Is There a Doctor in the House?

It must be comforting to the parents who send their children to Davidson College to know that Professor DR. Susan Roberts knows what she's talking about.

Why AOL Gets A Bad Rep

This is a classic, make sure you listen to the audio. If you have ever dealt with AOL or other large companies, you know how infuriating this can be. I do believe that AOL finally apologized. You should read the comment sections on both links, wow. If you have ever dealt with AOL about tecnical problems, be prepared to spend 15 minutes talking to a computer before you spend another 15 minutes talking to someone that you can barely understand, in India!

Here is the Better Business Bureau report on AOL.

Update: Here is a video of Vince's interview with Matt Lauer.

The New Testament and Textual Criticism

Justin Taylor has an excellent post on textual criticism. For those of you have questions about the reliability of Scripture, read the whole thing. I have always found Justin's blog to be informational, I check it everyday.

Is This the Meaning of the Term Blank Slate?

I love purgatorio, it is one of those unique sites that always has something interesting to look at. This name the caption contest is very funny. I especially like suggestion numbers 2, 9, 17, 20, 25, 40, 42, and 77. If you don't get some of those ask and I will try and explain! :)

A Scientific Dissent From Darwinism

I suspect we will be seeing more and more press releases like this, as technology continues to lead us to the conclusion that there must be a "Grand Designer" i.e. Creator behind our existence. Having recently taken a college biology class I was once again reminded that Darwin's theory of evolution cannot explain the complexity of living things.

The Discovery Institute has some great information on the subject. HT SmartChristian

Here are three Fact Sheets (pdf) for you to consider.

Microevolution v.s. Macroevolution

The Cambrian Explosion

Survival of the Fakest

Science - Facts and Myths

Is the Great Wall in China really the only man-made object that can be viewed from space?

Does Chicken Soup really help the common cold?

Will a falling cat always land on its feet?

Are yawns really contagious?

If you want to know the answers to these questions and more, click here. HT Jonah Goldberg

The UN and Homeschooling

Honestly, why we still belong to the UN is beyond me. This is the sort of thing that would be happening in America if we relented and agreed to abide by their absurd Convention on Children's Rights.

From its Preamble:

Convinced that the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the
community,

Recognizing that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,

Sounds good right? How about this from Article 6.

1. States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life .
2. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child(emphasis mine).

Imagine that, the UN is actually pro-life! NOT!

The problem with this document is that all power and authority for raising and nurturing children rests with the "States Parties." Certainly lip service is given to the role of parents, but they are minor players when it comes to raising and rearing children, that is the role of the State!

This situation with the homeschoolers in Belgium is proof that in this document, the final authority rests with the state, not the parents. Don't get me wrong, sometimes the state has to step in when there is clear sign of abuse and or neglect, but homeschooling is neither abusive nor neglectful. (For a fuller look at the UN document check out this link).

HT KJL at The Corner

What Part of Illegal Do You Not Understand?

If the Governator signs this bill it will cause problems for him in November. HT Mark Krikorian

Is This the Way to Revival?

This is one of my favorite Ray Steven's songs. To listen to the song go here. To read the words go here. Have fun. HT Jolly Blogger

ACLU - Do As We Say, Not As We Do!

Hypocrisy in the ACLU? Nah, it couldn't be.

Whose Not Making Nice?

I am amazed that the entertainment left doesn't get it. Somehow they think they are owed a following no matter what they say. The Dixie Chicks are a case in point. They trash the President while in another country and then are shocked when their fans are upset about it. Michelle Malkin puts in perspective.

Christianity and the MPAA

A new film coming out has been given a PG rating because of its Christian message. The movie, called "Facing the Giants" is about "a Christian high-school football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure." WorldnetDaily explains why the film may have received the PG rating.

A scene which may have drawn extra scrutiny includes a discussion between a football coach and a wealthy brat.

