Unskilled Labor

American Ponzi

2011-10-19T23:53:00.000-05:00

Ponzi Scheme - A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to its investors by using the investors' own money or the money paid in by subsequent investors. There is no legitimate business operation or any actual profit earned by the individual or organization running the operation.

Ponzi Schemes are often uncovered and/or collapse when there are not enough new investors or existing investments to pay returns to the investors (Bernie Madoff was discovered this way).

Question: What is the difference between a Ponzi scheme and the Social Security System of the United States of America?

Question: Is the downgrade of US bonds from AAA to AA+ an indication of increasing doubt that the US Government has enough investments to pay returns to its investors?

Question: If the external debt of the USA is $13.98 trillion (as of June 30, 2010), and the US GDP is $14.66 trillion (2010 est.), is that not proof that there is not enough money in this entire country to pay returns to investors? (ref. CIA world factbook)

The big question: What happens when the global economy is heavily invested in a Ponzi scheme that collapses?

Follow Me...

2011-10-03T21:25:00.000-05:00

Thanks A&Y!

Hindsight

2011-05-09T20:01:00.003-05:00

I find it an interesting thought that if someone had said 10 years ago, "In 10 years, Barack Hussein Obama will order the assassination of Osama Bin Ladin.", most people would have had no idea who either of these people were and would have assumed that this was some regional dispute in the Middle East.

No hidden meaning in any of this. I just find it to be an interesting fact.

Boat

2011-04-28T21:07:00.001-05:00

I finally bought a boat (with a motor). Hope to be on the water this weekend.

LSU WINS COTTON BOWL!

2011-01-07T23:20:00.004-06:00

CONGRATULATIONS TIGERS!!!

Pecan Island Hunt

2010-12-20T13:30:00.006-06:00

Went duck hunting in Pecan Island yesterday. Marsh hunting is always fun and usually productive. 14 ducks total made for a good day. Might cook a few wild ducks for Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Vote

2010-11-02T13:19:00.002-05:00

Unless you are voting Democrat, in which case you should stay home.

Heading Out

2010-03-16T21:46:00.001-05:00

Last June at Chicot State Park.

Obama: Fatherhood Begins at Conception

2009-06-24T18:45:00.003-05:00

Long time no post!

All the (oilfield) land work and shelf (near shore) work is drying up but deep water work is still alive and kicking me square in the gut. All things considered, I'd rather be an overloaded oilfield worker with no time to update my blog, than an unemployed GM or Chrysler hand.

Anyway, I checked some other blogs for the first time in quite a while and I found this over at AmP.

I thought it was pretty dern'd good so I shamelessly copied it and put it on my blog.

My Faith and My Work are Under Attack by My Own Government and Countrymen

2009-03-28T09:50:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I am a project manager for a company that fabricates much of the subsea equipment shown in the video I posted. I've had the privilege of being the project manager in charge of fabricating some of the SCR's and flowlines for the worlds deepest gas platform. The technology involved in producing these components is truly amazing. It is beyond unfortunate that our president wants to destroy the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico by increasing taxes and removing incentives to drill and produce our domestic offshore resources. It seems plain to me that if you punish companies for producing these resources domestically, the following results will logically follow:

1) Our dependence on foreign oil will INCREASE. Oil companies will move their production efforts overseas to avoid being penalized by the US government. This is already happening. Production in West Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe is increasing while production in the US GoM is decreasing. Rigs are being stacked. Large installation vessels are moving to other fields as soon as this year. I am already seeing a sharp downturn in the drilling, exploration and production market.

2) Unemployment will rise dramatically along the Gulf Coast. Virtually everyone living within 100 miles of the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas is employed by an oil company or an oilfield service company. Even if they are not working in an oil and gas related industry, they inevitably provide goods and services to people who ARE. If this industry is hamstrung by president Obama's arbitrary penalties for providing energy to the nation, the unemployment rates in Michigan will pale in comparison to the devastation he will cause along the Southern Coast.

3) Energy prices will INCREASE. Any financial penalties imposed on oil companies by president Obama will simply be passed along to the consumer. The additional cost of transporting resources from foreign countries (who's governments allow offshore drilling) to the U.S. will also be passed along to the consumer.

4) Our national security will be compromised. If you think I'm blowing this out of proportion, step back and look at the war in Iraq. That war was fought (in part) over the free flow of oil to the U.S. We have ALREADY FOUGHT A WAR over this. President Obama's efforts to destroy domestic oil production will lead to greater dependence on foreign oil.

All of this in addition to his obvious and documented opposition to the Catholic Church's teaching on the sanctity of human life makes me feel as though my faith and now even my work have been targeted for destruction by our president and the majority of Americans who elected him. On top of this, our nations most well know, "Catholic" (I stretch the term so broadly you can see through it) college, Notre Dame University (gag), is honoring president Obama by having him speak at their graduation ceremonies. This in spite of the USCCB's very direct instructions NOT to do EXACTLY this sort of thing. I quote:

"The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions."

Our own institutions have lost their values. They are crumbling under the crushing weight of secularism. It is absolutely depressing to watch all of this happening at the same time.

These are dark days that call for intense prayer.

Great Deepwater Production Video

2009-03-28T08:49:00.007-05:00

I found this great video on a website called EnergyTomorrow.org. I tried to embed it in my post but the code wasn't working for some reason.

As a project manager for a company that fabricates much of the subsea equipment shown in the video, I thought it was a great animation. We fabricate long sections of the lines that carry oil and gas from the sea floor to the platform at the surface. These lines are called steel catenary risers (SCR's). We also fabricate the flowlines which carry the oil and gas along the sea floor from the well head to the point at which the lines begin to curve upwards towards the surface (at this point they become SCR's). We've also recently started to fabricate some of the subsea structures seen along the sea floor in the video.

My Obama Album Cover

2009-03-15T15:55:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure what Rage Against the Machine would think about my version of their album cover. I though it was appropriate given the fact that B. Hussein Obama's first order of business has been to expand state funded abortion and embryonic stem cell research in every way possible, to the maximum extent possible and as quickly as possible. I'm sure he'll get to that whole "crashing economy" thing in due time. First things first.

Obama Intent on Destroying Our Domestic Oil Industry

2009-03-10T23:35:00.004-05:00

I recently received an e-mail from a friend of mine regarding the Obama administrations stated desire to tax the hell out of the oil industry to pay for alternative energy research and "porkulus" bailout money, etc. LOGA started an online petition to stop Obama's reckless crusade to destroy the domestic oil industry. You can read about it and sign the petition here. I would urge you to do so even if you don't work in the oilfield.

I happen to work in the oilfield manufacturing sector and I can tell you with a great deal of certainty that business has already fallen off the cliff. Obama's proposed taxes and dis-incentives to Gulf exploration will only intensify an already dire economic situation. Major oil companies can't get the credit they need to operate so everything is at a standstill. Meanwhile, Detroit gets billions in bailout money to keep auto makers in business. We had 651,000 jobs go down the tubes last month. Who the hell is going to buy these cars? We don't need more cars. We will always need fuel for the cars we already have. We also need to free ourselves from foreign oil by developing our resources in the Gulf of Mexico. Obama's proposed policies are the polar opposite of what is needed at this critical time.

Some oil companies and oilfield service companies are already laying off thousands of employees. I know one older gentleman who had to come out of retirement and return to work because (as he put it) his "401k turned into a 101k". For the first time in my life, I feel like my own government is doing everything in it's power to put me out of a job. I knew I would be deeply disappointed in Obama's policies but I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be targeted for extermination. This is worse than I ever could have imagined and we're only 50 days into his 4 year term.

