For a Sunday Afternoon

I've always liked Dolly Parton, and I think she gives her customary good performance with this song. It has a message worth contemplating, too. Just a thought for a Sunday afternoon.

By the Numbers

I just took an online poll by the Washington Times that shows 94% of those voting in favor of scrapping the healthcare bill and starting over from scratch. A sickly 4% of those polled think we should soldier on with the legislative monstrosity. That leaves 2% probably too ill to vote.

A Rasmussen poll shows that only 28% of American voters think the country is headed in the right direction. A whopping 65% in that poll think we're on the wrong track. That leaves about 7% still trying to figure out what's hit us in the past year or so.

I'm in the majority numbers in both of those polls. Unfortunately, I'm 100% sure that it doesn't matter.

Technology Overload

Okay, how many of you are on Twitter? How many are on Facebook or My Space? What about Plaxo or LinkedIn, sites that my daughter calls "Facebook for grownups"?

In addition to all of this online activity, how many of you are blogging or texting, sometimes while simultaneously talking into your bluetooth and/or checking your multiple e-mail accounts?

Was it so long ago that we could read, drive, or have dinner with friends in peace, without all the ringing, dinging, and pinging? What the heck happened?

I do have accounts on Twitter and Facebook, but I scarcely ever go near them. Facebook is especially fertile grounds for "cyber-stalkers," my pet name for the contacts who can't be alone for a second and gleefully pop up with an IM the instant you log on, eager for an online chat.

Please, technophiles. Show some cyber-mercy. I stare at a computer at least nine hours a day, then come home to my bursting inbox. "Social networking" has turned into a whole new workday after hours.

I refuse to believe I'm alone in my tech-weariness. At least some of you must have the same 10,000-byte stare that I have these days. Yet here I am, posting another entry to my blog. Enough of the tyranny of technology! It's time to start a "Tech Party," to reclaim our personal time for ourselves...wait a second...

Is that your cell phone, or mine?

Forensic on the First Year

With customary elegance and insight, Victor Davis Hanson nails down the analysis of President Obama's first year in office. Hopefully, the country is durable enough to withstand another three years of this tiresome ineffectiveness.

If you need a chuckle to maintain your perspective and/or sanity, Mark Steyn is always willing to provide an avenue to the humor in our current national quandary. And Jonah Goldberg has even more to ponder at NRO. Not very encouraging, but quite entertaining.

If only we voters weren't so stupid and could appreciate the unparalleled brilliance of our "leader." There's quite a blunt and simple message here. But I'm sure the president, who is too busy talking, won't hear it.

World Communications Day

Thanks to the new communications media, the Lord can walk the streets of our cities and, stopping before the threshold of our homes and our hearts, say once more: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20).

~ Pope Benedict XVI, 1/24/2010, Feast of St. Francis de Sales - Vatican message for the 44th World Communications Day

I know I tend to go on about this, but I just love the fact that my birthday falls on the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers, authors, and journalists. Pope Benedict is advising priests to use blogging and the internet to teach with the Gospel message.

Amen to that.

The Scott Heard 'Round the Nation

Those pesky voters. Whatever is wrong with "the People?" They just continue to interrupt Congress from telling them what it is they really want.

In yesterday's special election, the people of Massachusetts put their foot down hard on Washington D.C.'s agenda. You might even say that they floored it--in a pickup truck, no less.

How annoying for the ruling oligarchy. What do "these people" expect? Democracy? In the U.S.A.? Really!

Congratulations, Scott Brown and the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And thank you. Once again, just as you did in the 1770s, you've given Americans the opportunity to save our nation. I'll drink a cup of tea on that.

Photo by Brian Snyder, Reuters

A Time to Reach Out

Regardless of how many problems our nation is experiencing through hard financial times, national security threats, and political discord, we are on top of the world compared to just about any other place on earth.

The terrible earthquake in impoverished Haiti should serve as a stark reminder of the countless blessings we Americans enjoy. It should also give us pause to consider an appropriate avenue to extend a helping hand to our neighbors in such desperate need.

Even a mere five dollars would be considered a windfall by one of Haiti's hungry, injured, homeless earthquake victims--and it would truly make a difference. Americans are generous and caring people; we are not banks, corporations, or political parties. I hope each reader will choose a reputable, trusted charity and donate as generously as possible to the relief efforts for the Haitian people.

Photo from the Financial Times/Getty Images

Following Instructions

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...

~ Matthew 28:19

Brit Hume was simply doing what Christians are supposed to do when he entreated Tiger Woods to find his redemption in Christianity. There's nothing malicious or bigoted about it; we're just supposed to spread the Good News to as many people as possible. By doing so, we are living our faith.

It drives the lefties absolutely around the bend of sanity, but Christians are supposed to do this. In fact, doing so is following a direct instruction from Jesus Christ.

I'm not as outspoken as Brit Hume is about being a Christian--which is a more neutral way of saying I'm not as good a Christian as he is--but I certainly do admire him for having the courage to follow the Great Commission in the anti-Judeo-Christian, global goldfish bowl of television media.

I wonder how long it will be before MSM peels itself off the ceiling?

Foreign Words

In recent days, I've learned that the best way to find a straight-talking account of the deep trouble America is in with Islamic radicals is to read the British press.

The UK Telegraph has been particularly blunt about our president's dangerous reluctance to face facts. As Toby Harnden declares in his Jan. 2 article, "It's the Jihad, stupid." If only our domestic "journalists" would be as outspoken about the unrelenting reality of our enemies, Obama might be forced to take a stand in trying to avoid the next 9/11.

It may be a new year, but some things don't change. The "free press" that our Founders believed would protect us, isn't--for largely political reasons. Instead, Great Britain, the country we fought to be freed from, is warning us of our peril. Read all about the Islamic threat to America--in the UK Telegraph.

There's a noteworthy exception by one of our own reporters, Jack Kelly's article, linked from Real Clear Politics. Mark Steyn will even be able to make you laugh about the whole mess, in a grim sort of way. But I'll continue reading the British press online; they truly "get it."

Picking and Choosing

This link to the "Nine Big Stories the Mainstream Media Missed in 2009" is a good explanation of why I get most of my news from the internet.

Here's hoping for more objective--and competent--news coverage in 2010.