Rest in Peace, Mr. Linkletter

What a life he had. Adopted, you know. By a family so poor he once said, "the Depression made no mark on me."

I think the best part of the above-linked story is this:

In 1998, Mr. Linkletter joined Cosby to co-host the first episode of "Kids Say The Darndest Things." At the end of the show, Cosby revealed that the entire studio audience was composed of adults who had appeared on Mr. Linkletter's "House Party" as children.


In an interview with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, Mr. Linkletter recalled the moment as one of the happiest in his life: "It was like going to an orphanage, and they said, 'These are all your children.' "

Census

I'm a little annoyed with the scope of the questions on the Census this year, and not particularly in the mood. I was most annoyed that I got a letter telling me that they're going to send me the Census next week.

Helloooo??? How much money did they just waste sending out a letter telling me that they're going to send a letter? And how much do you want to make a bet the Census contains a letter worded almost identically?

grrr...

But politics is not usually in the domain here. Go to the Soccer Mom blog for that, if you're in the mood.

However, I do know that homeschoolers are probably a bit concerned with the Census. I mean, there are ads telling us that they need to count our children so they know how many schools to build. Honestly, it'd be more interesting if they also included a box asking if they are IN public school. I'd mark that they're in private school. Because they are. I happen to be the head teacher, and to keep my kids in, I sleep with their principal. 'Cuz he's my husband.

Come on, spicy comments like that might drive up my readership. Or scandalize people and drive it down. But I don't know why you'd be scandalized by my sleeping with my husband.

Anyway...

HSLDA, who is never prone to advising homeschoolers to dole out unnecessary information to the government, has an FAQ up about the Census. Here's a snippet:

Do I Have to Fill out the Whole Form?

The most frequent question we receive from member families is, “Am I required by law to answer the census form?”

The U.S. Census is mandatory by federal law. There is clear federal warning in the code about refusing to give the required information to the Census Bureau. U.S. Code, Title 13 states that citizens must comply with the census or face a $100 fine. There is a $500 penalty for giving false information.

Are the Census Questions Constitutional?

Article I, Section 2(3) of the U.S. Constitution is the provision that authorizes a census. “The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such a manner as they shall by law direct.”

The last phrase, “in such a manner as they shall by law direct,” gives Congress broad authority to determine the scope and process for collecting the census. Congress used this authority to define the parameters of the census in Title 13 of the U.S. Code.

More information is found on the site for members. But it seems that these Right Wingers who are FREAKING OUT and refusing to fill out the Census are a bit off-base. The government is supposed to count us. Congress can set the rules as to what they ask us. So answer your Census, people. It's what the Founders asked of us.

Now that doesn't mean you can't be creative. I mean, in the last Census, "American" was a race box you could check. (I think that's what I selected. How else would you categorize someone who is English, German, French, Irish, Puerto-Rican-by-way-of-Castillian-Spanish, and Dutch?)

It's not an option this year, but you can check "Other" and write it in. That's totally okay, you know. And it might send a message to Washington. One that says we are sick and tired of being boxed in racial categories. You want to banish racism? Start being colorblind, and that means stop asking me incessantly if I'm of Hispanic origins.

Wal Mart and Good Food

Travel Man found a link about how Wal Mart wrote a lovely letter to the president and first lady saying that they're SO excited that the White House is looking to get good food into the hands of more people who don't have access to it now. We're going to do everything we can to help you! they wrote. And I'm sure that the First Family was very excited to have such a powerhouse as Wal Mart on their side to help with their initiative!

*snort*

Democrats and Lefties are quite good at trashing Wal Mart, at times even the people who shop there. They even work actively to keep Wal Mart out of the very neighborhoods that would benefit from the jobs and the low prices on food and other sundries that a Super Wal Mart carries. (I will admit that link is old, but it is typical of the way Wal Mart is viewed by the Left.)

None of this endears the Left to me - I, who shop at Wally World (and Sam's) about a dozen times a week. I, who shamelessly shop there to cut down on our grocery bills. And the clothes budget. And sports equipment bills. And decorating the home bills. (But not car parts. NEVER for auto parts.)

