tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-195560542024-03-07T13:50:11.759-05:00Chosen by Grace"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide." John 15:16melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.comBlogger310125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-56124590534922886382010-03-10T21:19:00.002-05:002010-03-10T21:24:42.039-05:00Junebug!<span style="font-family: arial;">Friends from church Jessica and Bill are in the process of adopting two little ones from Russia! Check out Jess's site <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JunebugFelts">here</a> and help them raise $$ for the adoption!<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-80627736084385158422010-01-31T01:26:00.001-05:002010-01-31T01:28:05.522-05:00Weird things you see in the city....<span style="font-family: arial;">I was walking down 57th St. on my lunch break Friday, and guess what I passed? A person <span style="font-style: italic;">talking on a pay phone.</span> I don't think I've seen that in years!<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-24845819745631586752010-01-24T14:46:00.002-05:002010-01-24T14:53:42.501-05:00How do you really feel?<span style="font-family: arial;">From <span style="font-style: italic;">Mere Christianity </span>(by C.S. Lewis):<br /><br /><blockquote>There is no need to be worried by facetious people who try to make the Christian hope of 'Heaven' ridiculous by saying they do not want 'to spend eternity playing harps'. The answer to such people is that if they cannot understand books written for grown-ups, they should not talk about them. All the scriptural imagery (harps, crowns, gold, etc.) is, of course, a merely symbolical attempt to express the inexpressible. Musical instruments are mentioned because for many people (not all) music is the thing known in the present life which most strongly suggests ecstasy and infinity. Crowns are mentioned to suggest the fact that those who are united with God in eternity share His splendour and power and joy. Gold is mentioned to suggest the timelessness of Heaven (gold does not rust) and the preciousness of it. People who take these symbols literally might as well think that when Christ told us to be like doves, He meant that we were to lay eggs.<br /></blockquote><br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-58791160284991371782009-12-13T20:59:00.002-05:002009-12-13T21:18:28.197-05:00The Screwtape Letters<span style="font-family: arial;">I recently read C.S. Lewis's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Screwtape Letters</span> for the first time. It was definitely one of the more convicting works of fiction that I've read, and as I read, I made up my mind to post probably a hundred different excerpts. But, alas, I don't have the time to post all those excerpts, so we'll have to make do with just a few. In today's excerpt, Screwtape writes to Wormwood (a lower-ranked demon), giving advice on how to tempt his "patient" in the area of churchgoing:<br /><blockquote><br />"[I]f your patient can't be kept out of the Church, he ought at least to be violently attached to some party within it. I don't mean on really doctrinal issues; about those, the more lukewarm he is the better. And it isn't the doctrines on which we chiefly depend for producing malice. The real fun is working up hatred between those who <span style="font-style: italic;">say</span> 'mass' and those who <span style="font-style: italic;">say</span> 'holy communion' when neither party could possibly state the difference between, say, Hooker's doctrine and Thomas Aquinas', in any form which would hold water for five minutes. And all the purely indifferent things--candles and clothes and what not--are an admirable ground for our activities. We have quite removed from men's minds what that pestilent fellow Paul used to teach about food and other unessentials--namely, that the human without scruples should always give in to the human with scruples. You would think they could not fail to see the application. You would expect to find the 'low' churchman genuflecting and crossing himself lest the weak conscience of his 'high' brother should be moved to irreverence, and the 'high' one refraining from these exercises lest he should betray his 'low' brother into idolatry. And so it would have been but for our ceaseless labour. Without that the variety of usage within the Church of England might have become a positive hotbed of charity and humility.<br /></blockquote>I'm thankful that I've never been part of a church which has had serious issues with breaking into different factions--although, perhaps this has been due more to the homogeneity of the churches I've attended than to any amazing level of love and humility. Still, I know I often need to be reminded of the need to express love to my fellow believers by giving in to them in areas where we have differences (even if they attend a different church, and the only way I can practice this is by not looking down on them for being different).<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-69881620030124411362009-12-12T22:28:00.002-05:002009-12-12T22:33:52.221-05:00New York....<span style="font-family: arial;">I've been inspired by a friend to start blogging again. I've decided to begin with a post about the crazy things one sees in New York. So, here goes nothing....