Depp. The captains wore elegant coats and hats. The crew was dirty and rough, dressed in ragged clothing.

So what happened?

Please acknowledge the difference between the modern "pirates" and the pirates we know and love of the days of yore. Do not support these Somalian "pirates." I don't think they even have beards. Come on! What's a pirate without a stylin' beard? An idiot that's what. An idiot and a criminal. No peg-legs, no eye patches, nothin'! I think the media needs to stop belittling the good name of the noble seafarer of old, the pirate by associating it with these Somolian Scalawags. So, stay out of the waters of Somalia, lest you be met with a volley of RPGs.

Perhaps rather than piracy, they could call it "unrest."

For more information on Pirates go here.

Also apparently there was a Pirate who became a Saint. (hat tip to combox of the american princess)

-Andrew

Comment

I just wrote this comment over on right-thinking there seems to be a "debate" on Creationism there a lot.

thought it might bear repeating here.

[quote]But God isn’t an angel, and He specifically said “one of us”, which not only implies that he is a member of whatever subset He is referencing, but that He is not the only member of that subset.[/quote]

Well, Drum, I think your assertion that that means only what you say is pretty weak.

First of all the writer of Genesis did not write in English. The author wrote in Hebrew. I don't know if you have studied Hebrew, but I am studying it a little now. I can say that Hebrew is one messed-up language. We were going over Genesis in class, and the professor pointed out all the ambiguities in the first line. Of course fundamentalist would probably think that Satan amde him teach that. There is a lot to say about the meaning of the term satan too, by the way.

There are instances in the bible where "Angels of the Lord" may actually mean God himself. One of the Hebrew words for God is Elohim, which literally translated would mean gods. in regards to the plurality of God. Most Christians believe in the Trinity, meaning that when God said us, he mean "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

My point is that you shouldn't pretend to completely understand what is written there based on one translation.

This of course also applies to everyone who uses the Bible to prove a point. Sometimes small intricacies in the text may say something.
We need to look at the broader idea that the text is getting across rather than the minute point of each tiny phrase. You gotta see the forest through the trees.

That being said, many people nowadays have a lot of false beliefs. History has a way of being rewritten. The Church being seen as an enemy is often demonized in many accounts and statements about The Church are exaggerated. Case in point the Galileo business. See here.

While it is true that the Church condemned his theory at the time, there was no sincerely harsh treatment to the man.

People like to trump up the inquisition and ignore the Catholic efforts during WW2 to save Jews.
By the way here is the Church's take on creationism: Creation


-Andrew

Jordan (not my brother)

So, as I perused the various internet news websites at my disposal, I came across this article from CNN:
Amman bombings kill 'Halloween' producer

Moustapha Akkad is the name of the man.

Anyhow the last 2 paragraphs of the article read:

He founded Trancas in 1977, a year after directing "The Message," starring Anthony Quinn, a movie about the history of Islam. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for its musical score. Akkad said he did the film because he felt it was his duty as a Muslim in America to teach the West about Islam. "I thought I should tell the story that will bring this bridge," he told the newspaper.

So why do I care? Well I was just wondering if this could be a potential motive for having those particular targets in Amman. Were the hotels targeted solely because they often had western guests, or more particularly for a certain guest. Did they see Akkad as a sell-out or traitor to their brand of Islam? Were they upset that he tried to "build bridges" to Americans?
I dunno. Maybe they just don't like horror movies.

It does seem to be the case that the wedding was targeted, but that doesn't mean they were looking specifically for Akkad.

It is probably more likely that I am reading too deeply into this.

Still, Akkad, his daughter, and the fathers of the bride and groom were killed along with 20+ others at this wedding. (plus another 30 in the other hotels bombed.)

No matter what the motivation was for the blasts, it is a despicable action commanded by cowards and carried out by the confused.

-andrew

This gave me laughs long time and hard.

"From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo: When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor."

-Andrew

11-10-2005

For all of you Chomsky lovers.