Don't trash Wal Mart to me, buddy. I'm a big fan of the Happy Face asterisk thingie. (My kids say it looks like the "loading" symbol on a Mac.)

So, anyway, apparently a foodie did a blind taste test with other snooty foodies, using Wal Mart organic foods and organic foods from Whole Foods.

On to the details: Kummer buys two batches of nearly identical groceries at Wal-Mart and Whole Foods. He has them prepared in a restaurant kitchen and invites taste testers to make a blind side-by-side comparison. The Whole Food grocery set cost $50 more, $20 of which is spent on top of the line chicken breasts (Wal-Mart didn't really offer equivalently high-end meat.)

I can tell you that the prices don't surprise me, but the meat thing ... well, I haven't had enough money to shop swanky, so I am find with Wal Mart's lower-end meats. They're better than our local Kroger, where ALL the chicken is frozen before they pop it into the fridge section. And is usually mostly still frozen. If I want to cook chicken breasts the same day I buy them, I'd better be shopping at Wal Mart.

A summary of the results can be found here. Short story is this: they can't get over their snooty selves and admit that Wal Mart does a good job bringing good food to people who can't afford to shop at high-end places like Whole Foods. (We shopped there when vacationing in Alexandria, VA, one vacation - before our Total Money Makeover days - and even then, when I wasn't paying attention to grocery costs much, I was just floored at the prices.) And that's too bad.

But I have a feeling Wal Mart is going to get their message out anyway. And that will be a good thing, overall. Because I think Wal Mart really is serious about helping, and I really think that they can do a great job at helping families eat better.

Keeping Desires in Check

Here is an explanation of "taking the discipline," a practice it has recently been revealed that Venerable Pope John Paul II participated in. Excellent education for us all! (Father Barron is with Word on Fire, where there are lots of wonderful videos on the Catholic Faith. If you have questions about Catholicism, it's a very good site to gain information and education.)



Found via Insight Scoop, where there are lots of excellent links for more information.

First Stones

I've been reading some online discussion of Ted Kennedy's funeral. Does he deserve a Catholic funeral? He was quite the sinner...maybe he shouldn't be allowed to have one!

All I can think is that I love that he got a Catholic funeral. I love that he was able to benefit from the Sacraments at death's door. I love that he - a great, big, public sinner - might be in Heaven ahead of me.

Who, of any of us, deserves a Catholic funeral? Who, of any of us, deserves the Sacraments?

Which of us is really fit to throw stones at him, now that he's died, when we honestly cannot say we know the state of his soul?

Pointing out his many faults at this point is useless. What is useful, however, is to pray for his soul. Pray that he's in Purgatory, being purified. Pray that he had a deathbed conversion. Pray that he repented of his public sins, as well as his private ones.

Pray that, one day, you'll see him in Heaven and embrace him there.

So you've got a choice now. You can pray for his immortal soul, or you can pick up a stone.

Which will it be?

Congressional Motors New Car

Okay, I almost wish I could add to that Seven Quick Takes post I have, but here...

Seen at Jimmy Akin's blog.

Grieving Jackson Fans 'Commit Suicide' - Yahoo! News UK

Okay, let's start by saying that this is probably bunk (about the suicides), but I wanted to point out a quote from a so-called "minister."  First the link:

Grieving Jackson Fans 'Commit Suicide' - Yahoo! News UK

Now the quote:

Jesse Jackson, a friend of the singer, has recorded a YouTube film on the site urging fans not to "self destruct".

He said: "This is a time when hearts are heavy. There is great pain but great cause to celebrate Michael's life.

"It made Michael happy saying 'We Are The World'. Don't self destruct.

"We fall down sometimes, we get back up. That's the right thing to do. In Michael's name let's live together as brothers and sisters and not die apart as fools."

Does anyone seriously think that Jesse Jackson is a Christian minister when he talks this way?  "In Michael's name"? 

"In Michael's name:"?

Talk about the canonization of celebrities.

In Which I Agree With ... Helen Thomas??

