Indy Wright

Stimulus attempts to forestall dangerous real life version of Super Mario Brothers!

2009-06-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

According to this story Senator Coburn releases details about how our stimulus dollars are being used to fund a project to create safe passage for turtles under a highway in Florida.

Coburn also criticized a $3.4 million Florida Department of Transportation project for an "eco-passage" - an underground wildlife road crossing for turtles and other wildlife in Lake Jackson, Fla., along U.S. 27.
"Why did the turtle cross the road? To get to the other side of a stimulus project," the Coburn report says.

A spokesperson however, helps us understand that spending money we are borrowing ostensibly from our kids on this project is important.

Josh Boan, the Florida Transportation Department's natural resources manager, said a large number of turtles and other wildlife are killed in the area. In addition to protecting wildlife, he said the project is needed for safety: turtles hit by vehicles can become flying projectiles.

(emphasis mine)

I feel like such a sucker when I read stuff like this. Imagine how I'd fell if I actually voted for Obama!

Pathetic counter to Obama challenge

2009-06-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

So Obama gets ridiculed by many for his stupid $100M proposal to cut government spending, and rightfully so. Soon he will have doubled the national debt. So the idea that his $100M proposal for cuts is risible.

But now the GOP, responding to a challenge from Obama to do better, has offered this. While it is MUCH better than Obama's fake government spending cuts, it is nowhere near what it should be.

Here's the worst line of all from Rep. Eric Cantor:

"What we tried to do was come up with things that really are doable," Cantor said. "It's not like we're going to propose the abolition of the Department of Education." (emphasis mine)

Well, it may not be what you are going to propose but it is what your OUGHT to propose. And while you're at it, how about the Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development...for starters.

Does anyone seriously want to defend the idea that the BILLIONS of dollars spent every year on HUD has been worth it given the state of "H"ousing and "U"rban "D"evelopment in this country?

I think they've "helped" enough.

Obama should appoint a "Foreign Leader Gift Czar"...

2009-04-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

...because he just can't seem to get it right. First there was the DVD collection that doesn't even work in PM Brown's DVD player. Now this.

"The One" gave Her Majesty the queen an ipod. Turns out she already had one. He should've known that. Even the pope has an ipod.

Of course the POTUS doesn't go out shopping for these things. He's too busy ~~running~~ bankrupting the country to worry about such minor things.

But this obviously shows that his team is not competent at their jobs yet.

If he can't find people competent enough to scare up a decent gift for the queen, how is he going to do running the Auto industry?

Sheesh!

Ash Wednesday confrontation

2009-03-26T04:40:00.000-07:00

This article reports on a story of a bellhop at hotel directly across the street from St. Patrick's Cathdral in NYC. He had received the cross of ashes on his forehead early that morning. According to the story, the bellhop said his priest "did a real number on [him]".

I take that to mean he had a Tony Rialli sized cross and not the wimpy kind my pastor hands out.

Anyway, he gets abused by the manager for wearing it. This story has a just ending, though. Props to the hotel for allowing this guy to act like an idiot on his own time.

This story reminded me of another case of religious intolerance by the supposed tolerant left.

G.K. Chesterton

2009-02-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

Here's some wisdom from the great GKC...

"We are learning to do a great many clever things...The next great task will be to learn not to do them."

In the comments section, write what he might be talking about here.

Why Obama was elected IMHO...

2009-02-12T07:41:00.000-08:00

Because there are too many "Julios" out there who voted for "the One" that believe Obama is going to force someone else to give them more benefits at McDonald's.

A host of alarming things to observe.

1) Why is this guy in college? Can't we all agree that not everyone is "college material". Isn't this why college is so expensive. We have inflated the demand for college by encouraging people - like Julio - to go to college instead of working a vocational job that might sustain him. Isn't this a great example of why we need to stop publicly subsidizing college tuition?

2) What exactly is wrong with a person working at McDonald's while in school?

3) Isn't is disturbing to all reasonable people that this type of Messianic worship of Obama is scary and ought to alarm those who voted for the man for sane reasons. I'm sure there were some that did this to Bush, but I think not nearly as many and not nearly as worshipful...YUK!

4) Most disturbingly, Obama, instead of advising this guy to keep his head down and keep up the good work (instead of wondering when Obama was going to give him something) assures him that a host of government goodies are on the way to help him stay afloat at Mickie D's.

This has to play out badly for Obama at some point. Too many people really believe that (free) help is on the way. It is not (free). When that happens, what will he do? Can he blame it on Bush? Maybe. If they're like Julio.

I'm sick when I see this.

Obama is...

2009-01-28T07:46:00.000-08:00

...not displaying a "new kind of politics".