When the coach said the student needed to stop bad-mouthing his father and get right with God, the boy said, "You really believe in all that honoring God and following Jesus stuff? ... Well, I ain't trying to be disrespectful, but not everybody believes in that."

The coach replied: "Matt, nobody's forcing anything on you. Following Jesus Christ is the decision that you're going to have to make for yourself. You may not want to accept it, because it'll change your life. You'll never be the same."

So now you can add sharing the gospel (along with profanity, violence and brief nudity) to the list of reasons a film we will receive a PG rating.

Tony Dungy

As a father I can only imagine how painful this must have been for the Dungy family. Coach Dungy's response is amazing. I am thankful for men like him. HT SmartChristian.com

In the early-morning hours of Dec. 22, 2005, Tony and Lauren Dungy lived a parent's worst nightmare when they learned their eldest son and second of five children, 18-year-old James, had been found dead in his suburban Tampa, Fla., apartment. In February, James' death was ruled a suicide.
"As a parent you'll never have any greater pain in your life," Colts president Bill Polian says.
"Anyone who's a parent dreads that call in the middle of the night. I have four grown children and I still dread it."
When Dungy told Polian the news, "[I thought], 'Oh my God. Oh my God, what a tragedy.' I think that's what I said. … The hardest punch you've ever taken to the gut doesn't compare. It's something you never want to relive."
And yet Dungy is able to live with what other parents who have lost children often describe as an unbearable pain because of his faith. Great coaches have the ability to see the game differently. Great men are able to view life's unfortunate circumstances from a unique perspective.
Dungy's doing that.

Read the whole article.

Heroes

Take some time to read through this page and the included links. HT The Corner

A Libertarian?

I was surprised by my results on this quiz. I have always considered myself more conservative than libertarian. Take it and see where you fall on the political spectrum. My results are below. HT Hugh Hewitt

ACCORDING TO YOUR ANSWERS,
The political description that fits you best is...
.
LIBERTARIAN
LIBERTARIANS support maximum liberty in both personal and
economic matters. They advocate a much smaller government; one
that is limited to protecting individuals from coercion and violence.
Libertarians tend to embrace individual responsibility, oppose
government bureaucracy and taxes, promote private charity, tolerate
diverse lifestyles, support the free market, and defend civil liberties.
The RED DOT on the Chart shows where you fit on the political map.
Your PERSONAL issues Score is 70%. Your ECONOMIC issues Score is 80%. (Please note: Scores falling on the Centrist border are counted as Centrist.)

Ann Coulter

I don't always agree with her style, but I sure get a lot of enjoyment out of watching how the liberals and the MSM respond to Ann Coulter. After watching this video tribute to Coultermania, you have to admit that she is not afraid to say what a lot of people are thinking. I especially thought what she said about Hillary's comments were on the mark (sorry mom). I think what gets the MSM in such a tizzy is that she goes into their territory and is not afraid to take them on. I love it!

Pro Life

A picture is worth a thousand words. We can debate and talk and shout all we want about the abortion issue, but the picture I linked to makes a great argument for the prolife side. HT SmartChristian.com

More Bad News for Bush

What oh what will we do with our President? And you think I am too hard on the MSM? Check out the New York Times headline to this story.

Update: The New York Times headline: "Bush deficit reduction plan falls off-schedule."

This was in response to the news that because of an increase in tax revenues the deficit has been substantially cut, and three years early. However, the New York times ran with the above headline. It was quoted on the instapundit site but the link didn't make that clear.

Update II: Since I can't find the link at the Times website, it either was in the print edition only or Glenn Reynolds was being sarcastic about how the times and other MSM outlets handle good news when it could help Bush.

More Good News from Iraq

News from Iraq you won't get from the Mainstrean Media (MSM). I love this from a section on Iraqi Reconstruction.