Get up off the floor.  It's true.  Kathryn Lopez has the story at The Corner:

(CNSNews.com) - Following a testy exchange during today’s briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas told CNSNews.com that not even Richard Nixon tried to control the press the way President Obama is trying to control the press.

“Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.

“What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said. “They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.”

Um... I can't say that I didn't see this coming.  But at least some of the press is waking up a bit.

Here's the rest.  It is completely worth reading, especially her sparring with Gibbs.  Fantastic!



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We're Adopting This Form of Healthcare...Why?

I came across this article via Headline Bistro:

IBDeditorials.com: Editorials, Political Cartoons, and Polls from Investor's Business Daily -- Canada's Single-Prayer Health Care: 

"Infant mortality rates are often cited as a reason socialized medicine and a single-payer system is supposed to be better than what we have here. But according to Dr. Linda Halderman, a policy adviser in the California State Senate, these comparisons are bogus.

As she points out, in the U.S., low birth-weight babies are still babies. In Canada, Germany and Austria, a premature baby weighing less than 500 grams is not considered a living child and is not counted in such statistics. They're considered 'unsalvageable' and therefore never alive.

Norway boasts one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world — until you factor in weight at birth, and then its rate is no better than in the U.S.

In other countries babies that survive less than 24 hours are also excluded and are classified as 'stillborn.' In the U.S. any infant that shows any sign of life for any length of time is considered a live birth.

A child born in Hong Kong or Japan that lives less than a day is reported as a 'miscarriage' and not counted. In Switzerland and other parts of Europe, a baby is not counted as a baby if it is less than 30 centimeters in length."

Do click through for the whole thing.  It's worth reading.  






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Prognostication in Film

I was going to do this at the Soccer Mom blog, but I can't seem to get to it for some reason.  Strange.

Anyhoo...

Last night, Travel Man and I watched Network, on a recommendation from The Anchoress.  She was commenting on the absolute circus going on around Michael Jackson's death.  I mean, the UN passed a resolution that requires the US to pay a certain percentage of our GDP to them, the Sentate approved a legal advisor to the administration that believes that international law should be considered when interpreting the United States Constitution, and the House of Representatives passed a massive bill that even the administration hasn't read completely.  (It went from 900 to 1200 pages overnight, then from 1200 to 1500 in an afternoon.  And I'm looking for the video of an administration official on Fox and Friends this morning; she admitted that she'd read "large portions" of the bill.  The question was "Have you read the whole 1000+ page bill?"  Her answer - several times - was, "I've read large portions of it," or, "I've read large swaths of it.")  This bill will effectively increase everyone's energy costs with cap-and-trade taxes.  (I'd give you more links than this, but I CANNOT FIND much of anything, especially on the UN resoltion.)

And what is the media doing for at least two solid days?  Hanging out in Gary, Indiana, by Michael Jackson's boyhood home.  Hanging out near his ranch.  Gawking at people in Harlem having candle-lit vigils of sorts by theaters.  Giving us live feeds from the hospital where people are crowding in the parking lots because they're so heartbroken over Jackson's death.  

Because we know how important all this is in relation to what's going on.

Mind you, I don't mind the mention of it, or even an update, but the live-feeds and interviews with every person who knew him or imitated him or listened to a record of his...it's ridiculous.  Jonah Goldberg summed things up nicely.

This was a complete coincidence, but this week's lesson in The Great Adventure Bible Study was about 1Samuel, and in it, we see Israel asking for a king.  They didn't ask for him for any reason except that they wanted to be just like everyone else.  Even when Samuel tells them the trouble a king will bring them, their answer is, "YAY!  GIVE US A KING!"  

During the DVD lesson we watched before Mass yesterday, Dr. Jeff Cavins commented about kings.  You see, the Lord God was King of Israel at this point in history.  Samuel knew that, and was more than a bit perturbed by Israel's "follow the crowd" mentality.  And today, Christians acknowledge Jesus Christ (the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity) as King of kings.  Catholics have a feast day just to proclaim this fact: Christ the King.  So during his discussion of this passage, Dr. Cavins said, "Michael Jackson is not a king.  Elvis is not a king," and then went on to discuss what seems to be this need we have for royalty.  What's neat is that the Catholic Church has this kind of hierarchy built right in; we even call our bishops "princes of the Church."  