To summarize: Obama's intent is clearly to discourage domestic oil production by excessive taxation. This will in turn increase energy costs, increase unemployment, increase our dependence on foreign oil and further damage our already broken economy. It's like we're racing towards financial oblivion and our president's solution is to hit the nitrous and stand on the gas.

Thanks ObamaZombies. See you in the soup line.

Jeep For Sale $6,850

2009-02-27T21:50:00.002-06:00

Well, it seems I just can't fit three little girls and a wife into a jeep. Not safely anyway. So the jeep's got to go. I think it was probably the most fun vehicle I've ever owned. If you know anyone that's looking for one, send 'em on over. Lots of pics to be seen here.

From Jeep

Blue Bell Mardi Gras Flavored Ice Cream

2009-01-30T02:41:00.003-06:00

Blue Bell is now selling it's seasonal "Mardi Gras" flavored ice cream. If you haven't tried it yet I can tell you it's good. They've managed to capture the essence of Mardi Gras in an ice cream. It's purple with green and gold accents and it tastes like liquor!

Paging Mr. Kmiec...

2009-01-30T00:10:00.003-06:00

Has anyone heard from Doug Kmiec since his idol was elected president? Last I heard he was complaining about the Catholic blogosphere in this Commonweal article. It's a VERY lengthy article considering the subject matter. Feel free to follow the link if you care to read Doug "Polonius" Kmiec's version. "Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit," I'll summarize:

Poor me. I'm Doug Kmiec. I endorsed the most pro-abortion political candidate ever and now the conservative blogosphere is attacking me. LOOK AT MEEEEEEE, president Obama! I gave big time political cover to you and all the CINO's (Catholics In Name Only) and helped deliver 54% of the Catholic Vote! I even wrote an entire book on the subject! I'm certainly not suggesting that you owe me anything for my enormous contribution to your victory, even though I've completely sacrificed myself upon your alter of political power. I mean, I've been praying about being ambassador to the Holy See and everything, but you do whatever your conscience tells you to do. If you need me, I'll just be up here bleeding on this big political cross, slowly dying for you and quietly suffering the buffeting and spitting of the low class Catholic blogosphere.

I really would like to hear what Doug has to say about his beloved president B-Rock giving away millions upon millions of dollars to foreign abortion mills within the first week of his most glorious imperial reign. That must have been REALLY important to B-Rock. Killing children is now, officially, the first and most important industrial export of his administration.

Doug, had sooooooo much to say during the campaign. Where is he now? Did I miss his public reaction to the president's global death sentence?

Doug? Hellooooooooo Doug! Are you there?

I would like to know when Doug thinks we'll see all of those "proportionate reasons" he spoke of which somehow balance out the holocaust he has now instantaneously expanded . Where's the end to the war in Iraq? An end to poverty? Support for the average family (except, of course, it's unborn members). An end to pollution? A chicken in every pot? Something? Anything?

You out there, Doug? Come in... Come in...

(Seriously, if he's responded to this publicly I'd like to know.)

New Baby!

2009-01-26T14:18:00.004-06:00

Our little Genevieve was born the past Saturday! Momma's fine, baby fine and the girls love their new sister like crazy!

Excellent Pro-Life Ad

2009-01-22T18:36:00.001-06:00

Hat tip to GetReligion.org and AmP...

Baby on the Way

2009-01-21T21:16:00.002-06:00

My wife is due on the 25th so we'll have a new addition to the family any day now. Keep us in your prayers.

SAZERAC ME!

2009-01-10T23:38:00.004-06:00

My wife and I had our last date night out for a while (baby's due at the end of the month). We had a fantastic meal at Marcello's in Lafayette. I also had my first Sazerac, the first American cocktail and the official cocktail of Alcoholic Disneyland (better know as New Orleans, La.). A very nice drink indeed. If you haven't tried one yet I highly recommend it. If you decide to have a second one you may want to have a designated driver handy 'cause it's mostly rye whiskey.

Incidentally, the J Pinot Gris I chased it with was quite tasty also.

I'm going to bed now.

More Ducks

2008-12-30T17:58:00.004-06:00

Not much posting lately due to the following:

1) Work has gotten much more hectic.

2) My home computer takes longer to boot up than the amount of patience I have available for booting up computers.

3) Wife is pregnant (if I need to explain this you are obviously not married and/or have no children).

Hopefully I will be able to post more soon.

I did manage to go hunting this past Sunday with some friends of mine in Pecan Island. It turned out to be one of the most successful hunts I've had in a couple of years. A total of 23 ducks taken (1 shy of a limit for the four of us). The strange thing was, almost all of the ducks were blue wing teal. Blue wings usually migrate early (like in September). I've rarely seen any blue wing teal past the first week or two into the regular season, much less double digit numbers in late December. Very strange but fun nonetheless!

Duck Hunting is More Than Just Killing Ducks

2008-11-25T20:25:00.002-06:00

If your enjoyment of duck hunting is solely dependent upon the number of ducks killed during a given outing, you are missing quite a bit of the total experience.

Exhibit A:

Bonehead Criminals

2008-11-25T19:38:00.002-06:00

I love this story.

Two pennsylvania natives are behind bars, accused of robbing the Pecan Island Food Store Sunday.

Eric Larocco and Amanda Matusick were both booked on armed robbery charges. In addition, they were charged with shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia.

When the store owner found out he was robbed, he contacted a Sherriff's Deputy and asked all the bridges be raised to prevent the robbers from leaving the area. The two were stuck on the island and couldn't go any further once they reached the Little Prairie Bridge.

Deputies met the suspects and recovered the money and weapon. They were both arrested on the scene.

I can just picture the sheriff casually driving down the highway without even putting his lights on and rolling up behind the robbers at the drawbridge. "Yer in a heap o' trouble boy!"

Too funny.

Hunting Report 11/19/08

2008-11-19T20:48:00.005-06:00

I went goose hunting this past Sunday in a cut bean field. I saw thousands of geese near where I was hunting but none were within gun range. I didn't see any ducks at all. That's pretty much the story I'm hearing from everyone. Very few ducks to be had. Except for one guy...

Lots of greenheads in one particular region of our state! I have a general idea of where he's hunting but I am refraining from making the information public to avoid a D-Day like invasion of the area.

I know a couple of guys who are hunting public waters by boat which is something I haven't done very much. Hopefully I'll get an invite and post another report soon.

The Lazy Man’s Guide to Getting Things Done

2008-11-14T01:10:00.002-06:00

I was lying in exactly the same position as the guy in the picture when I ran across this article. Oh the irony!

Apostasy Versus Authority

2008-11-13T23:30:00.004-06:00

Jeff Miller has a good post about the current debate on how to deal with apostate members of the U.S. Congress. I liked it. I agree that there should be some dialog before lowering the boom of excommunication. However, I think this dialog can replaced by a monologue if Senators refuse to participate in any discussions (see my previous, somewhat angry post on the subject here). AmP is still tabulating the days since Nancy Pelosi agreed to meet with Archbishop Niederauer (70 days and counting).