"My next encounter with Chomsky revolved around his writing an introduction to
a book by an anti-Semite named Robert Faurisson who denied that the Holocaust
took place, that Hitler’s gas chambers existed, that the diary of Anne Frank was
authentic, and that there were death camps in Nazi occupied Europe. He claimed
that the “massive lie” about genocide was a deliberate concoction initiated by
“American Zionists” “and that “the Jews” were responsible for World War II.
Chomsky described these and other conclusions as “findings” and said that they
were based on “extensive historical research.” He also wrote that “I see no
anti-Semitic implication in the denial of the existence in gas chambers or even
in the denial of the Holocaust.” He said he saw “no hint of anti-Semitic
implications in Faurisson’s work,” including his claim that “the Jews” were
responsible for World War II. He wrote an introduction to one of Faurisson’s
book which was used to market his anti-Semitic lies."

Yeah this guy's great.

Also Bush continues to stomp on our civil liberties by limiting text messages!
No wait... It's Communist China.

Harumph...
I totally did bad on my eecs exam today. I left thinking i got 1 wrong
turns out i got 7 wrong 65% ouch i made a lot of stupid mistakes

but i got my engine exam back and i got an 84
i was pleased.

Life goes on.

-Andrew

news, world and really local

The most expensive Ford Escort EVER!
Some dude in Texas bought the car once owned by JP2 for a lot of money

This study may make me more appealing.

You'll now think twice before stealing from your roommate.

Now for this tasty story.

Oh yeah. People got blowed up today. Muslim Rioters (read: poor youths) continue to riot (read: cause unrest) in France. Saudi Arabia distributes anti-West pamplets world-wide.

That's the world.
and dang it's windy today!

Andrew has an exam tomorrow in eecs. He will be studying just about all night long.
hopefully he will be able to 'keep up the streak.' He also wrote "wolverine" for an answer on a homework problem 2 weeks ago. He only got 2 off on that problem. Rediculous!

Stop

Stop having sex!

This just further convinces me that this whole one partner for life thing isn't so bad.

This is amusingly strange.
Stolen Garden Gnome Wonderland in Leavenworth Kansas.

You gotta love intelligent political discourse.
This time courtesy of President Mugabe of Zimbabwe

If you need a reason to eat saurkraut

OK it is way too late.
What am I celebrating?
Im goin' to bed.
-Andrew

crap

crap.

Just thought of something, with Andy Reid being in the news.
Doesn't he remind you of anyone?
He reminds me of someone
Think back to 1996...




You remember?



Yes it is none other than Richard Jewell.
I guess he changed his name and got a better job.

So. I want some feedback.
Does anyone read this darn thing?
If so say hi. If you want to be creative, make up a caption for this photo and put it in the comments.

Thanks,
Andrew

by they way that's me and Don

I of course am shocked to see that the major media outlets have not picked up on this newsworthy story. Hat tip to http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com for the story



Iraq's economy is booming. Many Iraqis--denied employment under Saddam Hussein's regime for reasons of ethnicity, sectarian identity, or for refusal to join the Baath party, now have jobs. Iraqis' own private investment, aided with capital remitted from family members abroad, has enabled the private sector to boom. Banks, restaurants, and furniture stores occupy what just last year were empty lots or abandoned storefronts. In August 2005, new business registrations have topped 30,000; this figure does not include the number of start-ups which still ignore Iraqi-registration rules.
Ordinary Iraqis are financially better off now than they were at any time in the past two decades. According to World Bank and International Monetary Fund estimates, per capita income has doubled since 2003. Iraq's per capita gross domestic product is today almost twice that of Yemen and nearing that of Egypt and Syria, hardly a sign of failure in a country in which, just three years ago, antiwar groups insisted children were starving en masse. Statistics aside, the Iraqi economic boom is apparent to anyone who visits an Iraqi market. Not only are appliances and luxuries in the stores, but customers are actually purchasing them.
Iraqis today employ technologies that were nonexistent or off-limits to all but the Baathist elite just three years ago. As of September 2005, there were more than 3.5 million cell-phone subscribers in Iraq, for example. Under the Baath party, there was no cell-phone service, and possession of satellite phones was a capital offense. Internet cafés dot not only Baghdad thoroughfares, but also dusty back streets in provincial towns. When I visited the (restored) marshlands of southern Iraq, I checked my e-mail and sent dispatches from internet cafes not only in the Maysan provincial capital of al-Amarah and the Dhi Qar provincial capital of Nasiriyah, but also in small, dusty towns like Islah, a Dawa stronghold on the edge of the marshes.
Daily reports of violence suggest Iraq is tearing apart at the seams. Ethnic strife remains a possibility, but it need not happen. While the Bush administration has been inept at making its case, the White House has little for which to apologize. Iraqis debate. They tolerate dissent. Politicians hash out compromise. The constitution may not be ideal, but it is fair. Meanwhile, tens of millions of Saudis, Syrians, Iranians, Tunisians, and Egyptians still struggle under dictatorships.

