Hurricane Gustav Blogging

Last night Gustav was expected to slowly grow to a Cat. 3 maximum by the time it made landfall. This morning when I turned on the news it was already a Cat. 3 and gaining momentum. That's enough for me, we're leaving.

We've stayed home for every Hurricane that has ever come through here without any problems until the last few years. Hurricane Lily was the worst for us, followed closely by Hurricane Rita. Debris everywhere and no power for about a week. Luckily we had little damage to our property but there were trees which had fallen on houses just blocks from our house, roofs were torn off of buildings, my neighbor lost his porch, CNN was filming our small town if that gives you any idea how bad things were. We also stayed home for Hurricane Katrina but we barely had a breeze (no rain) from that one in my part of the state.

Anyway, my wife is pregnant and nervous and so are the kids and I'm not looking forward to another week without power so we're heading to Dallas. Not because I like Dallas or have friends in Dallas mind you but because, frankly that was the closest room available. It was that or Birmingham, AL and the room in Dallas looked nicer.

I'm going to try to take some pictures along the way, I've taken some before shots of the house. Hopefully the "after" shots look very much the same. Keep us in your prayers over the next few days.

Obama Honors Spinal Tap and Stone 'enge

All this controversy about those columns on Obama's stage tonight. He was obviously trying to tie himself to the "builder" of Stonehenge. You know, the powerful imagery of one man with the ability to accomplish impossible feats by himself. The fact that the columns were of Ancient Greek design was just an oversight by Brittany Spears' set designer.

If you don't believe me, just listen to Stonehenge expert Nigel Tufnel, who is only slightly more brilliant than Obama himself.

Catholic Heavyweights Drop a Theological Freight Train Squarely on Nancy Pelosi's Head

This reminds me of the humility post I put up a few days ago. In an interview on Meet the Press this past weekend, Nancy Pelosi claims to be an "ardent practicing Catholic" and then goes on to support abortion.



The following day, Archbishop Chaput bluntly points out the heresy that Pelosi is preaching and offers correction in an open letter on his web site (read it here, it's worth it). As if that weren't enough, the Archbishop's letter is soon followed by a theological Daisy Cutter dropped by the USCCB. I rarely quote lengthy bits of text but the USCCB's response was worth it:

WASHINGTON--Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, have issued the following statement:

In the course of a “Meet the Press” interview on abortion and other public issues on August 24, 2008, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion.

The Church has always taught that human life deserves respect from its very beginning and that procured abortion is a grave moral evil. In the Middle Ages, uninformed and inadequate theories about embryology led some theologians to speculate that specifically human life capable of receiving an immortal soul may not exist until a few weeks into pregnancy. While in canon law these theories led to a distinction in penalties between very early and later abortions, the Church’s moral teaching never justified or permitted abortion at any stage of development.

These mistaken biological theories became obsolete over 150 years ago when scientists discovered that a new human individual comes into being from the union of sperm and egg at fertilization. In keeping with this modern understanding, the Church has long taught that from the time of conception (fertilization), each member of the human species must be given the full respect due to a human person, beginning with respect for the fundamental right to life.

The great thing about this letter is that it is not a broad response to a general topic, veiled in non threatening tones. It is extremely specific, addressing Nancy Pelosi by name. Furthermore, it absolutely and unequivocally refutes everything Nancy Pelosi said, in it's entirety. Most importantly, by issuing this letter the USCCB has completely and effectively removed any excuse that she or any other politician might try to use as a means to support abortion while still claiming to be Catholic. You can no longer claim that you are ignorant of the Church's position. You may not argue that the Catholic Church's teachings are not clear.

With all of this in mind, I have one simple question. Why doesn't the Catholic Church officially and publicly EXCOMMUNICATE PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO PERSISTENTLY AND OBSTINATELY OPPOSE THE TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WITH REGARD TO THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE! I'm not just talking about a simple letter stating, "To whom it may concern, Nancy Pelosi is excommunicated. Have a nice day." I'm talking about having a huge 2 hour ceremony in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, with Cardinals and Bishops on prime time TV dressed in black robes burning incense and extinguishing a 3 foot tall candle with Nancy Pelosi's name on it! If you want the Church's position on abortion to be made perfectly clear to all the faithful, THAT's how to do it.