He is pandering to the vocal extremists that helped him get elected. Keep it up, buddy and we may just have a shot at your office in four years!

Be fruitful and multiply - (Japanese gov't)

2009-01-26T08:16:00.000-08:00

Japan apparently is not drinking the same kool-aide as Pelosi. Apparently they are encouraging the public to 'get to know each other' better in the biblical sense.

Pelosi...unleashed

2009-01-26T06:30:00.000-08:00

This, from a Catholic perspective, is not acceptable. There really is a minimum standard for membership to any group and as far as calling yourself an ARDENT, PRACTICING Catholic should include refraining from stomping on the core beliefs of that group.

Thanks be to God we live in a free society. God can also be thanked for my right to get on this blog and proclaim that not only is this COMPLETELY inconsistent with the views of the Church Mrs. Pelosi claims to be an ardent practitioner of, but it is also lacking rational or moral coherence.

Let me take a stab at the economic stupidity:

So our Social Security and Medicare systems are projected to be >$65 TRILLION (with a 'T') upside down over then next 50 years and Pelosi considers it a good idea to promote having fewer children (in this case "children" = the same people that will be on the hook to pay the cost of the Trillions of dollars in promises our government has made to its people).

How. Incredibly. Dumb.

vote! Vote! VOTE!

2008-11-04T04:31:00.000-08:00

Okay all you lovers of freedom and democracy. Go out and vote...correctly. Go out and vote for McCain or against Obama.

Obama to begin internship program

2008-10-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

I feel much better! H/T to Feddie at Southernappeal.org

Obama Undertakes Presidential Internship To Ease Concerns About His Lack Of Experience

If Biden thinks abortion is wrong, then the next question that never gets asked is...

2008-10-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

Why does he think it's wrong?

According to this article he does think abortion is wrong in some cases and to some degree (whatever that means).

We've always believed from the outset that abortion is wrong. But throughout the years, debated the degree to which it is wrong. There are always cases where it is never a first choice. It is always viewed as a dire decision. But throughout the church's history, we've argued between whether or not it is wrong in every circumstance and the degree of wrong. Catholics have this notion, it's almost a gradation.

-emphasis added

A gradation? So what NEVER gets asked of people who are "personally opposed but unwilling to impose" is the logical next question...It is a question my four children are very good at.

Why?

Why is it Mr. Biden you think abortion is wrong? Why is it such a "dire decision"? The only REAL answer is that it is wrong because it is the purposeful taking of an innocent human life. Period. If it is not, then why is it a dire decision? We *should* be able to all agree that abortion is purposeful (no one is forced to procure an abortion), that the fetus IS a life (with modern embryology there is really NO doubt), it is innocent (how can it not be), and that by definition an abortion takes that life.

Q.\ So is it ever morally right to purposefully take an innocent human life?

A.\ No.

This is what infuriates Christians of all stripes but especially those Catholics (like me) who have an inkling of what Catholic teaching is and see Biden wearing, no stealing, the mantle of this teaching for his own deceitful purposes. He takes this mantle and works at cross-purposes against the Church.

It is sick. I know that many people, even good friends of mine, will roll their eyes and think I'm overdoing it here. But I'm not. He is abusing the name of the Church to justify tacit approval of this terrible act.

He is a sad, pathetic man who in his many years hasn't even taken the time to understand his own faith enough to grasp the basic tenants of his faith. He implies some sort of rift between teaching of JPII and prior popes. This just underscores the complete lack of understanding of the Church he belongs to. If he thinks that popes contradict each other in official teaching then why is he a Catholic to begin with.

Many may not know that there is good reason that the Church asks those who aren't Catholic to refrain from receiving our Lord in Holy Communion. It is not to withhold from those who aren't Catholic. It is because we believe that to be fully Catholic means to assent to ALL the teachings of the Church. To receive Communion tells God and those around to see that you affirm EVERYTHING the Church teaches...everything. Even the part where abortion is a grave evil. To receive in spite of dissenting views on any matter of Catholic teaching, no matter where it fits on your gradient, is to lie with your body.

I'm shocked! He did WHAT!!!???

2008-10-18T01:41:00.000-07:00

According to this article Guy Ritchie was basically the devil for pointing out the vividly obvious fact that his wife of 50 YEARS is too old to be stepping around on stage dressed like a whore.

Here's another "unforgivable" act:

He would laugh sarcastically at her jokes and take the mickey out of her in front of other people. Also brought up are times when they went out for a meal where Madonna would accuse him of eyeing up a waitress.'

