What I'm Reading

At the urging of many of the blogger/analyst/pundits I read regularly, I recently ordered The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright.

I was already several chapters into this enlightening and important book when Chris Wallace's mention of it caused former president Clinton to levitate and turn into one of those vintage cartoon characters with spiral eyes and steam shooting out of their ears.

If that doesn't entice you to buy it and read it, what will? Get the book!

Mel, Mel, Mel...

Mel Gibson has now compared sending soldiers to Iraq with the "human sacrifice" practiced by the subjects of his upcoming movie.

This ranks as the second stupidest thing Mr. Gibson has said in the last few months. But this time he doesn't have the excuse of having been completely toasted when he said it.

An Open Letter to His Excellency, President Chavez of Venezuela

Dear Hugo,

May I call you "Hugo?" Well, (oh hey, did you know that there’s a town in Oklahoma named, “Hugo?” Do you have kin there? My wife does…) anyway, Hugo, I really appreciated your visit to our country. Your performances were more fun to watch than those sketches poking fun at President Bush on Saturday Night Live (which was timely because the show was a re-run this week and, after all, Will Forte does a lousy George Bush so it’s never really that funny).

(I mean, really, it hasn’t been the same since Will Farrell handed “the President” off to Darrell Hammond awhile back. Man, did you ever see those shows? The E! cable network is running a series called, The Top 101 SNL Moments [or something like that] and you should watch it.)

Anyway, Hugo, I loved the part where you called President Bush “the devil” and said that you still smelled sulfur at the podium as you spoke before the General Assembly of the United Nations. LOL -- That was funny! You are such a cut up and I know the few who stayed for your performance were not disappointed.

Hugo, I really enjoyed it when you and Danny Glover took your show to the church in Harlem. Wow... that was great. (Hey… maybe you could do a movie with Mel Gibson too?! Now, I should warn you, folks I know who know Mel tell me that he’s really not an anti-Semite, so don’t get your hopes up.)

Anyway, it was really sweet how you visited the economically disadvantaged of New York and offered oil from your company, Citgo (you know, there’s a Citgo in our neighborhood!). I know you have experience with abject poverty since about 80+% of your subjects are considered to be wallowing in poverty. (Do they get low-cost to no-cost oil too?) I know that as the world’s 5th leading producer of oil, you’re “swimming” in it!

Suffice it to say that your offer to the folks in Harlem was a nice gesture because I know you have so many poor, disenfranchised and struggling people in your country who deserve it so much more than we do. You certainly had them “eating out of your hand,” or, at least, “pumping out of your oil wells!” (And hey, if you have any discount gas coupons that I can use at my neighborhood Citgo, send them on because I’d rather go there than to continue buying gas from that other “devil,” Exxon!) (Hey… maybe you can use that in your act? You should, because Saturday Night Live will use it if you don’t!)

Ok, I’m not the comedian that you are but, oh! that line about how Bush would kill you for calling him the devil? That was precious. Your timing is awesome.

Now, Hugh (oh heck, let's call you "Hugh" because we we did have that hurricane named "Hugo" long ago and don't want to equate you to the total destruction it brought and all), I do want to apologize for some of the reactions that a few of our officials had to your act. Nancy Pelosi and Charles Rangel apparently do not have the same keen sense of humor as do most of us here in the ol’ “Land of the Free.” I'm not surprised because Nancy and Charlie have comedy shows of their own and have called the President much, much worse. Frankly, I think they’re jealous, so don’t let that bother you.

Well, I guess that's all I have to tell you for now. Good luck with your comedy show. Hope you do well with it.

Oh… one suggestion: Maybe you should do a show for Fidel? He’s not been feeling well and you know how “a merry heart doeth good as a medicine…” not that I’m trying to be religious by quoting the Bible and all… it’s just that you seem to know about the “God thing” with your “devilish” comedy!

Sincerely,
jps

P.S. I know that your Foreign Minister had that little trouble at JFK airport where he was detained. It really was because he didn't follow standard diplomatic protocol. Also, you probably heard that we were attacked in New York a few years ago and that our airport procedures have radically changed. Anyway... I don't think it was because of your jokes.

The View

Once upon a time, there was a well respected and mighty Queen of the mighty media kingdom of ABC who, after assessing the television landscape, determined that daytime TV needed a change. So, this well-thought-of and mightily respected Queen brought forth her wonderful idea for a women’s daytime television program to the peasants.

There was great rejoicing.

Very soon, all of the empire felt a tingly sensation as the mighty Queen launched the wonderful women’s program with a special kind of “View” of the world.

The census officials tallied the peasant’s reactions and it was clear: “This ‘View’ reveals our world clearly and we like what we see!”

Over the years, the Queen invited special ladies to grace the Queen’s TV court. A few were chosen to become official Princesses of “The View.” They grew in popularity and more and more peasants watched with delight. Sadly, one princess lost much weight in the eyes of the Queen and plans were made for her exile (for reasons the peasants later read about in the Magazine of the People).

