Day: December 9, 2005

Well, besides rat brains piloting jet simulators, seven league boots and kimchi to kill asian bird flu, there have also been some interesting things going on in the world.

Hugh (you’ve met him in comments, I’m sure 🙂 sent me some info that is absolutely indispinsible to folks who sit around blogging all day long: NEW! Anti-Monkey Butt Powder! Better get some while your butt’s still de-monkeyed.

What? Me worry? Nah. (But my kids might consider being a bit concerned.) It’s called Apophis. It’s 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time. Lucifer’s Hammer?

Then there are the folks out there blogging up a storm.

The Uncooperative Blogger comments on Remarks of Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment Forum on Next The title of this program is “How to Win in Iraq.” That was the title of Andy’s seminal article in the journal Foreign Affairs earlier this fall, and it seems to me that is ought to be the focus of Congressional discussions about the war from now until…

[Who’da thunk it? Of course, the mass Media Podpeople’s Army is besotted with “Cut and Run Murtha” so Joe’s comments get little air time.]

NIF has another massive roundup: Christmas -16 days, and counting Today’s dose of NIF – News, Interesting & Funny … Sick Friday (+ Open Trackbacks)

[DO trot on over. The collection of graphics alone is worth the trip. And drop some “feel good” pills in NIF’s comments, eh?]

TMH’s Bacon Bits plays no favorites: The Israeli Euthanasia Program Dr. Death Kevorkian must feel greatly justified having one of the world’s great religions sanctify his evil.

The Florida Masochist must have read my “I’m not your typical football fan” comments: Unhappiness in Tampa If a team has played in say the Holiday Bowl three of the last four years, how many fans really come every year? After all how many times can you see San Diego?(or anywhere else. No offense meant San Diego)

[“No offense” means San Diego? 😉 ]

The Florida Masochist channels Jerry Pournelle’s thoughts today (well, close): The Sky is falling or The sky isn’t falling? To me science is looking more and more like guess work and less about science. This isn’t the only recent case of conflicting stories. Click here for a climate debate. My friend Kobayashi Maru is correct, what they really mean is we are 100% certain …

[See also comments by a correspondent at Jerry Pournelle’s Chaos Manorfor an expansion of the kind of thinking in the post linked above-and Dr. Pournelle’s response.]

Also from The Florida Masochist, more football talk: Get lost Should be the response of Miami-Dade county residents to the latest attempts by county commissioner to come to an agreement with the MLB Florida Marlins over building a stadium. Team owner Jeffrey Loria has shown himself to be a spoiled brat…

[OK, I am lost…]

Some of Diane’s Stuff: Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men We finally got some winter weather. Mother Nature must read Diane’s Stuff and made note of my complaints about 80 degree and higher temps in December. This morning it was a few degrees below freezing if you factor in the wind chill and I had to …

[I think Diane means “Good Chill Toward Men” heh]

And then Diane brings us Dear Folly’s Friday advice column: Advice on Advice I was reading a post at The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns and she says that she doesn’t think anyone should give advice to anyone, mainly because it’s seldom used. As you’re the reigning advice maven I thought I’d ask you what you th…

And Diane finishes off with the “steal” of a a good one from Random Rambling: Make Mine Ala Barf! Is there anyone that went to a public school that doesn’t remember all the joking that was done about the food in the cafateria? If so! Here is a list stolen shamelessly from Random Rambling that may help to remind you! It not only reminds us ..

The Real Ugly American could be a little uglier. The Left Tries To Tell Us Again No Ties Between Iraq and Al Qaeda! The left leaning blogs and moonbats are again clamoring with glee offering this as proof that “there were no links between Iraq and Al Qaeda”. Of course Daily Kos leads the way. What I do not understand is what these people can’t seem to understand.

Customerservant.com gives us a day in the life of Dilbert lovers everywhere: Another Day At The Races I woke up this morning with a raging headache.
Not good. I haven’t even gotten to work yet, and as of yesterday afternoon, still no solution. I talked to Cary last night, and he says he’s taking calls, but he’s asking the callers t…

[S’all for now. The rack monster calls… need to totter off to joust with it.]

Well, besides rat brains piloting jet simulators, seven league boots and kimchi to kill asian bird flu, there have also been some interesting things going on in the world.

Hugh (you’ve met him in comments, I’m sure 🙂 sent me some info that is absolutely indispinsible to folks who sit around blogging all day long: NEW! Anti-Monkey Butt Powder! Better get some while your butt’s still de-monkeyed.