Nevertheless, I thought Jeff made a good point and I left the following comment:

Amen Brother. Both Bishop Malooly AND Sen. Biden are attempting to change hearts and minds. The difference is that Biden's gospel of doing whatever he wishes and receiving communion is changing more hearts and minds than Bishop Malooly's silence (refer to the Nov. 4 election results for empirical evidence). The inescapable truth of the matter is that this issue is being forced upon us by liberals in the Catholic church who place their politics ahead of their faith. If our Bishops and Archbishops do not re-establish themselves as the pillar and bulwark of truth, their authority will continue to be usurped by the Joe Bidens and Nancy Pelosis of the world to the point where the term "Catholic" no longer has any clear meaning.

Duck Season is Now Open!

2008-11-13T22:26:00.003-06:00

Actually it opened last week. From the reports I'm hearing I'm convinced I made the right decision by staying home. Worst opening weekend since God invented ducks is what I'm hearing. I may go this weekend anyway, but only because duck hunting fever has a detrimental effect on my capacity for rational thought. If you're a hunter of any kind, you know what I'm talkin' about.

If anyone anywhere in the nation is killing ducks I'd like to hear about it.

A Friend Weighs in on FOCA

2008-11-11T22:04:00.007-06:00

A good friend of mine took the time to write an e-mail on abortion and send it to a large group of friends. The least I can do is share it and encourage readers to sign the petition. His e-mail reads...

To All,

While we prepare to transition into a new presidency in January 2009, I understand that there are many issues that will be dealt with. Many of those issues are with regards to the economy or the war in Iraq. To some people those issues are far more important than others and I think that is a major factor that lead to the election of Obama for president. I pray that our new president will resolve those issues and I wish him the best of luck. Thanks to all those soldiers who have /and continue to defend this country's freedom. God bless our soldiers. (Happy B-Day yesterday US Marines).

However, when casting my vote this November, my concern was not with the economic situation that arose when government allowed US citizens to run rampant with no, or bad credit. And, I am by far not the political person like some, but my only concern was with the unheard voice of unborn children. Many people may have thought that other issues came before "Life" and that is their own personal opinion. Now that (we) elected a president who is willing to sign the "Freedom Of Choice Act" I will try to do my part in fighting it. Please see the link below and sign the petition to fight against legalizing the sadistic murder of innocent human life- a.k.a. "miracle".

This is my view on "Freedom Of Choice":

If a woman is faced with an "unwanted" pregnancy, this act will enable her to have the "Freedom of Choice" to kill her baby -whether the baby wants to be killed or not. If she's faced with a difficult situation, then she will have the right to act accordingly to end the baby's life. It will be the mother's choice, not the one being murdered.

Remember the "Lipstick on a Pig" comment? No matter how you decorate this statement it is still murder!

Now, let's take a look at the situation that I am faced with: I have an "unwanted" president. I didn't plan for this man to be in office, now I face a difficult situation. . . . (draw your own conclusions).

Why would the first scenario be entertained as "Freedom of Choice" and the second be tried in court? My point is: murder is murder!

© 2008 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Murder
Main Entry: Murder
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): mur·dered; mur·der·ing
Date: 13th century
Transitive verb 1: to kill (a human being) unlawfully and with premeditated malice 2: to slaughter wantonly : slay 3 a: to put an end to b: tease , torment c: mutilate , mangle d: to defeat badly
Intransitive verb: to commit murder
synonyms see kill
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/murder[2]

I see many synonyms and adjectives, but nowhere does it say anything about choice.

Thanks for your time. Please click the link below and sign the petition, then forward to everyone you know.

Sincerely,
Mike

www.fightfoca.com

FOCA Would Wipe Away Every Restriction on Abortion Nationwide

This would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

Source of Life Discovered

2008-11-10T22:39:00.003-06:00

According to Paul Falkowski, professor of biogeochemistry and bio-physics at Rutgers University in New Jersey, life on earth began 1.9 billion years ago with amoeba-like organisms absorbing bacteria and subsequently evolving into plants, animals and day time talk show hosts. This analysis begs a few questions:

1) Where did the amoeba-like organisms come from?
2) Where did the bacteria come from?
3) Where did the sun come from?
4) In an age when no one can accurately predict the weather a week from now, I'm supposed to believe that someone has ascertained the activities of amoeba and bacteria 2 billion years ago and I am to further believe that this interaction led to all life on earth?

I find it just as easy to believe in the Matrix.

Ahmadinejad Loves Him Some Hope and Change

2008-11-09T22:01:00.006-06:00

For the first time in 30 years, an Iranian leader has sent a letter of congratulations to the President Elect of the United States of America. My favorite passages (emphasis mine)...

In the sensitive Middle East region, in particular, the expectation is that the unjust actions of the past 60 years will give way to a policy encouraging full rights for all nations, especially the oppressed nations of Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The great civilization-building and justice-seeking nation of Iran would welcome major, fair and real changes, in policies and actions, especially in this region.

Looks like someone bought into the campaign message of "Change".

Obama Zombies

2008-11-06T22:16:00.003-06:00

BRAAAAAAAINS!!! NEEEEEEED BRAAAAAAAAINS!!!

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

(Another Hat Tip to Southern Appeal)

Test Your Awareness

2008-11-06T21:28:00.001-06:00

This was challenging...

Liberal Messiah Ascends the Throne

2008-11-04T22:11:00.004-06:00

I guess we'll be minting new coins to render unto Caesar.

Nothing left to do but comment on the downfall of western civilization from inside occupied territory. If anyone knows of an underground railroad I might use to escape the United States of Liberal America, please send me a coded message in the combox. Good night comrades. See you in the cheese line in 2009.

Handicapped 6 Year Old Speaks for the First Time in Her Life

2008-11-01T12:08:00.009-05:00

This was such a great story. Elke Wisbey is now able to speak through the use of an eye tracking laser device. Her first words were, "I love you, mum!" I can't imagine the joy this little girl and her family must be experiencing now that they can communicate. The love between parents and children never fails to amaze me.

Equally amazing (disturbing really) is the fact that many people in this country would have chosen to exterminate this handicapped child before she was born. What makes a parent choose to kill their own child? What has caused the mass psychosis in this country that leads some people to believe that killing their own children is somehow an act of kindness?

How can anyone in their right mind advocate abortion, or even "abortion-rights"? Does anyone support "cold-blooded-murder-rights" in any other form?

I would like to see Barack Obama look his children in the face and say, "I love you. But I also think I should have the right to kill you before you are born, if I so choose." How loving. How affectionate. Yet that is what he is teaching them and the youth of our nation by his actions. "I love you, but you are expendable if you are too burdensome."

CATHOLICS TAKE NOTE: THERE ARE NO PROPORTIONATE REASONS WHICH WOULD JUSTIFY VOTING FOR MASS MURDER ADVOCATE, BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!!! NONE!!!!

If you vote for Obama, the blood of the next 40 million murdered infants, including millions like the 6 year old above, is on your hands.

Sample Ballot

2008-10-30T21:11:00.004-05:00

If you're voting in the State of Louisiana you can take a look at a sample ballot for your parish, ward and precinct online.

If you're voting in the 9th ward in New Orleans don't bother with the sample ballot. An ACORN rep. will pick you up and tell you which levers to pull at each of the 6 precincts in which they have registered you. Only after you have voted in ALL of the precincts will you receive the 40 oz can of malt liquor you were promised. Be careful wandering back to the park.

There IS a Bigger Issue Than Abortion in this Election!

2008-10-22T21:36:00.006-05:00

...at least that's what one guy over at Conservatives for Change is telling me (Hat tip to Southern Appeal).

Mr. "Pro-Life" explaining why he is voting for Obama, "We need to... come together on these BIGGER ISSUES."