<br /><br />I was on my way home from the church Christmas concert rehearsal tonight, and had to go through 14th St-Union Square. There, in the subway station, was a group that consisted of a guy playing a beat-up piano, a guy playing a drum set, and a woman tap dancing. The best part was the two elves (one of whom appeared to be holding a mailbox) standing by watching.<br /><br />Of course, I'm not sure if that qualifies as "crazy." But I have to start somewhere....<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-27841838311768555542009-02-06T12:19:00.001-05:002009-02-06T12:21:00.297-05:00::sigh::<span style="font-family:arial;">Why could we not have elected <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/06/romney.stimulus/index.html">him</a> instead?</span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-4270464444933370952008-12-19T23:37:00.002-05:002008-12-19T23:40:20.333-05:00More from the WSJ<span style="font-family: arial;">Excerpts from the only <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122970837480622037.html">column</a> that I read every day:<br /><br /></span><p><strong><a class="" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE4BI01G20081219?feedType=RSS&feedName=lifestyleMolt&rpc=22&sp=true" target="_blank">Not to Mention Guns and Religion</a></strong><br />"In Tough Times, Americans Cling to Christmas Trees"--headline, Reuters, Dce. 18</p> <p><strong><a class="" href="http://planetark.org/wen/50928" target="_blank">Maybe the Embargo Is Working</a></strong><br />"In 'Eat Local' Movement, Cuba Is Years Ahead"--headline, Reuters, Dec. 17</p><p><strong><a class="" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/business/19auto.html" target="_blank">Can We Have the Sunroof and Heated Seats Instead?</a></strong><br />"Car Bankruptcy Cited as Option by White House"--headline, New York Times, Dec. 19</p><p><strong><a class="" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-county-budget-19dec19,0,7379376.story" target="_blank">Then It Ate His Homework</a></strong><br />"Todd Stroger's Budget Assailed by Watchdog"--headline, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 19</p> <p><strong><a class="" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/sports/basketball/19fans.html" target="_blank">They Need to Sell More Beer and Hot Dogs</a></strong><br />"In Some N.B.A. Arenas, the Crowds Are Thin"--headline, New York Times, Dec. 19</p> <p><strong><a class="" href="http://www.cfnews13.com/Sports/CentralFloridaSportsReport/2008/12/16/massive_layoffs_at_orlando_predators.html" target="_blank">Good News for Orlando Prey</a></strong><br />"Massive Layoffs at Orlando Predators"--headline, Central Florida News 13 Web site (Orlando), Dec. 17</p>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-27700007312460462302008-12-19T23:29:00.002-05:002008-12-19T23:33:00.714-05:00I guess I shouldn't be surprised....<span style="font-family: arial;">For those of you who haven't yet seen it, there's an <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,469928,00.html">article on FoxNews.com</a> about a woman in Florida who is upset about being disciplined by her church.<br /><br />I was going to make some remarks, but <a href="http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2008/12/breaking-news-church-dares-to-practice.html">this post</a> says everything I wanted to say, only better.<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-84657879010805162732008-04-14T22:38:00.002-04:002008-04-14T22:41:23.908-04:00Another reason to love the Wall Street Journal.<p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/NEWS/80413001/-1/BUSINESS04" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120805672535010747.html?mod=Best+of+the+Web+Today"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: arial;">The "Best of the Web Today"</span></span></span></a><br /></b></p><p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/NEWS/80413001/-1/BUSINESS04" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></p><p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/NEWS/80413001/-1/BUSINESS04" target="_blank">A Break for Obama</a></b><br />"Clinton Woman Jailed for Allegedly Using Stolen Credit Card to Pay Court Costs"--headline, Des Moines Register, April 13</p> <p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/NATION/639485686/-1/RSS_NATION_POLITICS" target="_blank">We Blame Global Warming</a></b><br />"Israel Cools to Visit by Carter"--headline, Washington Times, April 13</p> <p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080413/ap_on_re_us/polygamist_retreat" target="_blank">Mrs. Perry Is None Too Pleased</a></b><br />"Sect Mothers Appeal to Texas Governor"--headline, Associated Press, April 13</p> <p class="times"><b>This Relationship Is Progressing Nicely</b></p> <div class="article"> <span class="p12">•</span> "Truck Driver Takes Out Traffic Light"--headline, <a class="times" href="http://www.nj.com/centraljersey/index.ssf/2008/02/truck_driver_takes_out_traffic.html" target="_blank">Times</a> (Trenton, N.J.), Feb. 29<span style="font-size: 5px;"><br /><br /></span> <span class="p12">•</span> "Bedding Traffic Light in High Point"--headline, <a class="times" href="http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/CA6550752.html?industryid=23169&industry=Headline+News&nid=2373" target="_blank">Furniture Today</a>, April 11<span style="font-size: 5px;"><br /><br /></span> </div> <p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_re_us/subway_groper_1" target="_blank">Sounds as if He Needs to Get One</a></b><br />"Chronic NYC Subway Groper Could Get Life"--headline, Associated Press, April 14</p> <p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/mediareleases_9921.htm" target="_blank">'Hey, That's Kay and Steve!'