Part of the reason I spent several years telling foolish “conservative” defenders of Bush’s “I will keep you safe if you just let me have insane amounts of unaccountable power” claims is that, as I noted before, what these defenders were defending were these propositions: here’s a handy summary of those positions, as drawn from the Bush administration’s arguments in court, the Justice Department’s torture memos, and various public statements. Cheney believes that: 1. The president has total authority, subject... Read more

Ha! Take that, Fr. Philip! Five new mumbling ciphers in a single day! Five new playthings for me to, to… *do* things to! Mine is the superior pointless and idle tyranny! Today, my rootless cosmopolitans seeking to fill your empty lives with meaning, I offer you the following correspondence that just came in from one of my fawning suckups:I attached a pic of one of my favorite beers (Dark Lord). Every time I hear you spoken of as “Dark Lord,”... Read more

how noble in reason, howinfinite in faculties, in form and moving how express andadmirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how likea god! the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals! I think of this as I marvel at the genius of Andrew Bird, building music live: Read more

ThereIfixedit.com: Epic kludges and jury rigs Read more

at why more people aren’t abrasive jerks like him. Fellow abrasive jerks in combox sympathize. Read more

A reader writes: I’ve had two miscarriages in the last year. I have a houseful of wonderful, healthy children and so cannot complain-Our Lord has been extraordinarily generous, and I am deeply thankful. But I am newly expecting again, and frankly, a nervous wreck. We would all so love to welcome another new baby into our home next spring. Could I ask for prayers for the wee one to be born safe and healthy? Father, hear our pray for a... Read more

Always dock at least 20 IQ points whenever an MSM reporter talks about religion. Make it 50 when the religion is the Catholic faith. Read more

here. Wouldn’t it be cool to have St. Thomas on talk radio? Aaaaaand welcome back to “The Dumb Ox”! Serving humanity with half my brain tied behind my back! We go to Lucretius on line one! Lucretius! Welcome to the program! Lucretius: Thanks for taking my call, Tom. You know, it seems that God does not exist; because if one of two contraries be infinite, the other would be altogether destroyed. But the word “God” means that He is infinite... Read more

As a suitable distraction I’ve started blogging about GKC 15 minutes at a time–linked to another Chesterton inspired series I write, The Enchanted 15 (in which I explore how to enchant 15 minutes of time to become a more productive and focused writer), I decided to work my way through his non-fiction in 15 minutes of reading and 15 minutes of writing every Saturday. If you deem it link-worthy I’d appreciate a plug. Most of the people reading now are... Read more

and we’re spreading! Read more