But back to Network.

The movie was really fascinating.  I'd never watched it before, but have wanted to for years now.  And it is absolutely prescient!  I suppose if I'd have watched this when it came out (fat chance: I was six) or even a few years ago, I would have scoffed that the news would be such a thing.  

But no more.

What is really amazing is how far into this vision we already are.  How much the news, especially with a 24 hour news cycle, has become bread and circuses.  It's entertainment!  It's exciting!  It FASCINATING!  And in an ever-increasing push to gain more ratings, more viewers, a bigger market share, the news is looking less like this:

And more like this (WANRING: language alert!!):

You doubt?  Really?  How about this:

Now, I like Glenn Beck, but he is (or, at least, has become) a milder version of Howard Beale.  And watching Network has only put me off the news channels a little bit more than they were doing on their own, what with the days-on-end coverage about the death of a pop singer and the constant fiddling while Rome burns mentality.

It's all bread and circuses, and good luck finding out what's actually happening in the world.

(WANRING: language alert!!)

(WANRING: language alert!!)

I Shouldn't Even Need to Say It, But...

My first reaction to Tiller's murder was, "Oh, my God!  How horrible!"

Pray for his soul.  Pray for his murderer.  No matter how awful Tiller's actions (and trust me, butchering babies right up until the ninth month of pregnancy is pretty bad), he did not deserve to be murdered in cold blood.

May God have mercy on his soul.

Thoughts on ND

Just how far back did Notre Dame's honorary degree for President Obama set back the Catholic Church's work to establish a Culture of Life in America?

How seriously will pro-abortion politicians take us (meaning Pro Life Catholics) now that Notre Dame has said that it's okay to be pro-abortion as long as you're in favor of universal healthcare and taxing the rich?

I think we'll be dismissed, and this will only serve to work to break down proper obedience within the Church.  The valedictorian of Notre Dame said - on video - that it's fine to honor President Obama because of his stances on the poor, health care, etc.  We can ignore the whole killing unborn (and newly born through botched abortion) thing.  Or that he wants to distribute birth control on our dime.  Or pay for abortions with tax money.  Or prevent doctors, nurses, and pharmacists from following their consciences and refusing to give birth control or perform abortions.

Never mind that stuff.  He's for free healthcare!

This act will cause others to think that following the direction of one's bishop is optional.  That it's not a contradiction for a Catholic institution to honor someone who is stridently pro-abortion.  I think this will further damage souls in that they will ignore the Church's plea to live chastely and to treasure life.

Notre Dame's decision affects more than graduation day.  And that's why it's a scandal.

[image source]

Notre Dame's Response (Students, That Is)

I am sure I can find it if I look, but anyone who knows the time of graduation (and perhaps the time the president is to speak), please leave it in the com boxes.  I'd like to be sure to pray a Rosary while he's speaking.

Those are Some Powerful Stickers!

Gosh, if only they'd thought of this sooner!  Who knew that special stickers would prevent teenagers from driving wrecklessly?  (And is it really "wrecklessly" if they are, in fact, having wrecks?  Wouldn't that really be "wreckfully?")

Anyway, the headline from Fox News is:

N.J. Tags New Drivers With License Plate Decals

By foxnewsonline@foxnews.com

Officials say New Jersey has become the first state to require new drivers to display identifying decals on their vehicles in an attempt to curb teen driving death

Special Olympian Tells It Like It Is

Found via The Corner, from the AP:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - The top bowler for the Special Olympics looks forward to meeting President Barack Obama in an alley.

"He bowled a 129. I bowl a 300. I could beat that score easily," Michigan's Kolan McConiughey (KO-lahn Mc-KAHNA-he) told The Associated Press in an interview Friday.

The athletic-minded president made an offhand remark Thursday on "The Tonight Show" comparing his weak bowling to "the Special Olympics or something." He quickly apologized and told the Special Olympics chairman he wants to have some of its athletes visit the White House to bowl or play basketball.