From http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.23402,filter.all/pub_detail.asp

Now I understand that the ends don't justify the means. Perhaps this war was unnecessary.
But things are alot better over there than anyone will tell you. It seems that even the Bush administration doesn't even tell us of this progress.
I think we all need to have more positive attitudes, eh?

-Andrew

Flashback: Pope Pius XII and the Jews

This past April, the Holy Father, John Paul II went home. (Santo Subito!)

UM's rag The Michigan Daily ran stories that were mostly respectful of his passing, but one article implied that the church did nothing during the Holocaust.
I then wrote a letter, telling them the truth about the Church during the Holocaust.

Catholic Church did not sit idly by during Holocaust

First off, I would like to thank the Daily for its generally respectful coverage of His Holiness Pope John Paul II’s passing ... I do, however, take issue with how you implied that the Church did nothing to protest the Shoah (Holocaust). I think it is a bit of an exaggeration to say that the “Roman Catholic Church fail(ed) to protest the Nazi Holocaust.” In fact Pope Pius XI (pope from 1922-1939) was an opponent of the Nazis and in 1935 wrote an encyclical (Mit Brennender Sorge) to the German people speaking against the Third Reich. Pope Pius XII (pope from 1939-1958) wrote against the Nazis in 1935 (before his papacy) saying that they “are in reality only miserable plagiarists who dress up old errors with new tinsel. It does not make any difference whether they flock to the banners of social revolution, whether they are guided by a false concept of the world and of life, or whether they are possessed by the superstition of a race and blood cult.” (Robert Graham, S.J., ed., Pius XII and
the Holocaust) Thousands of Jews were hidden in the Vatican. Jews were also
hidden within the Pope’s summer home. It is estimated that between 700,000 and
860,000 Jews were saved by the Roman Catholic Church’s efforts. Isaac Herzog,
the chief Rabbi of Jerusalem in 1944, wrote, “The people of Israel will never
forget what His Holiness and his illustrious delegates, inspired by the eternal
principles of religion which form the very foundations of true civilization, are
doing for us unfortunate brothers and sisters in the most tragic hour of our
history, which is living proof of divine Providence in this world.” There are
countless other examples of what the Church did for the Jews. In no way can
anyone say that the Church “fail[ed] to protest the … Holocaust.” One could
argue that the Church did not do enough, and indeed that may be so. One cannot
argue, however, that the Church was silent or even complicit as some have
suggested. For more information, see the document “We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah” at www.vatican.va or the article at www.catholic.com/library/HOW_Pius_XII_PROTECTED_JEWS.asp.

Andrew Fanco
Engineering senior

I Came across that as I googled my name on Friday.
The link to that and the other letters of that day is here:
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/06/4253c1657fec8

(There I went railing against the "liberal media!" What a crazy paranoid putz I am!)

Liberal Media?

People have told me that there is no liberal media. That I am claiming false victimhood or something. And then CNN does this.
This is their headline on their webpage:
"Carter: Americans were misled on war"
Link to article: http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/04/carter.lookback/index.html

Okay Carter did say that. There is no denying that, but is it really news? Carter has been opposed to this war all along. It simply is not newsworthy to tell us his opinion on that.

In the article you also find that he has seen no evidence that the Whitehouse is guilty of the Intelligence leak.

Nowhere in the article, though do you find this:
"Former President Jimmy Carter yesterday condemned all abortions and chastised his party for its intolerance of candidates and nominees who oppose abortion."
Hmm that's interesting.
I found that in the Washington Times
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20051103-111740-7148r.htm
Maybe the WT just has a conservative bent?

I dunno.

Maybe I am paranoid.

Beyond that I enjoyed this quote from President Carter,
"I have a commitment to worship the Prince of Peace, not the Prince of Preemptive War."

IMO, Carter may not have been a good president, but one has to respect his humanitarian work. Also he has been a decent elder statesman... I guess.

That all being said, I miss Ronald Reagan. I bought a Reagan/Bush '84 Bumper sticker on ebay. I am a goofball.