Now I have to admit, I actually had to Google what 'take the mickey out of her' meant and it seems to mean something akin to belittling her or making her 'loose face' in public, or something close to that. So this is what a divorce case is built on these days? How ironic that Madonna, that woman who's been performing faux sex acts on stage since Larry King was a punk is complaining that her husband is demeaning her in public. No, I think she's done that all by herself.

As regards to eying a waitress. This is the stuff that drives one to divorce? Coming from a woman with the rep she has seems difficult to - should I say it? - swallow. Of course this is silly and we can, and must, laugh at the irony of the story if only to keep our blood pressure at a safe level. But the real sad part is that many people don't see it the way that I - and I pray you - do.

And that should make us as a society recoil and feel ashamed. More than anything it should be fuel for us to do what we can in our society to combat the degradation of marriage. What is the only thing we can do to really make a difference and combat this silly nonsense that is wrecking our society?

Love your wives and husbands as though they are the most important person in the relationship. Love them actively. Even if you don't particularly like them at a point in time, love them as something you do, not something etherial that you feel. I can do better, we all can. No one is perfect. Original sin is the only Christian dogma that can really be proven, according to Chesterton.

Sometimes we think that we're 'only' focusing on our families. Well if you're married with children THAT is your vocation. That is what you are to do. To try to focus your primary efforts outside of that sphere is to take your eye off the ball.

According to Lewis:

To sacrifice the greater good for the less and then not to get the lesser good after all–that is the surprising folly. . . Every preference of a small good to a great, or a partial good to a total good, involves the loss of the small or partial good for which the sacrifice was made. Apparently the world is made that way. If Esau really got his pottage in return for his birthright, then Esau was a lucky exception. You can’t get second things by putting them first; you can get second things only by putting first things first.”

I think that is what Madonna teaches us here. She puts second things (her self esteem) first and first things (her marriage) second. In the end, she is left with neither the first or the second.

She is a sad pathetic loser and one that deserves pity for the pathetic life she leads. Might I suggest as a role model another woman known as "the Madonna" who has her priorities much more in proper order?

Oh please don't let it come down to this!!!

2008-09-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/sep/23/an-electoral-college-doomsday/

This article gives an overview of the electoral perfect storm that we may be careening towards unless the election breaks one way or the other.

Spinning rainbow

2008-09-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

OK, back to what qualifies as humor in my book (maybe not yours). I saw this on Youtube and thought it funny. For Mac users you will be familiar with the "Spinning rainbow" or as someone in the video calls it "the colorful sh*t pizza". By the way, the video isn't as racy as the freeze frame would hint.

Pelosi/Biden et al. receive catechesis from the bishops...

2008-09-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done a religious post, so I'm due I guess...

This cover letter and the "fact sheet" that it references underscores why I am a Catholic Christian. I am proud of the bishops for what they've done here.

I get a little peeved when my co-religionists go on TV and totally misrepresent the Chruch's teaching on a fundamental tenant of our faith such as the sanctity of life. To wit, San Fran Nan's bungling of her own Church's teaching on this matter. She HAD to know she was getting way off the Catholic reservation when she stepped out there on MTP two Sunday's ago. But she did it anyway.

Nancy Pelosi should maybe consider not trying to play theologian on MTP (ditto for Biden). It always seems to get them in trouble with the bishops (you know, the people they flatly and publicly contradict who actually are the shepards of their Church's teaching they publicly flaunt and misrepresent).

That's the thing about Catholicism: It is a religion for spiritual grown-ups. I do not mean to say that if you are not Catholic then you are spiritually infantile or inferior, only that to practice the Catholic faith, if you are to be a serious Catholic, you have to go "all in" and assent to the entire body of teaching, NO MATTER HOW INCONVENIENT OR PAINFUL. Not to say Catholics don't dissent all the time. They do.

And maybe that is why so many people leave the Church after adolescence. I know that happened in my case. I left because I thought I wasn't being fed. Things the Church taught didn't seem to comport with my personal opinion of the way things were so I thought the Church a relic of the past. The proscriptions were so inconvenient to my world view.

Facts are stubborn things, though.

The same reason I left is the very reason I came back and the same reason I love my Church. I love the Catholic faith because it does not bow to political or cultural trends (for a prime example of this see: Humanae Vitae). Wrong is wrong. It was in the time of Pharaoh and it is now and it will be 100 years from now. Truth is unchanging because He who is Truth does not change.

To paraphrase Peter Kreeft: Pilate, the worlds greatest skeptic asked Jesus "What is truth" and it was staring him right in the face. Spiritual blindness or maybe indifference.

Will Pelosi, Biden and others who look the truth of life - even though the life is small and helpless - and see it?

My prayer is for them and for all of us that we may stir our hearts to see God's truth more clearly and follow it no matter where it takes us, no matter how painful.