According to a survey team from Duke University, Iraq’s marshes are well on their way to recovery:

Populations of many native fish, invertebrate animals, birds and plants are well on their way to recovery. The marshes of southern Iraq, devastated in recent decades by Saddam Hussein’s regime, are showing a “remarkable” recovery, according to an ecological survey team led by scientists at Duke University and the University of Basrah, according to a press release by EurekAlert.
In their latest and most thorough evaluation of the marshes—claimed in some
quarters to be the site of the biblical Garden of Eden—the researchers found that populations of many native fish, invertebrate animals, birds and plants are well on their way to recovery.

Enviro-guru Al Gore couldn’t be reached for comment.

Star Trek v.s. Star Wars

Ever wonder who would win between Jean Luc Picard and Darth Vader?
Here is your answer.

Swimming Season

The subtitle on my blog says "My Thoughts on Religion, Politics, Sports and Small Town Life." I have made several posts on religion, politics and sports but I haven't talked much about small town life, so that is what I am going to do today.

Every year at this time my family gears up for swim club. In the past both Aaron and Abigail have been involved in swim club (which is a very big deal in the Bakersfield area). The last few years it has been just Abigail since Aaron has been working (as a lifeguard) during that time. From the end of May to the end of July, just about every Saturday is taken up with swim meets.

The swim meets are really quite an event as each swim club hosts one meet. This past weekend it was our turn. Wasco always has the second Saturday in June and we had a great meet. As in previous years every family is assigned responsibilities for the meet. When we first started out we were given fun jobs (sarcasm) like selling programs or working in the snack bar. There is nothing like being inside a non airconditioned 100 degree room with ten other people selling concessions all day (the meets usually go from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm). Anyway, as our "seniority" has grown in the club so has our assignments.

This year Debbie was given the job of "Clerk of Course" (for the third time) which is sort of like a traffic cop. Her job is to make sure that the swimmers are all lined up properly for each event and each heat. When dealing with about three hundred swimmers, in 101 events and usually two or three heats per event, it can be quite a job.

How fast and how successful the meet goes is usually dependent on the clerk of course and the starter. Guess who was assigned the starter job this year? If you guessed me, then you guessed right.

Usually there are two or three starters that all of the clubs use (and pay) but we have always had a man in our club who has experience as a starter so we have used him. This year however, he was down with a bad back and so they put me in as starter (why they thought I could do it, I will never know).

I must say though that the thought of being the starter appealed to me a whole lot more than being the head timer or a time sheet runner (jobs I have had in the past). Needless to say, I was a little bit nervous. I had watched the starters closely in the past, just because I thought their job looked interesting, never imagining I would be one someday myself. Boy, am I glad I paid attention! Before the meet started I said a little prayer and asked the Lord to help me to do a good job (and not embarrass myself).

To make a long story short, everything went fine and I really enjoyed the job. In fact, the meet finished ahead of schedule with no major foul ups. After the meet, several people spoke to both Debbie and myself telling us how much they liked the meet and how glad they were that it finished so early.

What's my point? Nothing more than to say thanks Lord for helping us survive.

Evolution of Dance

For your enjoyment!

Slow Week Posting

Sorry it has been a slow week posting, but I am in the middle of taking a couple of classes at Fresno Pacific University and I had some assignments due. In addition, I have a job and a family I have to pay attention to once in a while! :)

Another Left Wing Role Model

I am sure the administration at UNC is very proud of their professor. I did an interneship in Greeley for a summer, other than the University and Monfort Meet Packing there is not much there. Although, I did enjoy my time there.

Diet Coke and Mentos

These guys have too much time on their hands. Still, this is pretty cool.
HT The Corner

Election Fraud and The Democrats (updated and edited)

My mom over at Leezy's Slice of Life Blog has responded to my "Have They No Shame?" post. She has linked to my website and then another site called fred.net.

The problem is that she tries to make a one to one correspondence between the article I spoke about in my post (as she says, from the "right") and the crazy conspiracies on fred.net (as she says from the "left").