McConiughey, who is mentally disabled, is just the bowler for the job. He's bowled five perfect games since 2005.

The 35-year-old McConiughey has been bowling since he was 8 or 9. His advice for Obama? Practice every day.

You tell him, Kolan!

(And, in case you are reading the rest of the posts dealing with this despicable comment of the president, I don't think that his offhand, "Oh, I didn't mean it to be bad or anything," is enough.  What, does he call short busses "tart carts," too?  Nice people don't make jokes at the expense of the retarded.  Actually, nice people don't make jokes at the expense of anyone else.  I maintain that this comment is just a symptom of his utter disregard for the dignity of human life in general.)

Twenty Thousand Times Ten (At Least)?

"Tens of thousands" is how one news outlet put it.  It was HUGE.  I suppose they aren't exactly wrong about the tens of thousands, but it's really not very accurate.  It's like saying that there were at least 200,000 people at the inauguration.  Not wrong, but not exactly truthful.

LifeSiteNews.com had this to say:

Contrary to Mainstream Media, Hundreds of Thousands at Giant Washington March For Life

Nellie Gray says larger number this year a reaction to Obama election

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman and Steve Jalsevac



WASHINGTON, D.C., January 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Hundreds of thousands of pro-life demonstrators marched through the U.S. capital Thursday, protesting the deaths of almost 50 million unborn children by surgical abortion since the practice was legalized nationwide in 1973.



The March for Life, held on the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that struck down state laws nationwide, attracted large groups from around the nation, including Catholic dioceses and parishes, organizations of priests and laity, and various pro-family and pro-life organizations.  Well over half of the participants were under thirty years old, including a very high percentage of adolescents.



March for Life chief organizer Nellie Gray told LifeSiteNews the crowd definitely appeared larger than normal this year. She said there were "definitely over 200,000" participants and noted that one television station reported that there were 300,000 participants in the march. Gray also said the march normally takes about one and a half hours to pass one point, but this year it took over two and a half hours, indicating a large increase in numbers. [emphasis mine -ed.]

Read the rest here.

Good-Bye, Mr. President, and Thank You

I know some people who really dislike President Bush. I certainly don't agree with everything he's done, but he's been a good president, and I see him as someone who is pretty principled. His ratings are in the toilet, yet he continues to do what he thinks is the right thing. Some people say he's not pro-life enough, that he ought to actually be AT the March for Life. Personally, I cannot imagine the security measures that would need to be taken for him to mingle amongst 150,000-plus people. But he's given us a message every single year he's been president. Think we'll be getting any of that for four to eight years? Trust me, you'll look back and see him as much more pro-life than you give him credit for today.

In the meantime, if I could talk to him, I'd say thank you. Thanks for all of the things you've done for the country, and may God bless and keep you now and the rest of your life. I'll miss hearing from you on Thursday.

Take care, Mr. President.

Prayers and Deals

Circuit City is going out of business.  They will begin liquidating their stores this week.  (I've heard their liquidation starts tomorrow, but when a friend's husband called to ask, the woman said flatly, "I don't know when it starts.  And I just lost my job.")

If you are taking advantage of their liquidation, please also remember to keep those who work there (and for their call centers) in your prayers.  Even just last week, the company I contract through was looking for people to man Circuit City's call center hours, so there are more than just the store clerks and corporate muckity-mucks who are losing their jobs.  Lots of unseen people will, too.  They count about 35,000 lost jobs, but a lot of those call center people might not even count in that number.  They are, actually, contracted independent businesses.  And for some, that is a main source of income.

Has Anybody Seen Flick?

This was funny, but I do hope the kid is okay now.

I Triple-Dog Dare You: Boy Gets Tongue Stuck on Pole

By foxnewsonline@foxnews.com

In a scene straight out of the movie "A Christmas Story," a 10-year-old Hammond boy got his tongue stuck to a metal light pole.

Bad for You

The Pill is bad for you.  So the Church has said for decades.  And now, so says the co-inventor of the Pill.

The article is fantastic, and I'm just going to let you go read it at the source.  Seriously.  Go.  Read.