Conservative Musings

Weblog's First Year

As 2005 is coming to an end, I wish to thank each and every one of you who have read and commented on our blog.  It's been a great year.

Actually, for us it's really only been 6 months since we started in July.  In that time, we've gotten a little notice in a few blogs.  Even a comment from the blog-meister himself, Hugh, as Katrina ideas were being tossed about.

This year has seen the Katrina fund raising and Porkbusters, both of which we were proud to join.

Thanks belong to readers, such as yourself, for also voting us the Best of the Top 2501 - 3500.  Considering the fine group we were competing against, this was truly an honor.

I would like to close the year by not only thanking you, our readers, but also thank the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines we call our U.S. Armed Services.  Thank you, whereever you may be stationed, for allowing us here at home the privledge to rant and muse here.  We are honored to be a fellow citizen of yours.  Thank you.

-Colonel Steve

Linked to Mudville Gazette.

Top 10 Word Lookups for 2005

Merriam-Webster has issued their top 10 list of the most "looked up" words for the year.  The number 1 word?  Integrity. 

Rather interesting word to be picked on the most for the year.  Wonder which political persuasion looked the word up most often.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

2. refugee
3. contempt
4. filibuster
5. insipid
6. tsunami
7. pandemic
8. conclave
9. levee
10. inept

-Colonel Steve

Third Justice Sunday

You may remember last year's two Justice Sundays.  The first was held at Highview Baptist Church here in Louisville, KY.  The second was held at Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, TN.

The third in this series is scheduled for January 8th, 2006 at Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philidelphia, PA.  Those on the lineup include Senator Rick Santorum and James Dobson.

-Colonel Steve

The So-called Book of Daniel

NBC is airing, starting January 6th, a show called The Book of Daniel.  A firestorm is now brewing over it's storyline.  This Fox News Online story quotes the main actor playing Daniel Webster, Aidan Quinn, as saying:

"I'm an Episcopalian priest who struggles with a little self-medication problem, and I have a 23-year-old son who's gay, and a 16-year-old daughter who's caught dealing pot, and another son who's jumping on every high school girl he sees, and a wife who's very loving but also likes her martinis," Quinn told the AP.

"I can't tell you how many people have said to me, 'Hey, that sounds like my family.'"

Huh?  In what world does Mr. Quinn live?  Obviously, that world must be Hollywood.  Yeah, maybe if you put every concievable problem a family could have, then place them into one family, then maybe you would have the Daniel Webster family.

Most of us who have families in fly-over country do have problems.  Some of us actually have one or two of the problems found in the fictional Webster family.  In watching TV, though, we're looking for some wholesome series.  Not one whose mere premise is attempting to tear down Christianity.

Please let NBC know what you think about this show.  Especially let them know in the ratings, by not watching it.

You may also let the local affiliates know your thoughts.  As the blog Kentucky Progress mentions, the local affiliates in Louisville and Lexington are WAVE and WLEX respectively.

(HT: Kentucky Conservative)

-Colonel Steve

Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Sweden..

..has now decided to have an official blessing ceremony for homosexual marriages.  They have now joined the United Church of Christ (UCC), who recently added their support homosexual marriage.

Studies of church membership, such as this one of 1980-1990, show that most liberal denominations like the UCC are losing members.  It's the conservative denominations that are gaining.

What's that got to do with gay marriage?  The closer a group sticks to biblical truth, the more members they gain. 

-Colonel Steve

Difference Between Right and Left

You've probably seen this joke before, but it really spells out the differences between those of us on the right and the left:

   One day, a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The florist is pleased and leaves the shop. The next morning, when the barber goes to open his
shop, there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

    Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The cop is happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a thank you Card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

    Later a Republican comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his
bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Republican is very happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open, there is a thank you card and a dozen different books such as "How to Improve Your Business" and "Becoming More Successful."

    Then a Democrat comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Democrat is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Democrats lined up waiting for a free haircut.

    And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between left and right.

-Colonel Steve

2005 Stories Highlighting Right Versus Left

During this time of year, many are reviewing the past year.  In the media, discussions occur about the top stories of the year.

I've been thinking about all the stories of the year that have highlighted the differences between conservatives and liberals.  I'm sure there's more, but here's a start.

1) Iraq - need I say more?
2) Terri Schiavo - the left's wrong idea of death.
3) Tookie Williams - the left's late decision to defend life.  Why not Terri?
4) Katrina - Conservative Mississippi versus Liberal New Orleans.
5) Dan Rather - how the conservative blogosphere knows better than the MSM.
6) The Bridge to Nowhere - and how Porkbusters would like to correct projects like this.
7) John Roberts - Watching the left embaress themselves in their "interview" of him.
8) Casey Sheehan - how a relative dishonored his service.
9) Pope Benedict XVI - the left wanted a "moderate", and were very upset at what they received.

I'm sure I'll think of more later. 

-Colonel Steve

Let Your Car Park Itself

Automobile technology has come a long way since the days of Henry Ford.  There's the talk of automatic braking to back off if one is tailgating, or about to back into something behind.

Siemens VDO is developing the electronics that can park the car for you.  It's still not ready for mass production, but it's initial use looks very promising.

Based on what happened in the DARPA Grand Challenge, something tells me we'll be seeing a lot more of this stuff coming out in the future.

-Colonel Steve

Politics on Campus

Ever felt that your professors were more liberal than you?  Not only more liberal, but more coercive at the same time?

Jennie Mae Brown, at Pennsylvania State University, may have started something to counter the coercive part of that.  After cornering her state representative at a Republican picnic about it, an official legislative inquiry has blossomed from it.  A final report from this inquiry is due in June.

This is definitely something to watch out for in early summer.  It looks like Ms. Brown, an Air Force veteran, may be defending freedoms in civilian life as well.

(HT: Instapundit)

-Colonel Steve

No WMD's in Iraq?

If there were no WMD's in Iraq, then how come Frans van Anraat was convicted in The Hague for helping Bagdad develop them?  It seems that, based on the articles timeline, the 14 years from 1989 to the 2003 U.S. led invasion, Frans was helping develop mustard gas and nerve agents. 

(HT: Captain's Quarters)

-Colonel Steve