The big difference is that in my post an actual Democratic candidate was encouraging people to vote illegally. In the site she linked to at fred.net you have a bunch of links to conspiracy theories (black box voting for example) and accusations that have either been debunked or not proven.

In fact, Robert Kennedy Jr. tried to rehash the whole George Bush (or more accurately, Ken Blackwell) stole the 2004 election meme in a recent Rolling Stone article. As their argument goes, "It had to be the case since the exit polls showed John Kerry winning big."

This whole thing has been effectively dealt with previously. I suggest you read this and this and this.

If the supposed conspiracy theories were true and if the Republicans are perpetrating election fraud to the alledged extent that fred.net accuses, then WHY are the Democrats the ones so strongly opposed to election reform ? Something to think about.

PS: Lest anyone misunderstand, I still love my mom, even though she's a l-i-b-e-r-a-l.

Rush Top Twenty Songs (5-1)

I hope you have enjoyed my list of top twenty Rush songs. I am sure that if you are a Rush fan, you will disagree with the songs I have chosen, but that is okay.

In this post I am going to name my top five, but before I do, I want to name some songs that didn't make the list but that are worthy of honorable mention.

Honorable Mention

Instrumentals - YYZ (Moving Pictures); Where's My Thing (Roll the Bones); Leave that Thing Alone (counterparts)

From Rush - Finding My Way; What You're Doing

From Fly By Night - Beneath, Between, Behind

From Caress of Steel - Lakeside Park

From 2112 - Something for Nothing (it barely missed my top twenty)

From A Farewell to Kings - Cinderella Man; Madrigal; Cygnus X-1 Book One

From Hemispheres - Cygnus X-1 Book Two; Circumstances; The Trees

From Permanent Waves - The Spirit of Radio

From Moving Pictures - Red Barchetta

From Signals - Subdivisions; New World Man

From Presto - Show Don't Tell

From Roll the Bones - Dreamline; Roll the Bones; Neurotica

From Counterparts - Animate; Cut to the Chase; Between Sun and Moon;

From Test for Echo - Half the World; Time and Motion ; Dog Years; Virtuality; Resist

Now for the top five.........drum roll please................


(5) By-Tor and the Snowdog (Fly By Night) - This song gives us the first hint of what was to come with Rush. It is a song that reveals the musicianship of this trio. A contest between the bass (By-Tor) and the guitar (Snowdog) leads the band into a battle of epic proportions. Nobody writes lyrics like Neil does here.

The Tobes of Hades, lit by flickering torchlight The netherworld is gathered in the glare Prince By-Tor takes the cavern to the north light The sign of Eth is rising in the air. By-Tor, knight of darkness, Centurion of evil, devil's prince.

Across the River Styx, out of the lamplight His nemesis is waiting at the gate The Snow Dog, ermine glowing in the damp night Coal-black eyes shimmering with hate. By-Tor and the Snow Dog Square for battle, let the fray begin.

The battles over and the dust is clearing Disciples of the Snow Dog sound the knell Rejoicing echoes as the dawn is nearing By-Tor in defeat retreats to Hell Snow Dog is victorious The land of the Overworld is saved again.

(4) Driven (Test for Echo) I just love the song. Geddy does a great job singing and there is a terrific bass part. Neil has written interesting lyrics and Alex guitar work is wonderful.


(3) Xanadu (A Farewell to Kings) - Again, I love the music of this song, but there are great lyrics as well. This is Rush at is imaginative best.


(2) 2112 (2112) - Forget about the lyrics (even though there is a great story here) the music is almost symphonic in its complexities.

(1) Here Again (Rush) - You won't find this song on most people's list of Rush favorites but I have liked it from the first time I heard it. Let's start with the bass line, it is great. Geddy's voice is haunting. Clocking in at 7:34 it is worth the listen.