+AMDG+

NARAL Pro-Choice blasts Palen pick

2008-08-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

If I didn't know a thing about Palen, that would be enough. There is an inverse corelation between the NARAL rating and my approval of any particular candidate.

Thanks, NARAL...for telling me what not to think.

Is Obama crazy?

2008-08-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement.

Here's my response:

"Yesterday, the Democratic Party nominated a man with ZERO executive experience in government at the head of their ticket for President. He has never even been a mayor, nor has he been a governor," McCain and Palin supporter Matt Wright said in a statement that reflected what everyone else was probably thinking.

"Wow that was a dumb thing to say," Wright added.

What a bone headed statement! I think Obama should rescind Bill Burton's power to speak on his behalf without first checking with him.

Hello world. I am blogging...

2008-07-16T09:09:00.001-07:00

Hello world. I am blogging to you from my cell phone. I hope you enjoy my blog. Bye. listen

Powered by Jott

McDonald's jingle song. Do you remember this?

2008-07-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

The forgotten Man: A new history of the Great Depression

2008-07-09T09:24:00.001-07:00

Here's what I said in a brief summary of my thoughts on the book (I comment on all books I read on Facebook, would like to figure out how to do that here).

The Forgotten Man was chilling because it could just as easily been written about politics today. If you want to learn about how the Depression started and, more importantly, why it lasted so long, this book foots the bill.

If you're looking for a page turner, though, look elsewhere. I suspect, though, that the author's intent was not to titillate but to inform. I like a book to do both.

If I hear one more liberal say that "FDR got us out of the depression" I may throw up in my mouth.

Here's my favorite quote of all the other people who commented on the Amazon website:

Loved it. Wnated [sic] to dig up FDR and punch him in the nut sack.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Obama's strategy of preemption?

2008-06-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

No, not military preemption but a shot across the bow at McCain.This article shows how Obama wants to inoculate himself against criticism by playing the race card right off the bat.

Now Obama will respond to any attack on his campaign with a "see I told you they're racist dogs" response.

For me it is SOOOOO transparent and sad. This is the kind of thing that makes me cynical about the process. It shows that he is unwilling or unable (or both) to debate the POLICY DIFFERENCES and would rather focus victimization to distract us all. So many people are enamored with this guy and they actually believe he is different than other politicians!?!?

When Obama discusses change, what exactly-specifically- is he talking about?

I challenge anyone to name a single policy where Obama is to the right of John Kerry. (Cue the crickets!)

Likes and dislikes on McCain

2008-05-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

From his webite's "issues" page, here is a summary of what's got me excited about the man I'll be voting for in November. Later I'll say what I don't like about McCain's stance on the issues.

Likes (in order of my personal preference):

John McCain Proposes A One-Year Spending Pause To Evaluate Programs. He believes that outside of essential military and veterans programs there should be a one-year pause in discretionary spending growth that should be used for a top-to-bottom review of the effectiveness of federal programs.

John McCain Will Propose An Alternative New And Simpler Tax System – And Give America A Real Choice. When this reform is enacted, all who wish to stay under the current system could still do so, but everyone else could choose a vastly less complicated system with two tax rates and a generous standard deduction. Americans do not resent paying their rightful share of taxes – what they do resent is being subjected to thousands of pages of needless and often irrational rules and demands from the IRS.

John McCain Will Reduce The Federal Corporate Tax Rate To 25 Percent From 35 Percent. John McCain believes the taxes we impose on American companies should be no higher than the average rate our major trading partners impose on theirs. We currently have the second-highest combined corporate-tax rate in the industrialized world, and it is driving many businesses and the jobs they create overseas.

John McCain Will Cut Taxes For Middle Class Families. John McCain will permanently repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax(AMT) – a tax that will be paid nearly exclusively by 25 million middle class families. Repealing this onerous tax will save middle class families nearly $60 billion in a single year. Under McCain's plan, a middle class family with children set to pay the AMT will save an average of over $2,700 – a real tax cut for working families.

John McCain Will Act To Control Medicare Growth. The growth of spending on Medicare threatens our fiscal future. John McCain has proposed comprehensive health care reforms that will reduce the growth in Medicare spending, protect seniors against rising Medicare premium payments, and preserve the advancements in medical science central to providing quality care.

A great idea by McCain

2008-05-15T05:27:00.000-07:00

This is the kind of idea that people can get behind. Bush's Achilles heel was is inability and/or unwillingness to communicate openly that led to the perception of a lack of transparency. My personal opinion is that he just wasn't very good at it and so he didn't work very hard on it

McCain here proposes to meet frequently and publicly with the Congress to answer any questions they may have. With this approach of "straight talk" McCain can overcome a lot of voter reticence about his campaign and should he win the presidency, it will help his relationship with the voters.