Fay Hates Florida

...and Cuba, and Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Either that or this storm has a serious case of aquaphobia. Check out the storm track.

The Importance of Humility

I received a video from two separate people yesterday. This video perfectly illustrates two important truths in life:

1) No matter how great we may think we are, we must always remain humble.

2) Pain is God's megaphone.

When to Vote Democrat

CMR's post, A Tale of Two Parties, touched on something I've been pondering for quite some time now. If abortion was off the table as a deciding issue in a presidential election, what secondary criteria would Catholics use to choose a candidate? All of a sudden, all of those social issues which have been falsely touted as "proportionate reasons" by liberal pseudo-Catholics would have to be seriously considered.

In this election, I think the choice is clear. McCain may not be the candidate that conservative Catholics wanted, but he is far better than the alternative. A president who is moderately pro-life with a running mate who is pro-abortion is still better than a president who would defend partial birth abortion until the end of time and appoint Supreme Court Justices who would do the same. Face it, if Obama were any more pro-abortion, he'd send jack booted thugs house to house exterminating children under the age of 5.

In elections to come however, things could get very interesting. A pro-abortion Republican against, who knows what kind of Democrat? All bets will be off! If the Democrats put up anyone who is even remotely qualified I will be very tempted to vote... Dem... Demoooo... Democraaaaa...

DE...MO...CRAT!
(Ew! I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit).

Socially indifferent Republicans seem to think that they would more than make up for the loss of the pro-life Christian crowd by attracting the fiscally conservative pro-death crowd currently trapped in the Democrat party. I would soooo love to prove them wrong.

There are currently 64 million Catholics in the US. There were less than 124 million votes cast in the 2004 election. If all of the people who claim to be Catholic voted like Catholics, BOTH parties would be pro-life.

The John Kerrys, Ted Kennedys and Nancy Pelosis of this world will have a lot to answer for in the next. So too may the clergy members who fail to address this problem with swift and decisive action. The United States of America may be a representative democracy but the Catholic Church is not!

Blue Moon Belgian White

That last post made me thirsty. If you like beer or if your into web design (or especially if you like both) check out Blue Moon Brewing Company's website.

On the beer side of things, their Belgian White served with a large slice of orange is some of the best brew I've had in ages. If you like to try something different now and then, I highly recommend it.

For you web designers, this web site is really artsy and imaginative. Much different than your average corporate site. Take a look and you'll see what I mean.

Oh, and did I mention the beer was good?

New Obama Sign

Found this gem through the Curt Jester.



After seeing a multitude of parodies on the web, I couldn't resist adding one of my own.



Bon Appetit!

Paris '08

All I've heard so far is her proposed energy policy and her policy on tanning but I must admit that I whole heartedly agree with both.

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

If she takes a pro-life stand I guess I'm in. If the country's going down in flames, I would at least like to be entertained. You might want to get your Paris '08 gear now before supplies run out.

Love for Your SEC Rivals

Sooooo... What do you think of Tennessee?

Solar Powered Kayak

Pricey, but cool nonetheless.



More on the SPK-1 here.

Where Are They Now: World Trade Center

I just found out via e-mail that 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center has been recycled into the most appropriate use I could ever imagine.



Yeah! A big ol' recycled can of American Whoop-Ass, carrying a crew of 360 sailors and 700 angry Marines ready to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to cast the ship's bow section. It is the fifth in a new class of warship (San Antonio Class) designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists.

Someone should place this story in Wikipedia under "Poetic Justice". If you want to learn more there's a USS New York Website.

Memo to Terrorists: Leave stuff in this country alone! If you didn't like it before, you're REALLY not gonna like what we make with it after you blow it up!

The Dirty Harry BBQ Grill

GO AHEAD PUNK!

GRILL MY STEAK!



Hat tip to Mike M. for this one.

Graph of Doom

This can't be good.



I'll admit I'm no economist. I'm no farmer either, but I think I'd know a dead cow if I saw one. Can anyone explain what the hell just happened here!?