Rush Top Twenty Songs (10-6)

(10) A Farewell to Kings (A Farewell to Kings) - This song starts out with a very melodic acoustic sound before it becomes electric. The sound is not one that we have heard from Rush up to this point, but it is a real treat nonetheless. A Farewell to Kings leads off the same titled album and sets a great tone. The lyrics picture the cry of a modern prophet seeking a return to better days and better lives.

When they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow
We turned our gaze
From the castles in the distance
Eyes cast down On the path of least resistance

Cities full of hatred Fear and lies
Withered hearts And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise

The hypocrites are slandering
The sacred halls of Truth
Ancient nobles showering
Their bitterness on youth
Can't we find
The minds that made us strong
Can't we learn
To feel what's right and wrong

Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise
Can't we raise our eyes
And make a start
Can't we find the minds
To lead us closer to the Heart

(9) Stick it Out (Counterparts) - My favorite song on the Counterparts album, this song has some very witty lyrics. It is a great blend of music and words.

Trust to your instincts
If it's safely restrained
Lightning reactions
Must be carefully trained

Heat of the moment
Curse of the young
Spit out your anger
Don't swallow your tongue

STICK IT OUT

Don't swallow the poison
SPIT IT OUT
Don't swallow your pride
STICK IT OUT
Don't swallow your anger
SPIT IT OUT
Don't swallow the lies

Natural reflex
Pendulum swing
You might be too dizzy
To do the right thing

Trial under fire
Ultimate proof
Moment of crisis
Don't swallow the truth

STICK IT OUT

Each time we bathe our reactions
In artificial light
Each time we alter the focus
To make the wrong moves seem right

You get so used to deception
You make yourself a nervous wreck
You get so used to surrender
Running back to cover your neck

STICK IT OUT

(8) La Villa Strangiato (Hemispheres) - This Instrumental (Rush's first of four) is subtitled an exercise in self-indulgence, and one can hear why as the band lets loose. I have read that the band insisted on recording this song in one take.

In other words, it wasn't recorded in a conventional fashion where each instrument is laid down on a different track. No, it's more of a 'live' version since all three jammed simultaneously until they got it right.

Quite an accomplishment given that this songs clocks in at 9:35.

(7) Working Man (Rush) - When you hear this song, you just know it is Rush. From the first album, this song lets everyone know that Rush is here to Rock!



(6) Closer to the Heart (A Farewell to Kings) - For long-time fans of Rush, this has become a signature song. It is a little pollyanish, but it has a great sound. This is the second of three songs from the "A Farewell to Kings" album on my top twenty list.

And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones to start
To mould a new reality
Closer to the Heart

The Blacksmith and the Artist
Reflect it in their art
Forge their creativity
Closer to the Heart

Philosophers and Ploughmen
Each must know his part
To sow a new mentality
Closer to the Heart

You can be the Captain
I will draw the Chart
Sailing into destiny
Closer to the Heart

Rush Top Twenty Songs (15-11)

In this post we look at my favorite Rush songs, numbers 15-11.

(15) Distant Early Warning (Grace Under Pressure) - This song has grown on me over the years. It still has a little too much reliance on the synthesizers for my taste, but the melody line is haunting. Released in 1984, the lyrics reflect the cold war politics of the time.

An ill wind comes arising
Across the cities of the plain
There's no swimming in the heavy water --
No singing in the acid rain
Red alert
Red alert

It's so hard to stay together
Passing through revolving doors
We need someone to talk to
And someone to sweep the floors --
Incomplete
Incomplete

The world weighs on my shoulders
But what am I to do?
You sometimes drive me crazy --
But I worry
about you

I know it makes no difference
To what you're going through
But I see the tip of the iceberg --
And I worry about you...

Cruising under your radar
Watching from satellites
Take a page from the red book --
Keep them in your sights
Red alert
Red alert

Left and rights of passage
Black and whites of youth
Who can face the knowledge
That the truth is not the truth?
Obsolete
Absolute

(14) Limelight (Moving Pictures) - Rush is said to be one of those bands that avoids the limelight as much as possible. This song is Rush's reflection on playing before live audiences and dealing with fame.