A self proclaimed religious, pro-life conservative son of a Pastor has discovered BIGGER ISSUES than abortion in this election!?

OMG!!! Am I the only one who doesn't know what these BIGGER ISSUES are!!!

Has John McCain vowed to shave his head and end all life on the planet in a "nookyewler" blaze of glory while stroking a hairless cat inside of his secret volcanic lair?

Is there a new, highly contagious disease that will turn us all into blood thirsty zombies and only a vaccine made from Obama's blood will cure us?

Is there a worldwide food distribution problem that will cause planetary starvation unless we quickly elect the most skilled community organizer the world has ever seen?

Just where the heck has the media been on these BIGGER ISSUES!? I mean, I've heard Wall Street is tanking but I don't think millions of people were murdered because of it, so that can't be the BIGGER ISSUE. I also heard something about Obama having a health care plan so I guess we'll all get free flu shots and lortab. That can't the BIGGER ISSUE.

I am sooooo angry with our media elite and their hidden agendas. How dare they leave me in the dark on these BIGGER ISSUES!

Mr. Pro-life, please enlighten us all by leaving a comment explaining these BIGGER ISSUES. Especially if there is an asteroid rapidly approaching earth and only HOPE and CHANGE can stop it!!!!

Dis-Beliefnet

2008-10-21T00:30:00.006-05:00

I ran across more garbage about how we should all embrace intrinsic evil so we can get discounted prescription drugs and a tax break. Since so many people (including so called Catholic scholars) still seem confused on this issue, I'll put this in terms that liberals can understand:

Calling yourself Catholic and pro-life and then supporting the rights of unborn children by voting for Obama is like calling yourself a vegan PETA member and supporting animal rights by sponsoring an all you can eat pork BBQ charity dinner and a dog fighting contest with a fur coat door prize. Proceeds go to protecting the rights of swine, pit bulls and chinchillas.

Absurd articles like this are metastasizing like stage 5 cancer. It's so bad that I am now becoming more worried about the Catholic Church losing its identity in America than I am about the election or the economy. The Catholic Church is truly under attack. If you think I'm overreacting, let me give you another example.

The following video was put out by a group calling themselves "Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good"

Doesn't really seem all that threatening until you realize that a large portion of the funding for the video came from George Soros. Do you think Bobby Jindal knows that this site is using his image (among all the others) to add legitimacy to an anti-Catholic position in support of Obama? Can he sue over this? Let's take a closer look at the video.

First of all, the pretty background music is John Lennon's atheist anthem, "Imagine". As in, "Imagine there's no heaven" and "Imagine there's no religion". I guess they wanted it to sound more acceptable so they had it chanted by fake monks.

Second, the anti-abortion protesters at the beginning of the video are referred to as, "Them." Them??? Really??? Wouldn't the correct term be, "Us"?

Now I admit that these first two issues may seem a bit trivial, but they definitely set the tone. The bigger problem is that when you follow the link at the end of the video, you will be bombarded with a pile of liberal talking points attempting to convince you that right to life issues should take a back seat to social issues in this election. That is not a Catholic message. That is a liberal message.

The positions taken by these people are not at all Catholic positions and I question whether any of the people involved with this group are even Catholic. There seems to be a deliberate attempt on the part of far left liberals to subvert the very definition of Catholicism away from the Church. What is worse is that there are people within the clergy who are sympathetic to this position. All of this manufactured controversy gives the appearance of legitimacy to these liberal positions and provides an excuse for cafeteria Catholics to vote for intrinsic evil.

Presidential election not withstanding, I think we are rapidly coming to a point in this debacle where Nicholas P. Cafardi, M. Cathleen Kaveny, Douglas W. Kmiec, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden and many others need to be told in no uncertain terms that they are not in communion with Catholic teaching on this issue. Given the fact that several clergy members (including B16) have already established the primacy of right to life issues on numerous occasions, I think the Church's only remaining recourse is to excommunicate the people mentioned above at the rate of one each week, starting with Nancy Pelosi since she has already been reprimanded by name by the USCCB and remains unrepentant to this day. I realize how extreme this sounds, but I see no other way for the Church to demonstrate its authority on the matter and regain control of a situation that is now spinning out of control and will continue to do so long after this election if it is not dealt with swiftly.

Vote for LIFE!

2008-10-20T23:45:00.002-05:00

This video has been posted on numerous blogs already but the message bears repeating.

Choose LIFE this election.

Tigers Hold on to Defeat the Gamecocks

2008-10-18T23:06:00.006-05:00

In a literal sense this would not be much of a contest...

If you're talking college football however, the odds get a little more even. It wasn't the impressive margin of victory seen in some other games tonight but it is a W. BCS rankings come out tomorrow. That should be interesting as always.

Ignorant Voters Speak Out

2008-10-15T21:50:00.003-05:00

I normally can't stand Howard Stern but he scored points with me with this one. He sent a correspondent into Harlem to question potential voters. All of them agreed with McCain's positions on every issue, as long as those positions were presented as Obama's. Hear for yourself...

My favorite: "[McCain] sort of...ummm...sounds like he's ummmm...uneducated."

Remember, these people have the same degree of control over who runs this country as you or I do. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

FIREPROOF (Go see this movie now!)

2008-10-14T22:04:00.004-05:00

My wife and I rarely (very, very rarely) go out to see movies anymore. It seems every movie you watch these days must have some kind of obligatory sex scene or adultery or other crap that contradicts the inherent beauty in the sacrament of marriage. The underlying message in most of these films (or at least these scenes in the film) is that the successful manipulation of others for your own self interest is the benchmark of success. Christ obviously sets a much different, much higher standard for us to follow. Anyway, the opportunity arose this past Friday for us to go to the movies, so we decided to support a movie with a Christian theme. We went to see Fireproof with Kirk Cameron.

I must admit I had fairly low expectations going into the show. I figured we'd be the only couple in the place and the movie wouldn't be that great but at least I would have supported something positive that I believe in. I could not have been more wrong. The theater was absolutely packed (and the show has already been out for at least a couple of weeks now) and it was packed for good reason. This movie was GREAT! The message was positive and so much different from what we're used to seeing on the big screen. A movie about two real people with real flaws discovering the TRUE meaning of love and marriage. What an awesome message! Not to mention the fact that there were several scenes that made everyone in the theater laugh out loud.

I can't say enough good things about this film. I strongly encourage everyone reading this to go and see the movie for yourself.

LSU-21 Florida-51

2008-10-13T22:48:00.004-05:00

If you didn't watch the LSU Florida game you missed one helluva beat down. The LSU team that beat the Auburn Tigers didn't show up. Unfortunately for LSU, the Florida team that lost to Ole Miss didn't show up either. The result was a 51 to 21 butt kicking, after which Urban Meyer handed Les Miles his hat with his head still in it!

I've seen a lot of folks throwing Jarrett Lee under the bus. The fact is he managed to put 21 points on the board against an excellent opponent as a red shirt freshman. Matt Flynn only scored 28 in last year's game against Florida and Matt Mauck managed a measly 7 points in a losing effort in 2003, both of LSU's championship years. If anyone out there thinks there is an offense in all of college football that could have scored over 51 points against Florida to overcome such an unbelievable deficit, please hit me in the combox 'cause I'd love to hear your story. Jarrett Lee may have some issues to overcome, but this game was lost on defense IMHO.

I'm hoping LSU can win out the rest of the season and have a shot at redemption in the SEC Championship game. We'll see.