Regan was the example par excellence of communicating to the people. This would have that effect while at the same time short-circuit any charge of unwillingness to work with the Congress that might be levied by what increasingly looks to be a heavy majority Democrat Congress.

Caption call out...

2008-04-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

Leave your witty captions in the combox...

Mine: "Bill? Is that you over there? Who are you..EWWWW!"

Photo courtesy of Yahoo! News

Indiana primary Excitement...errr burnout

2008-04-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

So the Indiana primary is on the 6th of May (next week). Finally! I guess it is nice for the minority Democrats in the state to vote on something that actually matters with respect to a national election. I guess that isn't 100% accurate (Evan Bayh comes to mind).
Obama is having to confront -once again- questions about his supposedly infallible judgement in light of the fact that he unwittingly sat with his wife and kids in the pews for > 20 years while his pastor spewed anti-American hate speech (cf. claims that US gov't created AIDS virus on purpose, "chickens coming home to roost", etc.)

Good Grief!

2008-04-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

This is a very sad story about Christians fighting each other at the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is traditionally known as the place where Christ gained victory over death.

Somewhat depressing.

Bill Maher blast the pope and the Church; gives Al Sharpton an opportunity.

2008-04-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

Of course the comments that Maher made about the pope and the Church are stupid. As a Catholic I'm offended at the comments but am not getting worked into a lather about it. Maher is a very sad person. He is not someone whose comments deserve much attention accept to see how society reacts to them.

To whit, Rev. Al Sharpton. We remember his highly public call for the dismissal of Don Imus for using some pretty ugly and tasteless humor towards the Rutgers women's bball team on the Imus radio program. This after Imus went on an apology tour including on Sharpton's show.

But what about Maher? I personally don't much care if Maher gets fired. HBO would be within their rights in doing it but they are free to let this dufus continue to provide stupid, insulting and ignorant commentary to those stupid enough to plunk down money every month for the chance to hear him.

Will the Rev. Sharpton now be consistent in his defense of all who have been offended and marginalized, and call for the removal of Mr. Maher from HBO's show? Consider that Maher still has not apologized for calling the Church a child abusing cult (That's a huge cult by the way: > 1 BILLION!).

I'll wait and see...I am not holding my breath.

Charlie Rose REALLY loves his Macbook Air!

2008-03-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

Charlie Rose will not let anything happen to his Macbook Air. He probably bought the one with a solid state HD for $3000+ and did a very fast cost/benefit analysis and made this decision.

American Ceasar

2008-01-13T05:40:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas I learned that my friend Gwen provides book reviews of books she reads on her family blog. I am not ready to say that the following is a full on review, but I did just finish a good read about Douglas MacAurthur and thought I'd post some observations.

• MacArthur took fewer casualties in his entire Pacific campaign (about 90,400) than were taken in the Battle of the Bulge (around 106,000).
• MacArthur, FDR, and Churchill were distant cousins (how incredible is that?)
• MacArthur and his Father, Arthur II, are the only father-son to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
• MacArthur was basically exiled to the Philipines by then Army Chief of Staff Gen. John Pershing (when MacArthur marryied his first wife who Pershing also was smitten with)
• While operating in the Phillipines his Chief of Staff was none other than Dwight D. Eisenhower
• MacArthur's father was Military Governor of the Philipines following the Spanish-American War
• MacArthur essentially wrote the current Japanese Constitution that outlawed war and introduced many liberal reforms such as women's suffrage
• MacArthur's only son, Arthur IV, changed his name following his father's death and is presumed to be living somewhere in NY as a musician.
• Truman said that George Marshall said of Douglas MacArthur, "he was never any damn good . . . a four-flusher and no two ways about it"

I read the following quote from a correspondence to the "Father's Day Committee" who had just given MacArthur "The Outstanding Father of the Year" award. He was unable to accept the award personally because, as it was 1942, he was in Austrailia, three months removed from being rescued from Corregidor in the Phillipines and therefore, otherwise occupied with preparations for a return visit the the Phillippine islands:

"By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact. But I am prouder--infinitely prouder--to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build; the father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentiality of death; the other embodies creation and life. And while the hordes of death are mighty, the battalions of life are mightier still. It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from the battle but in the home repeating with him our simple daily prayer, 'Our Father who art in heaven."

I like that sentiment and agree with it very much.

I'm glad a read the book. It helped fill in a lot of gaps in my knowledge of history, especially about FDR, Truman, and Ike (there remain many more gaps, I assure you). Personal impressions about a few of them here:

Truman - despite his proclamation of "The buck stops here" - seemed to be an A-1 buck passer when it came to taking a stand against the Red Chinese in Korea. He also seemed to be an inarticulate communicator with respect to foreign policy in general which led to some unfavorable results in Korea.