</a></b><br />"Delaware County Couple Recognized at State Convention"--headline, New York State United Teachers Web site, April 11</p> <p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200804/CUL20080411b.html" target="_blank">Bill Is None Too Pleased Either</a></b><br />" 'Spanking' Bill Is Government Intrusion, Conservatives Warn"--headline, CNSNews.com, April 11</p> <p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/apr/11/people-without-insurance-are-dying/" target="_blank">As Are People With Insurance</a></b><br />"People Without Insurance Are Dying"--headline, Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel, April 11</p> <p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/us/13asbestos.html" target="_blank">Kit Replies: 'You're Not Exactly 100% Wool Yourself'</a></b><br />"Suit Says Toy Kit Contains Asbestos"--headline, Reuters, April 13</p> <p class="times"><b><a class="times" href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,350969,00.html" target="_blank">Everyone's a Critic, Mate</a></b><br />"Australian Man Critical After Swallowing Hashish-Filled Condoms"--headline, FoxNews.com, April 12</p>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-8840686244213833952008-01-25T20:25:00.000-05:002008-01-25T20:30:10.068-05:00Have to brag on the alma mater....<a href="http://www.wfu.edu/news/release/2008.01.22.a.php"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wake Forest accounting graduates rank first in nation on CPA exam</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">And I'm thankful that the Lord allowed me to be in that 83.33%.</span><br /><a href="http://www.wfu.edu/news/release/2008.01.22.a.php"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-91653267336344479532008-01-20T23:56:00.001-05:002008-01-20T23:57:43.580-05:00Perhaps you meant "tenets"?<span style="font-family: arial;">"Hundreds are expected to attend the annual breakfast, a community celebration and reflection on King's tenants of the America Dream: freedom, democracy and opportunity for all."<br /><br />Thank you, <a href="http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/455359.html">Charlotte Observer</a>.<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-75628699956646197752008-01-08T23:44:00.000-05:002008-01-08T23:47:44.827-05:00Huckabee, again....<span style="font-family: arial;">For those of you who think Huckabee is above using God for his own purposes:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2yj_okz7ZwI&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2yj_okz7ZwI&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">(Sorry it's such a bad video; I saw a version several days ago that was much clearer, but I can't find it now.)</span><br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-46671184424480236792008-01-06T00:01:00.000-05:002008-01-06T00:28:29.145-05:00Thinking about voting for Huckabee?<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Please</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"> think again!<br /><br />From <a href="http://opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110011019">Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal</a>:<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">On the "cross ad" -- "</span></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Times;font-size:100%;" >I wound up thinking this: That guy is using the cross so I'll like him. That doesn't tell me what he thinks of Jesus, but it does tell me what he thinks of me. He thinks I'm dim. He thinks I will associate my savior with his candidacy. Bleh."</span></li><li style="font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >"</span><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr. Huckabee is clever. He puts forth his policies, such as they are, based on a faith-based understanding of public policy, and if you disagree with his policies, or take a hard shot at them, or at him, he suggests the reason is that you look down on evangelicals."</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's <a href="http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/33391ddb-ed1f-4bc3-9d19-cdca6181d5d4">another link</a> with some info on why one Arkansas evangelical is </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >not</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> supporting Huckabee.<br /><br />The only thing I've heard so far about Huckabee that would make me consider voting for him is that he's a social conservative. (Except for that $35,000 in consulting fees that he reportedly earned from Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company that engages in embryonic stem cell research--while denouncing embryonic stem cell research....) What I've read about his economic views and his record on illegal immigration, tax hikes, and frequent releases of criminals has been appalling. Even more appalling is his apparent willingness to use his professed Christianity for political gain. And don't even get me started on the ridiculous "fair" tax plan....<br /><br />Maybe I'm missing something, but based on all the information I have so far, I have no idea why Christians are so excited about Huckabee's candidacy!