A Simplified Illustration of the Bailout

2008-10-03T21:25:00.003-05:00

I received this via e-mail today. It captures my feelings nicely.

Beer Label Quiz

2008-10-02T23:36:00.000-05:00

This was a fun distraction after tonight's debate.

I only missed one. Do you know your beer?

Gov. Palin Debates Obscure Senator

2008-10-02T22:23:00.003-05:00

Is it just me or was this debate Hyped 1000 times more than any other VP debate has ever been hyped in the history of VP debates? Ordinarily no one in the media would give a bucket of spit about what any VP had to say about anything, EVER. But, since Gov. Palin is perceived as the weak link in the McCain campaign...Voila! The fate of the free world now hinges on whether or not Gov. Palin becomes the VP. The Presidential candidates (umm...what's-his-face and that other guy)? Oh they really don't matter. It's ALL about "The Palin".

For what it's worth I think Palin & Biden both did well in the debate (political positions aside). I think all the liberals who were hoping Palin would choke were sorely disappointed this evening.

Life issues were notably absent from the debate. I don't think we would have learned anything new by asking the question but it would have been nice to hear from the candidates on such an important issue.

You can read a transcript of the debate here.

Kmiec: Judas Nova

2008-10-01T22:46:00.005-05:00

I found this NCR article via the Opinionated Catholic. A concise excerpt:

Kmiec predicted, “relations between Benedict XVI and the Holy See under an Obama administration would be very, very positive.”

Not a shocking prediction. Judas also enjoyed very, very positive relations with Christ for quite some time. Need more?

Obama, he said, represents the view that “the way forward is not debates over law or philosophy, but extending a hand of compassion” to women dealing with unexpected or unwanted pregnancies.

A hand of compassion...tightly clenched around a pair of long, sharp scissors, anxiously waiting to be stabbed into the skull of a partially born infant who's brains will be sucked out through a tube and who's lifeless little body will be unceremoniously tossed into a pile of medical waste along with millions of his/her brothers and sisters. Oh yes Doug! Praise be unto our lord and savior, Barack Obama the most merciful!

I truly hope Doug Kmiec comes to his senses and changes his position on Obama. If not, I hope he enjoys his 30 pieces of silver.

Dems Defend Freddie & Fannie

2008-09-29T20:16:00.002-05:00

I received this video from a friend of mine. Combine this with the fact that Obama and Barney Frank were on the take from Freddie and Fannie and you start to see what went wrong.

USC Finished

2008-09-27T17:35:00.004-05:00

I found a picture of Pete Carroll on the internet that's pretty funny all by itself in light of recent events (i.e. USC losing to unranked Oregon State Thursday night).

But I couldn't leave well enough alone...

Did I mention that I really hate USC? As much as this guy hates Tennessee.

USC LOOOOOOSES!

2008-09-26T00:09:00.003-05:00

WOW! More important than my last post on America's economic death spiral, USC loses to Oregon State 27 to 21!

I am a proud USC hater and this is truly a happy, happy day!

In light of this recent development, the LA times foregone conclusion of victory as evidenced in this article is absolutely hilarious.

And let's not forget to throw Kirk Herbstreit under the bus. His interview with Mark Sanchez is even more side splittingly funny than the LA times article.

Kirk drinks more USC flavored Kool-aid than USC's own quarterback! Earth to Kirk, the inferior team is determined by the SCOREBOARD! I simply can't wait to see him deny reality Saturday morning on College Game Day. He'll probably claim that Oregon State is #1 just so he can say USC is #2. Naw, forget that. We're talking Kirk Herbstreit here! I'm sure he'll find a way to make the case that USC is still #1 and everyone else is still "inferior".

(Pssst! Kirk, I don't think that word means what you think it means.)

$700,000,000,000.00 Bailout

2008-09-25T22:30:00.003-05:00

Lots of folks on TV are telling me we're in really bad shape, economically speaking. OK. I'll buy that. They're also telling me we've got to "bail out" our financial system with $700 billion in tax dollars. Congress agrees. Everyone says the consequences would be awful and, "we've got to do it." I've got only one simple question.

WHY?

Why do we have to do it? I'm not saying we don't, I'd just like an explanation before I unquestioningly throw $700 billion at the problem. I haven't heard a single person explain the consequences of NOT dumping tons of money into... into... into what exactly? Where EXACTLY is this $700 Billion going to go? Precisely who's pocket will the money end up in? No one has explained exactly how this mind bogglingly enormous amount of money is going to save us from the unknown and unexplained disaster looming just around the corner. Again, maybe we need to do this, but so far I've only been presented with two options:

1) The Federal Government (a thrifty and honest group of folks if there ever was one) gives $700 billion of your tax dollars to the investment companies who have already gone bankrupt writing bad loans (surely a prudent investment) and we all avoid a mysterious and inexplicable catastrophe that is only moments away (recession, depression, plague of locusts, melting polar ice caps, no one knows) by leaping headlong towards socialism.

2) We don't allow our politicians to hand over $700 billion of our tax dollars (after several hours of careful consideration of course) to investment bankers who lost all of their shareholders money, in the hopes of avoiding... something bad that no one can explain.

I don't know about the operational protocols where you work, but I'll tell you this. If someone came to my office and asked me for $700 billion dollars, they damn well better be able to explain why they need it! So far, I would have told all but a handful of these politicians to take the bag of manure they came in with and get the hell out of my office (the rest I would have fired on the spot)! Not because I think this is a bad deal mind you, but because they are completely unable to explain the problem and they are equally inept at explaining why the solution involves spending $700 billion in tax dollars.

For the third time, we may really need this $700 billion dollar deal, but no one is able to explain why. I expect FAR MORE from our very highly paid elected leaders than panicked looks and a knee jerk reaction to reach for America's wallet and throw money at a problem they don't understand.

If anyone knows of a web site that explains the possible outcomes of either spending the $700 billion or NOT spending the $700 billion (or preferably both), please post a link in the combox.

Hurricane Ike Bear

2008-09-23T23:54:00.003-05:00

My sister in law in Houston told me about the bear that was spotted just after the hurricane. Pretty funny.

NCAA Football Polls

2008-09-21T23:34:00.004-05:00

Is it just me or is everyone else sick of hearing about how good USC is EVERY FREAKIN' YEAR? Last time I checked LSU was the only team EVER to win TWO BCS CHAMPIONSHIPS! Yet the sickening ESPN, AP, USC love-fest continues.

Sure, they beat Ohio State and I'll even go so far as to say they looked good in that game (although it pains me to be that objective). But that's the only test they'll have all season. Have you looked at their schedule? Other than Ohio State, there isn't a single ranked team in sight for the entire remainder of their season. It's like being declared valedictorian after taking PE, art, home ec. and study hall your senior year. You've got to find a way to at least mix in a game with Utah or Colorado, heck even Fresno State would be an improvement at this point.

USC's one-pete National Championship and wide margins of victory against 2nd tier teams are not enough to keep a #1 ranking through the end of the season. Even a 1 loss team with a stronger schedule at the end of the season should be ranked ahead of USC. Furthermore, if the margin of victory is less than a touchdown in any of their remaining games, they should automatically fall out of the top spot IMHO.

Hurricane Gustav Damage

2008-09-10T22:41:00.003-05:00

A few pics I took before and after the Hurricane.

Before:

After:

Some differences are obvious: roof damage, boarded windows. Some are more subtle. Check out how neat the yard looks in the before picture compared to all of the small limbs scattered around in the after pic. Also, look closely at the neighbor's tree behind my garage. It's thinned out quite a bit after the storm.