The Queen, in all of her wisdom (of which there was much because, after all, the wonderful women’s daytime television program was her idea), entreated a new princess to join the court to replace the one who lost weight… but it would be done in secret and would take time.

Meanwhile, yet another Princess of “The View” was wooed away by another mighty kingdom, named NBC, to become queen of the Morning, since their queen ran-off for greater power as queen of the Evening at yet another media kingdom, CBS.

Now with two of the princesses gone, the Queen had to accelerate her plans to install the new princess to help continue the wonderful daytime television program.

Sadly, the Queen’s choice turned out to be not-so-rosie.

The new, not-so-rosie Princess of The View (well, her highness disliked being likened to a “Princess” as evidenced by her blathering speech before the court) caused a mighty uproar.

“The peasants are revolting!” reported the census officials.

“Of course they are!” said the not-so-rosie Princess. “Besides, aren’t these radical, Christian miscreants the same kind of cold-blooded killers that the oft-misunderstood (yet nonetheless rabid and homicidal) Muslim killers (that “allegedly” forced two of our castle towers to fall) seem to be?”

The peasants were revolted.

Alas… the once-revered Queen now finds herself in a quandary: “Should I keep the not-so-rosie Princess in order to save face with the one who lost weight in my sight? Or should I listen to the rabble-rousing peasants (who pay my bills) and kick this insensitive, intolerant, loud-mouthed, over-the-top, out-of touch and not-so-rosie Princess out of the court so that the wonderful “View” of the kingdom may continue?

The peasants watch as the Queen considers her decision.

As do we.

"I Miss the Anger"

I'm with Bill Bennett.

September 11, 2006

For any blogger worth his pixels, today is a day to post something profound. But as I sit down at the keyboard this morning, I carry the knowledge that, according to surveys, nearly one third of my fellow Americans suspect our government was involved in the 9-11 attacks. (Words fail.) And another significant percentage simply doesn't seem to have the stomach for the fight to save Western civilization.

I write for a living but I truly don't know what to say in the face of such weak minds and faint hearts. So. . . I'll let others say it for me.

1. Here's a symposium on National Review Online on the question, "Did It Change Us?"

2. Here's James Lileks, brilliant as usual.

3. Check out Dean Barrett on Hugh Hewitt's site.

4. And if you don't do anything else, read this from Mark Steyn.

Did you know. . .

. . .that Sweden and Vietnam lead the world in athiests as a percentage of the population? (80%+)

Did you know that 1.28% of all Texans attend a "megachurch*?"

How about the fact that the U.S. has had 11 Episcopalian Presidents, as well as 10 Presbyterian, 4 Baptist, 2 Quaker and 1 Jehovah's Witness** President?

These are just a few of the many religion-related factoids I found in my first few minutes of exploring Adherants.com, a statistical web site chock full of data on religious affiliation.

I know not everyone gets as giddy as I about this kind of thing. . .But I love this stuff!

* See below for "the rest of the story."

* Texas Ranks 4th in this category. The District of Colombia leads the nation in percentage of population attending a megachurch at 2.74%, followed by Georgia and Oklahoma.

** Dwight Eisenhower's parents were lifelong Jehovah's Witnesses but he became a Presbyterian shortly after becoming President.

The Coming Middle East Revival

Knowledgable friends of ours, who shall remain namless for anti-jihadi security purposes, have been telling us for some time that a major evangelism opportunity exists in the most Islam-dominated countries in the world--that in fact, a revival is already quietly underway.

As this recent post by Michael Leeden on National Review's group blog points out, even Iranians are so un-enamoured with Islam, many are returning to Zoroastrianism.

Pray for those involved in evangelism (personal and electronic) in the Middle East.

Thanks, Steve.

What a weekend.

For starters, we have the MDA telethon. I was one of the kids that had a Muscular Dystrophy Backyard Carnival whilst a child nearly 40 years ago. My efforts generated a whopping 24 dollars. I was crushed. Even in '60's dollars, it seemed meager. Still, my parents told me that it was a "job well done." I doubted it, but prayed that it would help.

Today, I watched the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and summarily cried as he performed his signature song at the end. God bless him (and me).

But that wasn't the thing that I was focused on. I never met Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, but I have watched his programs, as I’m sure you have. That makes us qualified to take a moment to thank him for his efforts.

Though he had one "Michael Jackson" moment with his baby boy in way-too-close proximity to a croc (or was it an alligator?), he basically was a gifted naturalist and advocate for God's creation... the animals.

I once swam with the stingrays on a trip a few years ago and never sensed the danger that was possible. Of course, those I swam with were tamed by the constant visitation from tourists while Steve’s stingrays were far-from-tamed creatures.

So here's to Steve... and also to his dear wife Terri and their children. Pray for them during this time.