Living on the lighted stage

Approaches the unreal
For those who think and feel
In touch with some reality
Beyond the gilded cage.

Cast in this unlikely role,
Ill-equipped to act,
With insufficient tact,
One must put up barriers
To keep oneself intact.

Living in the Limelight,
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem.
Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation,
Get on with the fascination,
The real relation,
The underlying theme.

Living in a fisheye lens,
Caught in the camera eye.
I have no heart to lie,
I can't pretend a stranger
Is a long-awaited friend.

All the world's indeed a stage,
And we are merely players,
Performers and portrayers,
Each another's audience
Outside the gilded cage.

(13) Tom Sawyer (Moving Pictures) - Tom Sawyer may be Rush's most popular song. The song has a great bass line and terrific guitar riff.

(12) Freewill (Permanent Waves) - The Rush song only an Arminian could love! Sadly, Neil Peart as an apparent unbeliever has a distorted view of God's sovereignty.

There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance,

A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance.

A planet of playthings, We dance on the strings Of powers we cannot perceive "The stars aren't aligned - Or the gods are malign"

Blame is better to give than receive. You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice. If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill; I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose Free Will.

There are those who think that they were dealt a losing hand, The cards were stacked against them- they weren't born in Lotus-Land.

All preordained- A prisoner in chains- A victim of venomous fate. Kicked in the face, You can't pray for a place In heaven's unearthly estate.

Each of us- A cell of awareness- Imperfect and incomplete. Genetic blends With uncertain ends On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet.

(11) Fly By Night (Fly By Night) - This is a song that no doubt hooked many fans and it is still a fan favorite today. I love the time changes in the song.

Have You No Shame?

This is the kind of thing that goes on in California all the time. Why do you think the Dems fight showing some kind of proof of legal registration at the polls? It is an outrage, and any American who cherishes their right to vote should make their voice heard.

Rush Top Twenty Songs (20-16)

I am starting a new post on a top-twenty of my favorite Rush songs. Today, I will give you numbers 20-16. I will list the song and the album it is from in parenthesis and then make comments as I see fit.

#20 - In the Mood (Rush) - This is the first Rush song that I heard so it has a special place in my heart.

#19 - Anthem (Fly by Night) - This song is recognizable even without the lyrics however, Neil has written a great rock "anthem."

Know your place in life is where you want to be Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me Keep on looking forward; no use in looking 'round Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down

Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind We marvel after those who sought New wonders in the world, wonders in the world, Wonders in the world they
wrought.

Live for yourself -- there's no one else More worth living for Begging hands and bleeding hearts will Only cry out for more

Well, I know they've always told you Selfishness was wrong Yet it was for me, not you, I Came to write this song

Do I agree with the message of the Lyrics? No, but it certainly expresses the philosophy of Rock and Roll!

#18 - Bastille Day (Caress of Steel) - There are not very many rock songs written about aspects of the French Revolution.

Bastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on 14 July each year. It is called Fête Nationale (National Holiday) in France. It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the Fête de la Fédération was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern French "nation", and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution. (From wikipedia)

There's no bread, let them eat cake
There's no end to what they'll take
Flaunt the fruits of noble birth
Wash the salt into the earth

But they're marching to Bastille Day
La guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Free the dungeons of the innocent
The king will kneel, and let his kingdom rise

Bloodstained velvet, dirty lace
Naked fear on every face
See them bow their heads to die
As we would bow as they rode by

And we're marching to Bastille Day
La guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Sing, o choirs of cacophony
The king has kneeled, to let his kingdom rise.

Lessons taught but never learned
All around us anger burns
Guide the future by the past
Long ago the mould was cast

For they marched up to Bastille Day
La guillotine -- claimed her bloody prize
Hear the echoes of the centuries
Power isn't all that money buys

Neil Peart reveals just how well read he really is.