FDR comes out as a deft politician able to manage crisis and personalities extremely well. Not much differen that what I'd heard before.

MacArthur was a narcisist, severely paranoid, incapable of receiving critisism, a political wannabe without many political skills, an exagerator of the first order, a mesmerizing orator, a patriot, a doting father and husband, a genious, and an American hero.

Swimmers Christmas reunion

2008-01-06T21:09:00.001-08:00

Guitar Hero III. Thanks to Devin for your technical support.

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Hello World!

2007-11-24T17:44:00.001-08:00

My name is Devin. I'm the 2nd oldes in this picture. Can you tell which one I am?

New family photos

2007-11-24T17:19:00.000-08:00

These pictures were taken by a friend that does EXCELLENT WORK (otherwise how would I look handsome?). You can see the her watermark (don't worry, I'm going to pay her for the prints).

If you want her to photograph you you should email her: Livingendphotos@aol.com

"THE EARTH IS GETTING WA...never mind." - NASA

2007-08-12T14:04:00.001-07:00

I guess we can relax a little bit about that whole global warming thing. NASA made a mistake with the data about temperatures and overnight, the planet isn't nearly as hot as we thought it was.

Good thing I never gave any credence to the whole thing to begin with...

Get the story

Island of order in chaos of Mosul

2007-07-31T21:38:00.000-07:00

Michael Yon wrote this incredible dispatch about how the 1-4 Cavalry turned this Catholic University (that was miraculously untouched while literal hell was surrounding it) into COP Amanche and is using it as part of the new - working - strategy in Iraq.

This thing has LOTS of cool photos that tell the story.

Enjoy!

Pelosi v. Cheney blink-off

2007-01-24T09:42:00.000-08:00

Watching the SOTU Speech on ABC
...What was worth commenting on, however, was the contrast in blinks per minute between Pelosi and Cheney. While Pelosi clocked a good 25-30 blinks per minute, Cheney barely mustered 3 or 4. If energy conservation is a personal virtue—as he once said so dismissively—Cheney is a saint. The man functions admirably on standby power.

The only thing that seemed to get him going was when the president urged Americans to reduce gasoline usage by 20% in the next decade, cut imports from the Middle East and pursue alternative energy sources. Suddenly, Cheney’s smirking like it’s all he can do not to burst out laughing.

Interesting analysis on the federal deficit

2006-11-16T06:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.techcentralstation.com/1051/

A new direction in Washington

2006-11-15T01:56:00.000-08:00

This is the likely face of the Majority Leader in Congress. He is the guy the Democrats are choosing to lead them in a *post* culture of corption era.

HEH!

Can someone tell me why the minimum wage a good idea?

2006-11-14T04:33:00.000-08:00

Some commentary and statistics regarding the upcoming federal minimum wage hike:

By the numbers(Bureau of Labor 2005):

2.7% = Percentage of hourly paid workers at or below minimum wage(Half of these are less than 25 years old)

52.9% = Percentage minimum wage earners who work part time.

$64,000 = Average family income of minimum wage earners 16-24 years

So if half of the 2.7% are less than 25 years old, we're now talking about only 1.35% of hourly workers with real work experience earning the minimum wage.

Now factor in half of those work part-time and we're talking only .675% of the full-time jobs of people with considerable workplace experience earn the minimum wage.

Where's the crisis here?

This doens't even address the idea of fairness. Why is it fair for the government to make someone pay more money for something (labor) than they would otherwise be willing to pay?

Why does this (based on the law of supply and demand) help those with little experience get what they most need, which is experience?

Suppose I'm an inexperienced worker without a college degree. If my skills are only worth $4/hour to an employer, why is it in my best interest to have the government refuse to allow that employer give me work? Am I better off with no job and gaining no experience or am I better off taking the $4/hour job while getting valuable work experience that will help me make more money?

The Democrat's idea of raising the minimum wage to help people climb the economic ladder is more like kicking out the bottom two rungs.

"See how much more money these people on the ladder are making!!"..."Oh, those unemployed people? Those are victims of greedy businesses not willing to pay a fair wage!"

Hat tip to Right Mind for the cartoon.

PATHETIC! This is what the majority of the country voted for.

"ONE BANK!!!"

2006-11-10T03:01:00.000-08:00

This is the best example of why many caution against unbridled capitalism...
After watching this I Need...to...take...a...shower!

Welcome TJII...my nephew

2006-11-03T15:11:00.000-08:00

My brothere Nathan brings forth another addition to the Wright family! This time it's another BOY!!! Welcome Timmie (sp?)! Can't wait to tell you all about how your dad was when we were kids!

