Or, how religious is “too religious” for your own offspring? It’s a topic dealt with at the Beyond Teshuva blog for Jewish newcomers to religious observance. It is an odd situation where, sometimes, parents are surprised to find their children taking those Sunday school or Talmud Torah instructors at their words.
When kids go good
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 9, 2007
Posted in Faith and Works | Leave a Comment »
Don’t confuse us with the facts
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 8, 2007
The rightosphere is focusing fire, appropriately, on the Times‘s “unconditional surrender, and quick” editorial. Via Glenn, here’s a nice selection by Lorie Bird entitled, “Choose Genocide“:
I just don’t understand why those on the left are so afraid to talk about the progress that is being made. If they think it is just a waste of time and effort and lives, then they can say that, but at least acknowledge that the men and women of our military are experiencing some success. Then if they want to argue that genocide is preferable to victory in Iraq, I will at least believe they are being honest.
Actually, I think Lorie is playing with us a little and understands very well why the capitulation party does not make balanced arguments, but she, too, is making a rhetorical point, and a valid one. As I said in the comments at Dean’s World
scant hours ago, there is no other way to describe this policy other than the all but formal handover of Iraq and its people — including its Sunni population — to Iran, the Islamoreich in all its glory (click the pic at right for a taste). But, as I also commented here a short time ago — and yes, this story is hot on a slow (and hot) news day — the endorsement of the New Irrationalism on Iraq by the Grey Lady is emboldening that policy’s greatest proponent, the Hon. Mrs. Cindy Sheehan, for a Comeback Tour.
Could this not be the silver lining on the whole thing — a bustup of the Wacky Left / Washington Left coalition and a genuine threat to the coronation of Senator Clinton? Is that what the New York Times is shooting for? I would never have thought of it, but … New Irrationalism, indeed!
Posted in Medialites, Orient, Politics and Poker | 2 Comments »
Tinfoil Party
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 8, 2007
Now the Associated Press prints the funnies on Sunday:
Six weeks after announcing her departure from the peace movement, Cindy Sheehan said Sunday that she plans to run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unless she introduces articles of impeachment against President Bush in the next two weeks.
Mrs. Sheehan? Please add this blogger to your fundraising mailing list!
Too good to be true. I’m sure the fever will pass, but what better relief of a hot July day when the Yankees are out of it?
Could Mrs. Sheehan have been emboldened by the off-the-rails railing of the New York Times, urging the immediate handover of the entire world to the Islamic Republic of Iran? She just might! You have to savor the possibility.
Posted in Politics and Poker, Stragety | 1 Comment »
House of flats – Passaic, New Jersey
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 6, 2007
Originally uploaded by Ron Coleman.
I guess it’s a great metaphor, perhaps for something I’d rather not quite get into, but it’s been a lot of flat tires for us in the last few months.
On the other hand, perhaps the Missus and I should be a little easier on the curbs around here.
Posted in Americana | Leave a Comment »
Political class?!
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 5, 2007
Instapundit: “The incompetence and venality of America’s political class surprises even those of us who are paying attention.”
That’s why we shouldn’t have a “political class.” It’s precisely the opposite of the democratic vision of the Founding Fathers, and it’s precisely what’s killing us now.
There’s one solution: Term limits.
Posted in Politics and Poker | 9 Comments »
Did Jefferson write good?
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 4, 2007
Evidently, quite well. Hat tip to Boing Boing.
Posted in Americana | 2 Comments »
You have no privacy
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 4, 2007
… when you give it up. Now most of us try to give it up, and still no one notices. You could set up a blog, hang out in chat rooms, unload your deepest, darkest secrets — even good ones — and chances are excellent that absolutely no one will ever care. Just like real life.
But if you’re a U.S. Senator, or have been one for even a few minutes? Man, there is just something about name recognition!
An average U.S. senator looking for a date doesn’t need to do much more than stroll on down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol Grille and take his pick from the cloud of obsequious Washington types and star-struck interns. But Dean Barkley isn’t your average former senator—he was appointed by former Minnesota Governor Jesse “the Body” Ventura to serve a short, two-month spell in the Senate back in 2002. Now fresh off a divorce and a stint running Kinky Friedman‘s run for governor in Texas, Barkley is trolling for companionship on Match.com, listing “erotica” as a turn-on and telling the ladies about his love for the “Beatles and Led Zeplin [sic].”
It’s one thing when you don’t have privacy. It’s another thing entirely when you just give it away — and doing so is becoming a habit developed early these days.
Posted in Nuvo-Techno | 1 Comment »
Girly-men of Islam
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 4, 2007
Pakistani cleric captured under burqa. No, it’s not like that. He was alone.
Well, he wasn’t alone in the sense of being original. More, here.
Posted in Orient | 2 Comments »
Today in history
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 3, 2007
Today is a “minor” fast day for observant Jews and the beginning of the “Three Weeks” — 17 Tammuz and 9 Av on the Jewish calendar, which commemorate the tragic process of the destruction of the two Holy Temples in Jerusalem. The fast of the 17th of Tammuz marks the day of the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem. The Three Weeks end with the fast of the 9th of Av, which commemorates the day of the actual destruction by fire of the Holy Temple. The three weeks is a period of mourning over these destructions. This year, therefore, the Three Weeks continue through August 14, 2005 (9th of Av).
Observant Jews maintain various degrees of mourning practices during this period. More here.
Posted in Faith and Works, Past is prologue | Leave a Comment »
Bill of offenses
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 3, 2007
A helpful link of pardons made by the previous President of the United States.
Posted in Lex scripta | 2 Comments »