I also saw some National Guard troops rolling through town.

While we're on the topic of Hurricanes, if you own your own home and you live in an area prone to Hurricanes, you may be surprised to learn that you probably have a "hurricane deductible" that is substantially higher than your standard deductible. You might want to look into it before the next storm comes.

A few more pics here.

Prayers and best wishes to those in Ike's path.

Hurricane Gustav Travels

2008-09-02T21:38:00.007-05:00

Made it back from Dallas this evening about 5:30 pm. The electricity came back on at about 5:40 pm. (not bad timing). I've got a little roof damage and lots of limbs in the yard but other than that everything looks OK. I took a few pictures of the damage around town but my camera was full before I could get everything. I'm sure it will all be cleaned up by tomorrow. I'll post the pictures I have sometime this week when I have time.

We stayed at the Sheraton in downtown Dallas along with several hundred other Louisianians who had the same idea. There were a bunch of nursing home patients on one floor. I saw a bunch of LSU gear being worn. We also had what I assume were the representatives from the 9th ward of New Orleans fighting in the lobby and screaming expletives at each other in their rooms so loud that I could hear them down the hall near the elevators. I had hoped to avoid the 9th ward thugs by staying in an expensive hotel as geographically far from New Orleans as humanly possible. Apparently the barriers to entry weren't sufficiently high. Luckily we managed to get a room away from most of the commotion but I had a coon-ass life insurance policy with me just in case (a Browning .380 auto).

I may post more on this later. Right now it's time for bed. Pray for those who were hit hard by the storm. It may be a while before they get power.

Hurricane Gustav Blogging

2008-08-30T16:42:00.003-05:00

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

2008-08-28T23:11:00.003-05:00

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

2008-08-25T21:34:00.006-05:00

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

2008-08-24T15:17:00.003-05:00

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

Obama's VP Choice

2008-08-23T01:02:00.003-05:00

Obama really surprised me with that Joe Biden pick. I thought for sure he'd pick someone with almost identical world views. Like... say...

his buddy Jason Voorhees!

Jason on the other hand is a man would have brought a lot to the ticket. When it comes to killin', Obama's got the lightweight stuff covered. You know, unborn children, accidentally born alive infants, incapacitated women, pretty much anyone who can't fight back. But when it comes to full-grown-man-killin', let's face it, Obama's pretty weak. Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th is a killin' machine! He would add much needed gravitas to the ticket with the all important "manslaughter vote". Also, there could have been some really cool campaign signs.

Oh well. Even though liberal lord and savior Obama only kills defenseless women and children, he still has the most pro-death agenda in American history and that's certainly something for the Democrats to be proud of.

The Importance of Humility

2008-08-22T21:45:00.004-05:00

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

2008-08-15T19:49:00.003-05:00

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

2008-08-11T22:33:00.005-05:00

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

2008-08-09T21:05:00.005-05:00

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

2008-08-07T21:03:00.007-05:00

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

2008-08-05T23:54:00.003-05:00

Sooooo... What do you think of Tennessee?

Solar Powered Kayak

2008-08-05T23:10:00.003-05:00

Pricey, but cool nonetheless.

More on the SPK-1 here.

Where Are They Now: World Trade Center

2008-08-03T21:52:00.006-05:00

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

2008-08-01T23:22:00.002-05:00

GO AHEAD PUNK!

GRILL MY STEAK!

Hat tip to Mike M. for this one.

Graph of Doom

2008-08-01T21:22:00.006-05:00

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!?

Amputated Arm Attached Again After Alligator Attack

2008-07-31T21:18:00.005-05:00

(Alliteration is Awesome.)

This story is amazing!

First, an 11 year old boy in Slidell, LA gets his arm torn off by an 11 foot long alligator. Then, a local deputy finds the gator, kills it and RETRIEVES THE ARM FROM IT'S STOMACH! I guess the boy's doctors would have thought it would be rude to discard the arm after what the deputy went through to get it back, so THEY REATTACHED IT! No word yet on whether or not he will regain use of the arm but everyone involved gets A's for effort.

Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club

2008-07-26T20:23:00.003-05:00

I joined a newly formed kayak fishing club in Lafayette, aptly named, the Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club. I didn't make the first meeting this past Thursday, but I did participate in the first group outing this morning. About a dozen of us headed out to Big Alabama (Sherburne WMA) for a little fresh water action. Unfortunately, I didn't catch a thing. A few others caught a few bream, sacalait and a couple of keeper bass. I had a great time though. It's great to fish with a good group of guys. I forgot my camera but a friend of mine brought his so hopefully I'll have some pictures to post soon.

Discussions of the next outing centered around an August trip to Big Lake. Check out LKFC if you're from the Lafayette, LA area and you enjoy kayak fishing. If you want to jump in with both feet and join now, click here:

Click to join lafayettekayakfishing

Ready to Duck Hunt Yet?

2008-07-23T22:04:00.003-05:00

Too bad. The season doesn't open for weeks.

You'll just have to try your hand at the online version until then.

Slate Ridicules Intelligent Design

2008-07-22T21:14:00.004-05:00

Darwin's theory of evolution really doesn't bother me the way it seems to bother fundamentalist Christians. In fact it seems quite logical. It doesn't seem to bother the Catholic Church all that much either. What IS irritating is when some pompous antitheist tries to hijack the theory of evolution and use it as some sort of proof that God does not exist.

Christopher Hitchens tag teams with Richard Dawkins to come up with this gem in yesterday's edition of Slate.

"Vestigial eyes, for example, are clear evidence that these cave salamanders must have had ancestors who were different from them—had eyes, in this case. That is evolution. Why on earth would God create a salamander with vestiges of eyes? If he wanted to create blind salamanders, why not just create blind salamanders? Why give them dummy eyes that don't work and that look as though they were inherited from sighted ancestors?"

Well there you go. God's idea of what a blind salamander should look like does not agree with Richard Dawkins' idea of what a blind salamander should look like. Therefor, God does not exist.

Brilliant!

...or maybe God gave blind, cave dwelling salamanders vestigial eyes for the same unknown reason He gave antitheistic liberals vestigial brains.

(Oooh lookey, I can be a pompous jerk too!)

Wall Street Journal on Our Current Situation

2008-07-20T22:44:00.004-05:00

If you are wondering how the Great Depression relates to our current financial downturn, read this article in the Wall Street Journal. In fact, read it even if you're not wondering about it. This line from the article sums it up for me.

"Leverage," as the laying-on of debt is known in the trade, is the Hamburger Helper of finance. It makes a little capital go a long way, often much farther than it safely should.

Well said. I haven't become a survivalist yet, but I am becoming more convinced every day that we are headed for some tough times.

New York Times on Holly Beach, LA

2008-07-18T21:32:00.003-05:00

A friend sent me this story on Holly Beach, LA published in the New York Times.

"On the beach, signs warned swimmers of high levels of bacteria.
Swimmers paid no attention."

It may not be entirely flattering but I'd say it's accurate (particularly the last paragraph).

Baby Got Book

2008-07-18T18:41:00.003-05:00

Kudos to Thomas Peters over at AmP for finding this one. A hilarious adaptation of Sir Mixalot's 1992 hit.

"...and if you're Catholic, there's even more."

Remote Controlled Beer Cooler

2008-07-17T22:37:00.003-05:00

Whatever you choose to do with yours, I doubt it would be funnier than this.