<br /></span></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-70490036340708057382007-12-08T18:59:00.000-05:002007-12-08T19:07:07.988-05:00"And he would have lost the idiot vote."<span style="font-family:arial;">A few quotations from Peggy Noonan's <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119706422040017530.html?mod=opinion_main_featured_stories_hs">column</a> in this weekend's Wall Street Journal. She discusses Mitt Romney's recent speech on religion in America:<br /><br /></span><blockquote>Bill Buckley once said he'd rather be governed by the first thousand names in the Boston phone book than the Harvard faculty. I'd rather be governed by Donny and Marie than the Washington establishment. Mormons have been, in American history, hardworking, family-loving citizens whose civic impulses have tended toward the constructive. Good enough for me. [Romney is] running for president, not pastor. In any case his faith is one thing about Mr. Romney I haven't questioned.<br /><br />It is true that some in his campaign thought a speech risky, but others saw it as an opportunity, and a first draft was ready last March. In certain ways Mr. Romney had felt a tugging resistance: <i>I've been in public life -- served as governor, run the Olympics, run a business. I have to do a speech saying my faith won't distort my leadership?<br /><br /></i></blockquote><i></i><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's my favorite part:<br /></span><p class="times"></p><blockquote><p class="times">There was one significant mistake in the speech. I do not know why Romney did not include nonbelievers in his moving portrait of the great American family. We were founded by believing Christians, but soon enough Jeremiah Johnson, and the old proud agnostic mountain men, and the village atheist, and the Brahmin doubter, were there, and they too are part of us, part of this wonderful thing we have. Why did Mr. Romney not do the obvious thing and include them? My guess: It would have been reported, and some idiots would have seen it and been offended that this Romney character likes to laud atheists. And he would have lost the idiot vote.</p> <p class="times">My feeling is we've bowed too far to the idiots. This is true in politics, journalism, and just about everything else.</p></blockquote><p class="times"></p>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-28021583205801625482007-12-05T10:53:00.001-05:002007-12-05T10:55:18.055-05:00Tradition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://despair.com/tradition.html"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AUQi5mUTHLyjN6f5EiSwTD_0JpNopYrLyNXbwWkf5lDTUonTbYurXRIH4dqaH2zDySRbtuEaULnesaTd_zdWsGHZ_MDwMT-XbwmX-RDBfwpul9mLQjbUYZ4WoEpHl-yf72Y9gw/s400/tradition.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140517691197723922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-47409618033238659832007-12-01T13:44:00.000-05:002007-12-01T13:52:44.514-05:00I'll try not to make sarcastic remarks....<span style="font-family: arial;">....but it won't be easy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314491,00.html">Republicans Report Having Better Mental Health Than Democrats, Poll Finds</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/102943/Republicans-Report-Much-Better-Mental-Health-Than-Others.aspx">Here</a> is the Gallup poll on which the article is based.<br /><br />From the poll:<br /><blockquote>The reason the relationship exists between being a Republican and more positive mental health is unknown, and one cannot say whether something about being a Republican causes a person to be more mentally healthy, or whether something about being mentally healthy causes a person to choose to become a Republican (or whether some third variable is responsible for causing both to be parallel).</blockquote></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-48326313695951789682007-11-30T18:14:00.000-05:002007-11-30T18:17:36.802-05:00Ho, ho, ho.<span style="font-family:arial;">Now, this is a Christmas-themed shirt I would actually wear.<br /><br />Unfortunately, it's sold out.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://despair.com/cuforhoch.html"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetKQuuumZ2f25uYlkSzKt8qlDTiVv8u5p2BifiIaBwwrxtKfWQpupJ0387lYAYfO17D2WP2YOYuXqD1hZZmnY7l8O7-bgnAyIXjZY0LrDFedPNo2jeNzsfiKd4uOb8ZRWxbSmlg/s320/demotivators_1979_1028543.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138776197923312898" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="file:///C:/Temp/moz-screenshot-5.jpg" alt="" />melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-82833040593927318692007-11-26T19:36:00.000-05:002007-11-26T19:37:19.555-05:00I should add this to my Amazon Wish List....<span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/26/music.weatherchanneljazz.ap/index.html">This</a> is great.<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-84731207946418862662007-11-15T14:57:00.000-05:002007-11-15T14:59:57.481-05:00Schumann's Konzertstuck<span style="font-family: arial;">On my drive to campus this morning, I caught the last minute or two of Schumann's Konzertstuck on radio station <a href="http://www.wdav.org/18_174_0.cfm">WDAV</a>. After the piece ended, they announced that a video clip was posted on their <a href="http://blogs.davidson.edu/wdav/">blog</a>. I had to look it up. Here is it:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C4dtVsYoNjY&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C4dtVsYoNjY&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-85372004820317607132007-11-13T16:40:00.000-05:002007-11-13T16:57:42.601-05:00Romney 2008!