What does Michael J. Embryo say about "Mizurah" debate?

2006-10-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

Hat tip to Feddie at Southern Appeal

Dr. Williams tellin' it like it is...

2006-10-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

Dr. Walter Williams has a unique way of asking Pat Buchanan why protectionism is a good way to retaliate against other protectionist countries...

"[I]f we both were at sea in a rowboat and I shot a hole in my end of the boat...Would [you] retaliate by shooting a hole in [your] end?

Get the whole article to find out why imposing tariffs is an excellent way to screw the American consumer.

Noonan on the liberal ideal of freedom of expression

2006-10-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

Peggy Noonan writes a great piece exploring the head-scratching hypocrisy of supposed bastions of free speech (ie mainsteam print media, academia, and Holywood liberals [Streisand and O'Donnell].

Here's an excerpt...

At Columbia University, members of the Minutemen, the group that patrols the U.S. border with Mexico and reports illegal crossings, were asked to address a forum on immigration policy. As Jim Gilchrist, the founder, spoke, angry students stormed the stage, shouting and knocking over chairs and tables. "Having wreaked havoc," said the New York Sun, they unfurled a banner in Arabic and English that said, "No one is ever illegal." The auditorium was cleared, the Minutemen silenced. Afterward a student protester told the Columbia Spectator, "I don't feel we need to apologize or anything. It was fundamentally a part of free speech. . . . The Minutemen are not a legitimate part of the debate on immigration."

[emphasis added]

Isn't it ironic that these people suppress freedom of expression exclusively because they disagree with it?

Do we see widespread examples of conservative mobs suppressing free-speech on campus?

Where is the outrage in the liberal community?

My friend and the smartest liberal I know asks me why I single out people like Sean Penn for ridicule. It is because there is no outrage from the liberal establishment towards these buffoons. It seems to me that if liberals were so true to their cause, they wouldn't make a distinction between an infringement on their civil rights versus one against a *gasp* conservative.

The lack of condemnation towards these folks signals tacit approval of such behavior to me. Not to mention inviting folks like Michael Moore to sit next to former President Carter at your national convention during PRIME TIME!

Conservatives, on the other hand, tend to quickly unload bad actors and buffoons that are even tangentially related to them(cf. Mark Foley, David Duke, Trent Lott).

Do conservatives cherry pick?

2006-10-14T03:30:00.000-07:00

One of my friends let me have it with both barrels the other day for using tin-foil hat wearing liberals like Sean Penn as my paper tiger to rail against liberalism.

Does he have a point? After thinking about it I think the answer is yes and no.

YES: Because there are certainly more respectable, serious, thought-out expressions of leftist thought than the drivel Sean Penn and his ilk purvey. It would be more useful for us as a society to engage in a debate of the best ideas and philosophies, to the exclusion of the nut roots.

NO: Because the left does not seem to make much of an attempt to combat the dumbest ideas from their camp. To the contrary, they hand them a megaphone of tacit, if not explicit approval by supporting their patron saints (eg. Michael Moore sitting in Carter's presidential booth at the Democratic National Convention).

I also believe that when you follow the philosophies of much of leftist thought out to its logical conclusion, it often leads you to the same nuts we're talking about.

For example: give me an arguement for abortion that can't just as validly be used to defend infanticide?

Now I suspect that most everyone (including most pro-abortion zealots) are against infanticide. But their arguements for killing the person inside the womb are not any less valid outside it.

So maybe when we conservatives choose to take on Sean Penn and the like, we are arguing with the right people. Maybe those cool-headed leftist just haven't caught up to their conclusions yet.

Army Strong...

2006-10-14T03:05:00.000-07:00

The new U.S. Army recruitment video is out. I, like others in the blogosphere who've already commented on it (Black Five)think it hits the mark.

How do I know that it hits the mark? Because it reminds me of the US Army guy I know and love the most. Major General T.J. Wright. I'm proud of you dad. Army strong!

Biff from "Back to the Future" tells you all you want to know

2006-10-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

Stop askin' him the question...Butthead!

Hat tip to MonkeyDaemon

BDS: Bush Derangement Syndrome

2006-10-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

Let's all take a step back and see the absurdity of what kind of charges are being levied against our PRESIDENT. Here's an example:

It is an administration that belittles, demeans, deceives, and indeed kills our brothers and sisters, our sons and our daughters. In the human family, the President is indeed pushing his wheelchair-bound grandmother down the stairs with a smile on his face.

Sean Penn, read by Mark Ruffalo

Can you believe the outrageous rhetoric being employed here? These people are to be ignored. Most people in America don't have time to manufacture faux-rage like this.