Fr. Corapi: America's Death Wish

2008-07-13T22:10:00.003-05:00

Fr. Corapi has written an excellent article on abortion. If you haven't read this, please do so. The Catholic faithful need to understand why this is the single most important issue of our age. Fr. Corapi does an excellent job of explaining the gravity of the situation and calling out those who perpetuate this atrocity.

"232 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed the amount of common sense that seems to be operative in many spheres of influence—most notably the courts and the political arena--can easily be poured into a very small thimble."

Amen.

War by Wire

2008-07-13T10:58:00.001-05:00

I just saw this story on CNN. From a purely technological standpoint, this is amazing.

Are You, "That Guy"

2008-07-13T00:00:00.003-05:00

There's always one guy at work who everyone else thinks is an idiot. If you can't think of who this person is, it may be you.

Luckily, there's a test that will tell you definitively whether or not you are an annoying jerk.

In the interest of full disclosure, I did take the test. Although I did admit to making "Office Space" references, I still scored high enough to be considered "Cool".

Home Schooling

2008-07-12T23:43:00.003-05:00

I thought this article was worth sharing. It's about home schooling and some of the possible reasons secular society frowns upon it.

My Faith Healer Can Beat Up Your Faith Healer

2008-07-09T23:32:00.003-05:00

I just saw this story on Nightline. Our faith tells us that miracles are possible. However, this guy looks more than a little shady to me.

Carpentry, Plumbing and Electrical Work, All in One Day

2008-07-09T22:14:00.004-05:00

I had an interesting 4th & 5th of July. My washing machine decided to start leaking water all over the wash room. This one problem then snowballed into a whole range of repairs which had to be made, much like unraveling a cable knit sweater.

The washing machine control valve was leaking causing the water to overflow in the wash tub. The shut off valve was also leaking which meant that I couldn't turn off the water at the connection behind the washer. I had to shut off the water to the whole house. Once the water was off, I noticed that the electrical outlet that both the washer and dryer were plugged into was not a GFCI outlet. Since it was within 1 foot of both a water line AND the gas line to the dryer, I now had to change the electrical outlet as well. During the process of replacing the leaking shut off valve, the copper pipes INSIDE the wall began leaking (more like gushing water from behind the paneling). Now I've got to shut off the water to the house again and chop a large gaping hole in the wall with a reciprocating saw to see what's going on behind the paneling. The hot water line is now bent and separated from the T connection at the valve (GRRRRRRR). It bent and broke because it was not mounted to a 2x4 inside the wall which meant I also had to install a 2x4 brace behind the pipes. After a quick trip to the hardware store (compression fittings, solder, propane torch) I returned more prepared to injure myself than ever before. I won't bore you with the repair details. Suffice it to say I fixed it all and covered up the hole in the wall with a slightly less ugly piece of plywood (it's all hidden behind the washer & dryer anyway).

I know this is dull reading but I spent so much time working on this that I'm posting it anyway.

The Illusion of Freedom

2008-07-01T23:10:00.004-05:00

America! Land of the free. Home of the brave. You are even free to leave the country. According to a newly enacted law however, your assets will be confiscated at the border. I guess the federal government is afraid the rich people might leave before our new executive leadership has a chance to tax us all into prosperity. After all, you can't squeeze blood from a turnip.

At least we know where the federal government stands on the issue of controlling the border. Illegal aliens can come and go as they please BUT AMERICAN CITIZENS' MONEY STAYS HERE!

Full Reverse

2008-07-01T22:12:00.003-05:00

A summary of Governor Bobby Jindal's comments regarding the legislative pay raise issue over the past few weeks (written so that anyone with a Louisiana public school education can understand):

No. I'm not going to veto the pay raise. Nope. Not gonna do it. No, no, no. I don't like it, but I'm not gonna veto it. No I'm not. I absolutely will not veto the pay raise. Look, is that a quarter on the ground?

VETO!!!!!

Ha ha. Burn.

Cate's Funeral

2008-06-29T22:03:00.003-05:00

For being 7 months old, Cate sure made a lot of friends in a short period of time. The church was packed. The music selections were truly inspired (I'm sure my wife will cry every time she hears "Never let go" by Matt Redman). However, it was the Old Testament reading that struck me the most. The reading selected was the mass reading for June 24, 2008 (the day Cate passed away).

Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Cate did not toil in vain. She was truly a light to the nations. It is my hope and prayer the thousands of people who were touched by her life and death are left with a permanent impression on their hearts that might lead them to a deeper understanding of the sacrifice that God made for all of us in giving us his only Son.

Peace.

Funeral Services for Baby Cate

2008-06-26T17:59:00.005-05:00

Baby Cate's blog is updated with a message from her parents. I haven't had the heart to read past the first few sentences. I can't imagine what it took to write it.

The funeral home also has a very nice obituary for Baby Cate. I thought I'd link to it in case someone was interested in reading it or signing the guest book.

Rest in Peace Cate Cantrell

2008-06-25T21:10:00.003-05:00

I did not want to post anything until on this until I knew it was public knowledge. Sadly, Baby Cate has passed away. As much as we all prayed for her, she is now with our Lord in Heaven praying for her family. Please continue to pray with her, for her family.

Until we meet again...

Cate Cantrell Needs Your Prayers

2008-06-22T21:44:00.003-05:00

Charlie Cantrell and I made Cursillo together a million years ago. My wife and I and He and Ali (his wife) all worked together preparing the youth of our parish for confirmation (about half a million years ago). They are an incredible example of what, "living your faith" really means.

Their youngest daughter, Cate was born with heart defects. They are currently at Children's Hospital in Texas where Cate underwent surgery to try to correct some of those defects over a week ago. Unfortunately, the surgery did not go as well as everyone had hoped. She is now fighting for her life. If you want a lesson in "how to place your faith and trust in God", please take the time to visit Baby Cate's blog.

Please pray for Cate Cantrell and her mom and dad. This is truly their hour of need.

Obama's Policy on Drilling: No We Can't.

2008-06-22T15:08:00.003-05:00

Rather than put words in his mouth I'll let him speak for himself:

He mentioned several things that I want to discuss.

1) Sen. Obama would tax oil company's profits to fund some sort of tax break and/or rebate for taxpayers. If this actually takes place oil companies will react just as any other business would. They will either manage their production in order to minimize reported profits (which they do now), INCREASE their prices or (most likely) a combination of both in order to offset the increased (and altogether artificial) tax burden. This means you and I will pay MORE at the pump, NOT LESS! What about Sen. Obama's tax break you say? Given the efficiency of government and the laws of economics we just discussed, I'd guess that in the event you actually receive $1,000.00 in tax relief, you will have spent $2,500.00 or more in taxes and/or fuel charges to get it.

2) It would take 30 years to develop new domestic oil fields. Sen. Obama must have gotten his notes mixed up because this is patently untrue. It may take 30 years to move to an alternative source of energy, but you can't tell me it will take 30 years to keep using what we already have! Five years ago, the Independence Hub gas platform did not exist in the Gulf of Mexico. As of today, it produces about 5% of the Nation's natural gas supply. Oil companies are also producing millions of gallons of oil off the West Coast of Africa. This area has virtually no infrastructure and there are ongoing civil wars in many regions. These undeveloped countries also demand that a large percentage of the labor used to develop these oilfields be performed using local laborers. In most cases local laborers are unskilled and must be trained, adding to the overall expense. In spite of all this, West Africa has developed very rapidly (i.e. quicker than 30 years) and contributes significantly to the world oil supply. We could develop fields along the US coastline much more quickly and efficiently. 20 to 30 years to develop an oil field is an absolutely ridiculous notion.