<span style="font-family:arial;">After reading the interview with Romney in this past weekend's </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Wall Street Journal</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, I think I've figured out why I like him--he thinks analytically (like I do--only I'm sure his analytical thinking is much better than mine!), so I understand how he thinks through things.<br /><br />I really like the idea of a president who is willing to look closely at all the data before making decisions, and who is willing to reevaluate his positions if more information suggests that he was wrong. From the interview:<br /><br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;">Mr. Romney's data-driven world-view . . . really stands out when he starts talking foreign policy. In a debate last month, he responded to a question about the president's legal authority to attack Iran by saying, "you sit down with your attorneys" and figure out what authority you have.</span><br /><p style="font-family: arial;" class="times">But this was not merely a dodge -- if it had been, it would have been a clumsy one at best. It was a glimpse into the workings of Mr. Romney's mind. At his meeting in our offices this week, he was asked how Candidate Romney would respond upon learning that President Bush had launched an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="times">"I would hope that the president would have outlined a great deal of information," was Mr. Romney's response. "I have very little information, for instance, on: How many nuclear facilities are there? Where are they? Can we take them out? Can we not? What is the capacity of the Iranian military to respond? Are our 160,000 troops in Iraq safe, or are they going to get hit?" Coming from someone else, it might sound like evasion.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="times">But given Mr. Romney's habits of mind, it sounded, instead, perfectly natural. He continued: "It's such a wide array of information I'd need to know whether something is a good idea or a bad idea. . . . So it depends."</p></blockquote><p style="font-family: arial;" class="times"></p><span style="font-family:arial;">And a bit more:<br /></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="times"></p><blockquote><p style="font-family: arial;" class="times">The impression he gives in person is not . . . that of a salesman tailoring his message to his audience. It is, instead, precisely the person he described in the opening moments of our meeting: A man who goes first to the data, who refers to what some would call their "core beliefs" as "concepts."</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="times">At any rate, his response to a question about his former disdain for "Reagan-Bush" is consistent with that version of the man. "Reagan gets a lot smarter the older I get," he allows. He then explains what bothered him then: "I was concerned about what seemed to be looming deficits and inability to rein in spending in those days. And as time has gone on, I've recognized that he was brilliant and did the right thing for our economy. And so I may not have been entirely in sync with Reagan-Bush back at the time, but as time has gone on, I think what they proposed was smarter and smarter."</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="times">Framed in that way, what was a flip-flop becomes an openness to reconsider former positions. That may not do much to mollify those who worry about his ideological reliability -- he's changed his views before, so what's to stop him from changing them again? But it is a kind of Romneyian consistency -- belief in what works, belief in praxis over abstract theory or ideology.</p><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-1950961781756298862007-11-13T11:58:00.000-05:002007-11-13T12:00:35.608-05:00That would rule out most politicians.<span style="font-family: arial;"> "Personally I want to know that I have someone who's honest representing me."<br /><br />From a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/13/clinton.planted/index.html">CNN.com story</a> about Hillary's campaign allegedly planting questions at a campaign event.<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-85073623041397764852007-11-03T17:04:00.000-04:002007-11-03T17:07:06.080-04:00Homework break!<span style="font-family: arial;">This was probably my favorite cartoon episode ever when I was a kid:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/G_PLARjA5QQ"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/G_PLARjA5QQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-87417892742421025222007-10-31T12:14:00.000-04:002007-10-31T12:17:37.138-04:00Iowa taxman chooses trick over treat<span style="font-family: arial;">My tax prof mentioned this in class a few days ago; now, here's the article from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/pumpkin.tax.ap/index.html">CNN.com</a>:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><p><b>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)</b> -- The taxman in Iowa is going after jack-o'-lanterns this Halloween.</p> <!--startclickprintexclude--> <!-- PURGE: /2007/US/10/31/pumpkin.tax.ap/art.pumpkin.afp.gi.jpg --><!