What? Me worry? Nah. (But my kids might consider being a bit concerned.) It’s called Apophis. It’s 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time. Lucifer’s Hammer?

Then there are the folks out there blogging up a storm.

The Uncooperative Blogger comments on Remarks of Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment Forum on Next The title of this program is “How to Win in Iraq.” That was the title of Andy’s seminal article in the journal Foreign Affairs earlier this fall, and it seems to me that is ought to be the focus of Congressional discussions about the war from now until…

[Who’da thunk it? Of course, the mass Media Podpeople’s Army is besotted with “Cut and Run Murtha” so Joe’s comments get little air time.]

NIF has another massive roundup: Christmas -16 days, and counting Today’s dose of NIF – News, Interesting & Funny … Sick Friday (+ Open Trackbacks)

[DO trot on over. The collection of graphics alone is worth the trip. And drop some “feel good” pills in NIF’s comments, eh?]

TMH’s Bacon Bits plays no favorites: The Israeli Euthanasia Program Dr. Death Kevorkian must feel greatly justified having one of the world’s great religions sanctify his evil.

The Florida Masochist must have read my “I’m not your typical football fan” comments: Unhappiness in Tampa If a team has played in say the Holiday Bowl three of the last four years, how many fans really come every year? After all how many times can you see San Diego?(or anywhere else. No offense meant San Diego)

[“No offense” means San Diego? 😉 ]

The Florida Masochist channels Jerry Pournelle’s thoughts today (well, close): The Sky is falling or The sky isn’t falling? To me science is looking more and more like guess work and less about science. This isn’t the only recent case of conflicting stories. Click here for a climate debate. My friend Kobayashi Maru is correct, what they really mean is we are 100% certain …

[See also comments by a correspondent at Jerry Pournelle’s Chaos Manorfor an expansion of the kind of thinking in the post linked above-and Dr. Pournelle’s response.]

Also from The Florida Masochist, more football talk: Get lost Should be the response of Miami-Dade county residents to the latest attempts by county commissioner to come to an agreement with the MLB Florida Marlins over building a stadium. Team owner Jeffrey Loria has shown himself to be a spoiled brat…

[OK, I am lost…]

Some of Diane’s Stuff: Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men We finally got some winter weather. Mother Nature must read Diane’s Stuff and made note of my complaints about 80 degree and higher temps in December. This morning it was a few degrees below freezing if you factor in the wind chill and I had to …

[I think Diane means “Good Chill Toward Men” heh]

And then Diane brings us Dear Folly’s Friday advice column: Advice on Advice I was reading a post at The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns and she says that she doesn’t think anyone should give advice to anyone, mainly because it’s seldom used. As you’re the reigning advice maven I thought I’d ask you what you th…

And Diane finishes off with the “steal” of a a good one from Random Rambling: Make Mine Ala Barf! Is there anyone that went to a public school that doesn’t remember all the joking that was done about the food in the cafateria? If so! Here is a list stolen shamelessly from Random Rambling that may help to remind you! It not only reminds us ..

The Real Ugly American could be a little uglier. The Left Tries To Tell Us Again No Ties Between Iraq and Al Qaeda! The left leaning blogs and moonbats are again clamoring with glee offering this as proof that “there were no links between Iraq and Al Qaeda”. Of course Daily Kos leads the way. What I do not understand is what these people can’t seem to understand.

Customerservant.com gives us a day in the life of Dilbert lovers everywhere: Another Day At The Races I woke up this morning with a raging headache.
Not good. I haven’t even gotten to work yet, and as of yesterday afternoon, still no solution. I talked to Cary last night, and he says he’s taking calls, but he’s asking the callers t…

[S’all for now. The rack monster calls… need to totter off to joust with it.]

Well, besides rat brains piloting jet simulators, seven league boots and kimchi to kill asian bird flu, there have also been some interesting things going on in the world.

Hugh (you’ve met him in comments, I’m sure 🙂 sent me some info that is absolutely indispinsible to folks who sit around blogging all day long: NEW! Anti-Monkey Butt Powder! Better get some while your butt’s still de-monkeyed.

What? Me worry? Nah. (But my kids might consider being a bit concerned.) It’s called Apophis. It’s 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time. Lucifer’s Hammer?

Then there are the folks out there blogging up a storm.

The Uncooperative Blogger comments on Remarks of Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment Forum on Next The title of this program is “How to Win in Iraq.” That was the title of Andy’s seminal article in the journal Foreign Affairs earlier this fall, and it seems to me that is ought to be the focus of Congressional discussions about the war from now until…

[Who’da thunk it? Of course, the mass Media Podpeople’s Army is besotted with “Cut and Run Murtha” so Joe’s comments get little air time.]