Here is the news.

There is this Gem in our own Michigan Daily
"No one shows up to protest Bush’s reelection"
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/11/03/4369c8da7bf50

Highlights:
“Maybe he was re-elected a year ago today, but we are going to change that.”
Apparently this "World Can't Wait" group is developing Time Travel.

From the opposition:

John Kelly, chair of College Republicans and an Engineering senior, said the
chance to get Bush out of office was last year on Election Day.
“I think instead of walking out of work and class, they should be focusing on going
through established political channels, such as elections,” Kelly said.
“It’s sort of a wasted effort, and I think it’s misdirected. … I just don’t
see the effectiveness in it.”

Couldn't really have said it any better.

I am just upset that I missed the organizer recite her eloquent poem, "Fire His Ass."

Could that tell you the level of intelligence of the organizer and explain the reason for her failed event?

I report you decide right?


Then there is this:

Jacques Demers, former Coach to the Red Wings and other NHL Clubs is apparently functionally illiterate according to his new biography.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/hockey/nhl/11/03/demers/index.html?cnn=yes
I guess reading isn't fundamental for being a coach, restauranteur, and GM.
I have no chance at worldly success because a) I can read. and b) I am going to graduate from college.

Riots only happen in Crime-filled America right?
Never underestimate the "angst" of under-represented minorities"venting".
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=8&id=354264

and for some lighter fair.

Who is being described?

-Supreme Commander at the Forefront of the Struggle Against Imperialism and the United States
-Greatest Saint Who Rules with Extensive Magnanimity
-Lode Star of the Twenty-First Century
-Best Leader Who Realized Human Wisdom
-Leader with Extraordinary Personality
-Perfect Picture of Wisdom and Boldness
-Eternal Bosom of Hot Love
-Master of Literature, Arts, and Architecture
-World’s Best Ideal Leader with Versatile Talents
-Humankind’s Greatest Musical Genius
-Master of the Computer Who Surprised the World
-Man with Encyclopedic Knowledge
-Guardian Deity of the Planet
-Heaven-Sent Hero
-Power Incarnate with Endless Creativity
-Greatest Man Who Ever Lived
-Present-day God
-World’s Greatest Writer

If you guessed Kim Jong-Il you were right!
Kudos to Harper's for compiling this.
http://www.harpers.org/ButYouCanCallMeIl.html

I'm Paul Harvey, Good DAY.

Oreos

This is a common subject. Conservative Blacks are "acting white." They are "Uncle Toms." So commonly the "tolerant" left likes to label Conservative blacks in these ways. Look at Condi. If you don't believe me look at this article:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20051101-104932-4054r.htm
Here is a conservative Black politician who accomplishes something pretty amazing. He was the "first black man to win a statewide election in Maryland." How is he treated? He is pelted with Oreos

I don't understand how a group can claim that "Whitey" is keeping him down, when they refuse to respect a man of their own race who has enjoyed success, solely because he is conservative.

If black america continues to harbor these sorts of attitudes, they will not rise up and overcome. For "Everything that rises must Converge" Meaning there will be conservative blacks, liberal blacks, blacks in all aspects and in all walks of life that white folks have/are in.

This brings me to the idea of Affirmative Action. Last week a controversial group on Campus, BAMN (by any means necessary) decided to bus in middle and high school children from detroit to pad their numbers and make their shouting louder while protesting the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative. Apparently it is better for these kids to yell about an issue on which they are not educated, than for them to be in school learning the skills they need to perhaps earn their way into college. (The MCRI seeks to abolish racial preferences in school and employment)

I leave you with a quote (according to a letter to UM's school newspaper) of one of these bused in children. "White people are trying to make it illegal for black people to go to college." If their schooling system teaches them that instead of skills and knowledge needed for success. If they want to rely on a boost from the government instead of good old fashioned hard work. If they want to call successful members of their race uncle toms. Then maybe it should be illegal.


I of course think that blacks should be able to go to college, and that everyone should be able to have that opportunity. But 18 years old is much too late for a step up in education. It needs to begin at 6. Schools need to improved from the bottom up. We can only improve racial relations by abolishing racial preferences in all aspects of life. I am against affirmative action, not minorities.

I believe like Dr. King, that we ought to be judged "not on the color of [our] skin, but on the content of [our] character."