-- KEEP --><div class="cnnStoryPhotoBox"><div id="cnnImgChngr" class="cnnImgChngr"><!----><!--===========IMAGE============--><!--===========/IMAGE===========--><div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox"><div class="cnn3pxTB9pxLRPad"><p><!--===========CAPTION==========-->Most pumpkins are used as decorations, making them taxable, Iowa has ruled.<!--===========/CAPTION=========--></p></div></div><div class="cnnWireBoxFooter">The new department policy was implemented after officials decided that pumpkins are used primarily for Halloween decorations, not food, and should be taxed, said Renee Mulvey, the department's spokeswoman.</div></div></div><!-- /PURGE: /2007/US/10/31/pumpkin.tax.ap/art.pumpkin.afp.gi.jpg --> <!--endclickprintexclude--><p> "We made the change because we wanted the sales tax law to match what we thought the predominant use was," Mulvey said. "We thought the predominant use was for decorations or jack-o'-lanterns."</p><p> Previously, pumpkins had been considered an edible squash and exempted from the tax. The department ruled this year that pumpkins are taxable -- with some exceptions -- if they are advertised for use as jack-'o-lanterns or decorations.</p><p> Iowans planning to eat pumpkins can still get a tax exemption if they fill out a form.</p><p> The new policy, published in the department's September newsletter, has some pumpkin farmers feeling tricked this Halloween.</p> "I don't mind paying taxes, but let's get real here, people," said Bob Kautz, owner of the Buffalo Pumpkin Patch in Buffalo, just west of Davenport.<!--startclickprintexclude--><span class="cnnEmbeddedMosLnk"></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-25099131363152575252007-10-23T12:21:00.000-04:002007-10-23T12:31:49.474-04:00"Cold and Calculating"?<span style="font-family: arial;">I thought <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303808,00.html">this article</a> about Socks was interesting.<br /><br />To give Hillary the benefit of the doubt, maybe she had a good reason for not keeping the cat....<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19556054.post-65912139715819439562007-10-15T23:57:00.000-04:002007-10-17T21:33:33.046-04:00I'm annoyed with Ann Taylor.<span style="font-family:arial;">Toward the end of May, I bought two sweaters (same style, different colors) at an Ann Taylor Factory Store. I wore one of the sweaters to work several times during my internship in July and August, and I wasn't terribly happy with how well it held up. (It's not falling apart--it's just not looking as good as an Ann Taylor sweater should after being washed and worn only a handful of times.) So I decided to return the other sweater. Unfortunately, between work, school, the CPA exam, and wedding planning, I didn't have a chance to stop by Ann Taylor until the end of August--and found out that a regular Ann Taylor store doesn't take returns of Factory Store merchandise. (My fault--didn't thoroughly read the return policy.)<br /><br />The nearest Factory Store is two hours away, and I wasn't able to go until last Thursday. I took the sweater and my receipt into the store, and an employee told me that they have a 90-day return policy: After 90 days, they refund only the current selling price of the item--even with a receipt. Of course, the current selling price of my sweater is about $20 less than what I paid for it. I decided not to take the pathetically small refund offered to me and instead see about selling the sweater on eBay.<br /><br />I'm glad I made that decision, because when I got home and looked closely at my receipt, I couldn't find <span style="font-style: italic;">any</span> information about the 90-day return policy. The receipt says:<br /><blockquote>If you are not delighted with your purchase, simply return the unworn, unwashed or defective merchandise with your original receipt. We will be glad to credit you in the same form of payment with which your purchase was made. If you do not have your original receipt, we will issue a Merchandise Credit for the current selling price.<br /></blockquote>Granted, the policy doesn't explicitly state that Ann Taylor will credit the customer the same amount that the customer originally paid, but absent information to the contrary, wouldn't that be the assumption?<br /><br />I'm planning to drive home again Wednesday, which means I'll be driving by the outlet mall. And I'm definitely planning to stop at the Ann Taylor Factory Store to try again to get <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> of my money back.<br /><br />As a side note: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118795743791207806-email.html">Ann Taylor's profits have been falling recently</a> (assuming that you put much faith in quarterly earnings numbers--many people seem to). I wonder if anyone in the company has considered that inadequate disclosure of return policies is likely to tick off customers and, in the long run, lose more revenue than is likely to be saved by stricter return policies?<br /><br />UPDATE: I went back to the Ann Taylor Factory Store today and was able to get a full refund for that sweater. Apparently, their return policy changed August 1, but since my purchase had taken place before that date, it was covered under the old policy. I guess the employee who helped me last week had missed that little detail. ;-)<br /></span>melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846490493971121212noreply@blogger.com0