I sometimes find Jonah Goldberg over-the-top, but I thought he made an excellent point in his “Goldberg File” today. He told a story of a family on a road-trip. The wife wrote “Help. Please God.” in the dust on the back of the car when they were about to begin a long drive. One of her children wrote, “I’ve been kidnapped.” And one of the neighbor’s kids wrote: “Call 911.” A series of thoughtless, seemingly inconsequential decisions that led to... Read more
Friday Morning Palate Cleanser: I don’t typically link to gossip articles, but…Pretty amazing that of all the young Harry Potter actors, the one that played Neville Longbottom has turned out to be the most handsome. By far. In the News 1. In debt and Election 2012 news, Governors Rick Perry and Nikki Haley argue that now is the time to “Break the Spend and Borrow Cycle.” Paul Krugman persists in his apoplexy over the fact that anyone would have beliefs... Read more
Note: the following is a parody of sorts, having a little fun with the fear in some quarters that Harry Potter should lead children toward the occult. It’s grown fashionable in recent years to write books — silly ones like Jesus Potter, Harry Christ, or God and Harry at Yale — that piggy-back on the success of the Potter series, pirouette around complicated theological issues and perform a full-twisting double-gainer dismount into big piles of cold hard cash. I have... Read more
A friend and colleague recently challenged me with the question, “What is the institution of marriage, anyway?” The essential points of her critique were (1) marriage is more of an evolution than an institution, insofar as the forms of marriage vary and always have varied historically and culturally, and (2) the “institution” of marriage most cultural conservatives defend has been the basis for the oppression of women, the unmarried (single mothers especially), children born outside of wedlock, and generally anyone... Read more
In the News 1. I’ve been relatively pessimistic about Republican chances in 2012, but a GOP victory is increasingly plausible. Pickups in Congress could be substantial. From Rasmussen: A generic Republican candidate earns the highest level of support yet against President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds that the generic Republican picks 48% of the vote, while the president gets 43% support. Three percent (3%) favor some... Read more
In the News 1. To those who enjoy following the inside-baseball of the debt-ceiling wheeling and dealing, here are a couple links for you. Mark Salter has an interesting take on Obama’s maneuvering. Keith Koffler thinks the McConnell plan is a brilliant maneuver. Michael Goodwin is growing weary of Obama’s half-truths. And Larry Kudlow explains why he believes the spending is the problem. Kudlow writes: The highly accurate IBD/TIPP pollsters have just released an incredible result. Get this: The public... Read more
In the News 1. James Pethokoukis on what will, I’m quite sure, be the central Republican argument in the 2012 election battle: The Republican charge is a body shot aimed right at the belly of President Barack Obama’s re-election effort: He made it worse. No, not that White House efforts at boosting the American economy and creating jobs and “winning the future” were merely inefficient or wasteful, which they certainly were. Even Obama finally seems to understand that. “Shovel-ready was... Read more
I planned to write a piece today on the institution of marriage, but I’m attending a conference of sorts (I’m not exactly sure what this is) and the hours slipped through my over-caffeinated fingers. Instead I’ll offer an off-the-cuff reflection on the beauty and the precious rarity — especially in this age — of wisdom. In the act of interviewing Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline and the current Sanctuary of the Soul, I was reminded how strange and counter-cultural... Read more
Palate Cleanser: If you missed it, check out the US women’s astonishing win over Brazil in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup. In the News 1. If you haven’t been following the twists and turns of the budget and debt-ceiling debate, now might be the time, as we’re entering the final stretch. Get caught up here. 2. Alan Dershowitz explains why “The System Worked” in the Casey Anthony trial. An important part: The verdict in the Casey Anthony case... Read more
1. “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.” The following may be a ruse, but it’s pretty darn hilarious nonetheless. It presents as a video bio for E-Harmony in which the woman was absolutely overcome with her love for cats: I’m guessing that wouldn’t have been the most successful video bid for dates. But ya never know; some guy might find it adorable. And he might love cats as much. Now prepare yourself for the musical version: At least we know... Read more
Philosophical Fragments
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