NIF has another massive roundup: Christmas -16 days, and counting Today’s dose of NIF – News, Interesting & Funny … Sick Friday (+ Open Trackbacks)

[DO trot on over. The collection of graphics alone is worth the trip. And drop some “feel good” pills in NIF’s comments, eh?]

TMH’s Bacon Bits plays no favorites: The Israeli Euthanasia Program Dr. Death Kevorkian must feel greatly justified having one of the world’s great religions sanctify his evil.

The Florida Masochist must have read my “I’m not your typical football fan” comments: Unhappiness in Tampa If a team has played in say the Holiday Bowl three of the last four years, how many fans really come every year? After all how many times can you see San Diego?(or anywhere else. No offense meant San Diego)

[“No offense” means San Diego? 😉 ]

The Florida Masochist channels Jerry Pournelle’s thoughts today (well, close): The Sky is falling or The sky isn’t falling? To me science is looking more and more like guess work and less about science. This isn’t the only recent case of conflicting stories. Click here for a climate debate. My friend Kobayashi Maru is correct, what they really mean is we are 100% certain …

[See also comments by a correspondent at Jerry Pournelle’s Chaos Manorfor an expansion of the kind of thinking in the post linked above-and Dr. Pournelle’s response.]

Also from The Florida Masochist, more football talk: Get lost Should be the response of Miami-Dade county residents to the latest attempts by county commissioner to come to an agreement with the MLB Florida Marlins over building a stadium. Team owner Jeffrey Loria has shown himself to be a spoiled brat…

[OK, I am lost…]

Some of Diane’s Stuff: Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men We finally got some winter weather. Mother Nature must read Diane’s Stuff and made note of my complaints about 80 degree and higher temps in December. This morning it was a few degrees below freezing if you factor in the wind chill and I had to …

[I think Diane means “Good Chill Toward Men” heh]

And then Diane brings us Dear Folly’s Friday advice column: Advice on Advice I was reading a post at The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns and she says that she doesn’t think anyone should give advice to anyone, mainly because it’s seldom used. As you’re the reigning advice maven I thought I’d ask you what you th…

And Diane finishes off with the “steal” of a a good one from Random Rambling: Make Mine Ala Barf! Is there anyone that went to a public school that doesn’t remember all the joking that was done about the food in the cafateria? If so! Here is a list stolen shamelessly from Random Rambling that may help to remind you! It not only reminds us ..

The Real Ugly American could be a little uglier. The Left Tries To Tell Us Again No Ties Between Iraq and Al Qaeda! The left leaning blogs and moonbats are again clamoring with glee offering this as proof that “there were no links between Iraq and Al Qaeda”. Of course Daily Kos leads the way. What I do not understand is what these people can’t seem to understand.

Customerservant.com gives us a day in the life of Dilbert lovers everywhere: Another Day At The Races I woke up this morning with a raging headache.
Not good. I haven’t even gotten to work yet, and as of yesterday afternoon, still no solution. I talked to Cary last night, and he says he’s taking calls, but he’s asking the callers t…

[S’all for now. The rack monster calls… need to totter off to joust with it.]

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

I’ve never liked any of the tunes I’ve heard the Christina Rossetti poem set to and sung in churches. OK, one I’ve NOT heard it sung to is KING’S WESTON (link is a midi file—the Ralph Vaughan-Williams adaptation of the old tune). Its minor key sound fits nicely with the “bleak midwinter” imagry, I think. With minor vocal and rhythmic elisions (made for other texts it is often mated to, as well), it can be made to fit the natural rhythms of the words nicely enough… except for that last verse, which has a very different feel… and focus, changing from third person observer to participant.

So, several years ago, I wrote the little tune below as a standalone, one-verse song, using only the last verse of “In the Bleak Midwinter”.

Linked at Jo’s Cafe’s “TGIF Specials” and Bloggin’ Outloud’s “Search String OP”

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

I’ve never liked any of the tunes I’ve heard the Christina Rossetti poem set to and sung in churches. OK, one I’ve NOT heard it sung to is KING’S WESTON (link is a midi file—the Ralph Vaughan-Williams adaptation of the old tune). Its minor key sound fits nicely with the “bleak midwinter” imagry, I think. With minor vocal and rhythmic elisions (made for other texts it is often mated to, as well), it can be made to fit the natural rhythms of the words nicely enough… except for that last verse, which has a very different feel… and focus, changing from third person observer to participant.