3) Drilling and production operations would ruin the coastline and the environment. While it is undeniable that there will be risks of oil spills in any location where drilling and production activities occur, these spills (at least in the gulf of Mexico) have historically been relatively small. A leak of 100 barrels a day would be large for this region. In my opinion, the net effect of installing large offshore production platforms has been environmentally positive when you consider the habitat that these structures provide for an incredibly variety of sea life. Ask any fisherman or offshore oilfield worker and they will tell you that these structures hold and produce fish abundantly. I live in Louisiana and I can tell you with authority that the threat to the environment here is not oil spills. It is the unchecked coastal erosion that is washing away 25 to 35 square miles of our wetlands every year. If Sen. Obama wants to help out, he can start by keeping our wetlands from washing away into the ocean, not by waging war on the companies which provide the very energy to which this country has become addicted.

4) We must focus on alternative energy sources. I wanted to mention this point because it is one of the few points on which I must agree with Sen. Obama. At the risk of having my "Evil Oil" membership card revoked, we DO need to develop alternative energy sources which are renewable, cleaner and more efficient. I just don't think that we should focus on these sources exclusively, to the detriment of existing sources. Oil is readily available and perhaps more importantly, the infrastructure to use it already exists. Moving to another energy source will be a very gradual shift, not the overnight change that Sen. Obama seems to think it will be.

5) If we were to explore and produce more oil domestically, the additional supply would have NO effect on oil prices. This flies in the face of basic economics. While the net effect of the additional supply on the overall price of oil is certainly a nebulous question, there would definitely be SOME effect and the effect would certainly be positive. The price of oil will NEVER come down through a policy of taxing oil companies and NOT drilling for more oil.

In short, refusing to drill for oil within our own borders while putting ALL your hopes in unproven (albeit cleaner) energy technologies is a bit like refusing to eat the leftovers in the fridge because you have a cow in your back yard which will someday make great steaks. It makes more sense to do both, does it not?

Yak Stuff

2008-06-16T22:32:00.003-05:00

I found a great way to secure my kayak to my trailer.

It's a Master Lock Python. The cable fits through the scupper holes so I can lock it to anything. Very nice.

Zone Defense

2008-06-16T00:10:00.003-05:00

Happy Father's Day to all you Fathers out there! I suppose this is as good a day as any to announce that my wife and I will soon be forced to shift our defensive strategy from man-to-man coverage to zone defense. That's right, we are expecting our third child and we will be outnumbered!

Posting may be light starting in January. Wish us luck. Better yet, keep us in your prayers.

Rapture Racket

2008-06-08T21:48:00.004-05:00

Hat tip to Van Kirby for finding this one. For $40/year, the web site www.youvebeenleftbehind.com automatically sends your loved ones messages in the event that you are taken up in the "Rapture". I hope I don't offend anyone, but as a Catholic I find this site quite amusing since we don't subscribe to Rapture Theology. Even if only 100 people to subscribe to the service, that's $4000/year for virtually nothing but electronic storage space. You don't have to build a fancy failsafe device to actually send the messages because the event will never happen (at least not as defined by your average Fundamentalist). Even if it did, it's not like there would be any consequences for not sending any of those messages out. I find it hard to believe that any of those folks would come back down from heaven and file a class action law suit against the owner of the web site?

What an awesome racket.

DeColores Cursillistas!

2008-06-05T21:59:00.006-05:00

I'm just wondering if anyone out there who might be reading this is a Cursillista. I made Cursillo 337 (young men's 52) in Prarie Rhonde, LA.

Anyone else?

What's your Cursillo number?

Catholic Disinformation

2008-06-04T23:15:00.003-05:00

This article makes me wonder whether E.J. Dionne is ignorant or intentionally misleading in his remarks. Surely someone who has spent so much time in and around Catholic institutions would have been exposed to the concept of transubstantiation. E.J. should know that, for a Catholic, the Eucharist is God. Encouraging people to act in opposition to God and then presenting yourself to receive the very God you oppose is insanity, not to mention blasphemy. It's sort of like joining PETA and working at a slaughter house at the same time.

E.J. makes a selective reference to one specific sentence in the USCCB's statement "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" and then ignores the rest of the 44 page document which clearly states that voting for a candidate who supports abortion is unacceptable unless all of the candidates in the race support abortion to roughly the same degree, in which case you can stay home or vote for the candidate who you think will do the least damage and/or most good in other areas (see section 36 of the document).

So I ask you, is this yellow journalism or just really, really, reeeeaaaallllly poor journalism? Either way, I'm disappointed in E.J. I hope he reads the other 44 pages of the USCCB's statement and works to "fully form" his conscience as the document suggests.

Flight of the Bumblebee on an Accordian

2008-06-03T22:30:00.003-05:00

I was on vacation last week so I haven't posted for a while. I couldn't pass this up though. This guy is amazing.

I'm guessing he types 45,948 words per minute.

National Guard Unit Takes a Final Look at Tiger Stadium

2008-05-19T20:14:00.004-05:00

I received these photos via e-mail from a friend of mine. The e-mail said they were taken by National Guard troops heading for Iraq. I can't be sure if that's the actual origin but they are great shots so I thought I'd post 'em.

As always, keep our troops in your prayers.

Bonnet Carre Spillway

2008-05-19T19:52:00.004-05:00

I went to OTC a couple of weeks ago to check out what's new in the Gulf of Mexico, exploration and production wise. We had to fly over to New Orleans to pick up another passenger before heading over to Houston. As luck would have it, we flew right by the Bonnet Carre spillway and one of the engineering interns that flew with us happened to have his camera.

The photo is clearer if you click on it (the Mississippi river is the portion above the spillway). After seeing the spillway open, I decided to do a little research into the history and development of this flood protection system. I found a very interesting article here with maps and photos that I thought did a good job of explaining just that.

Evil Minions Wanted

2008-05-14T18:41:00.006-05:00

As a card carrying member of the Evil Oil Empire, I found this article in the Energy Tribune to be spot on.

An Excerpt:

North America: Here an energy worker can be hated as an evil profiteer and Dick Cheney protégé. People believe such a worker spends half his time mired in laborious ignorance in Oklahoma or Louisiana and the other half as part of an omniscient cosmopolitan conspiracy to control energy prices and kill cheap renewable energy via secret meetings in Geneva. The third half of his time is spent killing puffins and caribou for sport.

WWJND (What Would Jack Nicholson Do): "I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps, posting anti-oil garbage on the internet using the very energy I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you sell your car and live in a yurt. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!" [paraphrased from "A Few Good Men"]

I guess providing energy for the entire planet does not make one popular, at least not as popular as other things which seem to require no positive and/or measurable results...

Update 5/19/08: It seems I forgot to link to the article (now linked above).

Cemetery of the Innocents Display Vandalized

2008-05-08T22:06:00.004-05:00

A pro life organization called Pointers for Life set up a "Cemetery of the Innocents" display on the Campus of the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. The display was approved by the University and all of the appropriate paperwork was completed, however one student senator took it upon himself to begin ripping the small crosses from the ground and flinging them about in a fit of self righteousness. You really need to check out the video on YouTube (I would have embedded it but the code was removed from YouTube). You can read the story here.

I would love to simply rant about this but I guess if I am to live my faith I have to urge everyone to pray for this STUPID JERK!