Thomas Sowell is da man!

2006-10-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

There is no one better to plainly put the lie to liberal feelgoodism regarding economic policies than Tom Sowell.

His book, Basic Economics, should be required reading for any child in the 5th grade or higher.

Aubr[ie] was her name...

2006-09-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

Hat tip to my mom for letting me know that there's a song entitled Aubrey.

Shhhh! I just got baptized!

2006-09-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

Sunday my daughter Aubrie was baptized. I thought this excerpt from the Gospel reading was very apt.

"Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
'Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.'"

Sting - only in Spanish

2006-09-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

I love this group from Mexico called Maná. Their lead singer sounds like Sting...a lot. Give it a listen.

My "On Notice" board

2006-09-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

Who will you put on notice? http://www.shipbrook.com/onnotice/

PBXVI's comments draw ironic reaction from the "Muslim street"

2006-09-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict the XVII quotes a medieval Byzantine emporor in saying (in part): Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.

Ironically, many Muslims think that the way to prove that their's isn't a religion that does evil and inhuman things is to do evil and inhuman things. To whit, killing a nun in Somalia, or firebombing a churches is the West Bank, or the "Death to America chants seen DAILY on the news, or the kidnapping of innocents and forced "conversions", or the sickening anti-Semitism that runs rampant throughout the Muslim world, etc, ect, ect.

I find myself often thinking that, as a Christian, I must by ready to reach out and offer forgiveness to people who do unspeakable things. Unfortunately I fear I'll have to save my forgiveness for those who wish to receive it.

In summary, MEMO TO MUSLIM WORLD: Grow up!!!

Colbert humorously illustrates the problem of 'Sola Scriptura'

2006-09-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

That is, one begins to beg the question.

Hat tip to Adam Pasick for the video.

Hasta la vista!

2006-09-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

I'm going off to Mexico next week to try and rummage up some business with the many industrial plants that are now located in that country. This is my second trip to Mexico for this purpose.

I will be in Toluca, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Celaya, and Mexico City. If I get any photos worth posting (or anecdotes of any redeeming value) I'll let you know.

Speaking of low gas prices...

2006-09-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Isn't it obvious that supply and demand is at work when it comes to gas prices?

Read this article in the USA today to get the (obvious) scoop. Relevent excerpt below as to why prices are coming down...

•The end of summer. Driving slows, reducing demand for gasoline. And federal requirements for clean air, summer-blend gasoline end next month, making gasoline cheaper to refine and import.

•Sluggish demand. Gasoline use in the first eight months of the year is up 1% vs. a year ago, less than the 1.5% to 2% growth that's typical, says Michael Morris, analyst at the U.S. Energy Information Administration. "Wholesalers are trying to get rid of product. The growth in demand for gasoline has really tapered off," he says.

Wholesale prices are falling faster than retail gasoline prices, meaning stations are making more money than when prices were $3. Wholesale prices Tuesday ranged from $1.77 to $1.79 a gallon, well below the $2-plus prices typical until recently.

•Petroleum traders, worried that prices are too high to last, are selling their holdings. That pushes prices down. They also believe hurricanes won't disrupt Gulf of Mexico production, OPIS senior analyst Tom Kloza says.

Crude oil, which accounts for roughly half the price of gasoline, ended New York trading Tuesday down 90 cents, at $69.71 a barrel. That's the first time it's closed at less than $70 since May 4.

DUHHHHHHHH!!!!

One reason why I love the Midwestern United States

2006-09-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

*** Here's the price trend over last two years (Indiana and US)

***Update*** 09/08/2006 $2.36

It seems obvious to me that the Midwest is the LEAST expensive place to live in the USA. Exibit A: This is the sign located at the gas station where I filled up this morning. Anybody pay less than this? Probably not.

QUESTION: For all three of you out there reading my blog...what are your reasons for loving the Midwest?

Video of the kids

2006-09-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Just trying to figure out how to upload videos. If this works, you can see a little commentary before school this morning of my kids.

Welcome Aubrie

2006-09-07T03:02:00.000-07:00

Our new daughter is here.

Initial Blog Post

2006-09-07T02:14:00.000-07:00

Hello World.

My name is Matt Wright. I have been reading blogs for a while now and decided to try my hand at blogging. I don't know how good I'll be or if I can retain any interested readers, but I shall give it a shot.

I am a married father of 4 (three boys and a girl). I live in Indianapolis, Indiana. My interests are my family, sports (Purdue, Colts, Pacers, Cubs - teams that NEVER win titles), religion (Catholicism in particular), and technology.

Thanks for stopping by. I encourage you to leave a comment for feedback.