So, several years ago, I wrote the little tune below as a standalone, one-verse song, using only the last verse of “In the Bleak Midwinter”.

Linked at Jo’s Cafe’s “TGIF Specials” and Bloggin’ Outloud’s “Search String OP”

Romeocat has her Daily Advent Meditation up, based on the lyrics of the carol below. She links to a beautiful and powerful Michael W. Smith musical interpretation of the lyrics, but I still “hear’ in my mind’s ear the old Gaelic tune BUNESSAN (which you may think of as “Morning Has Broken”). Be sure to read the neditation at Cathouse Chat and listen to the Michael W. Smith interpretation. below are the lyrics and a midi file of the gaelic tune I associate with them.

Child in the Manger

Child in the manger, infant of Mary,
Outcast and Stranger, Lord of us all,
Child Who inherits all our transgressions,
All our demerits upon Him fall.

Once the most holy Child of salvation
Gently and lowly lived here below.
Now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,
See Him victorious over each foe.

Prophets foretold Him, Infant of wonder;
Angels behold Him, King on His throne.
Worthy our Savior of all our praises;
Happy forever are all His own.

Here’s a snippet of BUNESSAN in a semi-familiar form:

Romeocat has her Daily Advent Meditation up, based on the lyrics of the carol below. She links to a beautiful and powerful Michael W. Smith musical interpretation of the lyrics, but I still “hear’ in my mind’s ear the old Gaelic tune BUNESSAN (which you may think of as “Morning Has Broken”). Be sure to read the neditation at Cathouse Chat and listen to the Michael W. Smith interpretation. below are the lyrics and a midi file of the gaelic tune I associate with them.

Child in the Manger

Child in the manger, infant of Mary,
Outcast and Stranger, Lord of us all,
Child Who inherits all our transgressions,
All our demerits upon Him fall.

Once the most holy Child of salvation
Gently and lowly lived here below.
Now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,
See Him victorious over each foe.

Prophets foretold Him, Infant of wonder;
Angels behold Him, King on His throne.
Worthy our Savior of all our praises;
Happy forever are all His own.

Here’s a snippet of BUNESSAN in a semi-familiar form:

Yeh, yeh. Well, they’re too small to be “pet peeves”. Just have to be petty peeves.

What is it with subliterates-especially professional subliterates in colonies of Mass Media Podpeople-who refuse to pronouce words, easily pronounced words, properly? February, for example. Every time I hear some talking head, you know, someone who is paid real money for talking, pronounce it “Feb YOU ary”-completely dropping the easily-pronounced first “r”-I wanna dock his pay. After slapping him upside the head with a dead fish. Or something harder. Much harder. With sharp, pointy protrusions.

And what’s with the idiot newsreader I heard the other night pronouncing “united” (as in “United States”) “You-NINE-ted”? Where did the extra “n” come from? The alternate reality where all the unwanted “r”s in FebRuary go?

Yeh, I know they can’t really read. They’re going by what they have misheard for years because they can’t hear or think, either.

Back to regularly scheduled whatever…

Yeh, yeh. Well, they’re too small to be “pet peeves”. Just have to be petty peeves.

What is it with subliterates-especially professional subliterates in colonies of Mass Media Podpeople-who refuse to pronouce words, easily pronounced words, properly? February, for example. Every time I hear some talking head, you know, someone who is paid real money for talking, pronounce it “Feb YOU ary”-completely dropping the easily-pronounced first “r”-I wanna dock his pay. After slapping him upside the head with a dead fish. Or something harder. Much harder. With sharp, pointy protrusions.

And what’s with the idiot newsreader I heard the other night pronouncing “united” (as in “United States”) “You-NINE-ted”? Where did the extra “n” come from? The alternate reality where all the unwanted “r”s in FebRuary go?

Yeh, I know they can’t really read. They’re going by what they have misheard for years because they can’t hear or think, either.

Back to regularly scheduled whatever…

As is so often the case, ditching newspeak and “political correctness” almost compels good sense. Such is the case with Fred Reed’s column this week talking common sense about “diversity”—for example:

“Diversity causes nothing but trouble. Think about it. Do old people want to hang around young people? No. Do young people want to hang around old people? Generally they would rather take poison. Do liberals and conservatives want to get within rifle range of each other? No. Except conservatives, because they have rifles.”

And, I might add, know how and when to use ’em. More at the link. Print it out and annoy a moonbat with it.

h.t. to Hugh. I know I’ll never miss a Fred column cos you’ll remind me, Hugh. Thanks.

Served up for Breakfast at Basil’s