#17 - Alien Shore (Counterparts) - This is one of Geddy's best vocal performances. In Neil's lyrics he explores those things that make men and women alien to one another and the differences in our cultures.

You and I, we are strangers by one chromosome
Slave to the hormone, body and soul
In a struggle to be happy and free
Swimming in a primitive sea

You and I, we must dive below the surface
A world of red neon, and ultramarine
Shining bridges on the ocean floor
Reaching to the alien shore

For you and me -- Sex is not a competition
For you and me -- Sex is not a job description
For you and me -- We agree

You and I, we are pressed into these solitudes
Color and culture, language and race
Just variations on a theme
Islands in a much larger stream

For you and me -- Race is not a competition
For you and me -- Race is not a definition
For you and me -- We agree

Reaching for the alien shore
You and I, we reject these narrow attitudes
We add to each other, like a coral reef
Building bridges on the ocean floor
Reaching for the alien shore

For you and me -- We hold these truths to be self-evident
For you and me -- We'd elect each other president
For you and me -- We might agree
But that's just us Reaching for the alien shore

#16 - The Speed of Love (Counterparts) - A love song of sorts, which is a rarity for Rush.

Love is born with lightning bolts
Electro-magnetic force
Burning skin and fireworks
A storm on a raging course

Like a force of nature,
Love can fade with the stars at dawn
Sometimes it takes all your strength
Just to keep holding on
At the speed of love
A radiance that travels
At the speed of love
My heart goes out to you.

For an instrumental medley of songs from the first six albums listen to this from R30.

History is His Story

I began noticing the use of B.C.E. (before the common era) and C.E. (common era) in place of B.C. and A.D. a few years ago when I was reading archeological and academic journals. Now its usage has become more common place. Al Mohler addresses a case in Kentucky where the Department of Education is trying to push their use in the Social Studies Curriculum. As usual he doesn't miss the irony of this attempt. He writes,

The nonsensical nature of this proposal comes down to this -- there is no way to get around the fact that the hinge year is assumed by tradition to be the year of Christ's birth. one can try to avoid any reference to Christ by using B.C.E. and C.E., but the numbers of the years still tell the story. If advocates of this change are really serious about avoiding all references to Christ, they will have to come up with a whole new numbering system for the years.

The head of the Kentucky Council if Churches says it is absurd to think that this is an attack on Christianity. Mohler responds,

Let's get this straight. The only motivation for replacing B.C. and A.D. with B.C.E. and C.E. is to avoid any reference to Jesus Christ. This system of dating has been in place for more than a millennium and a half, and its meaning has been almost universally understood. But, the head of the Kentucky Council of
Churches thinks it is "absurd" to suggest that this is an assault on Christianity.

The word "assault" may not be the right word to use here, but "insult" is just about right. Changing the references without changing the dating is nonsense. Denying the obvious is just not a winning intellectual strategy.

More Rush Videos

An acoustic version of "Resist," Rush unplugged?

"Driven" from Rush in Rio. This is one of my top five favorite Rush songs. I love the Bass line and Geddy has a little fun.

YYZ is one of Rush's better known instrumentals. There is a drum solo at the end that shows-off some of Neil Peart's talent. This video reveals how accomplished musicians these guys are.

HT Prosthesis

Abortion Clinic Shut Down

This is the dark side of the abortion industry that the MSM will never let you see.

A woman, Patient A, on 20Feb06, went to Summit Medical Center in Birmingham. While the staff took Patient A’s blood pressure reading of 182/129 (“a critically and dangerously high blood pressure that indicated a need for immediate medical treatment”), and while no physician was on the premises
(although records show there was a physician), an ultrasound was performed by a non-physician staff member; Patient A was told she was 6 weeks pregnant...

Patient A was given a dosage of Mifeprex and “Summit staff
dispensed four tablets of Misoprostol to Patient A and gave her instructions to insert the four tablets” on 22Feb06).

On the evening of 26Feb06, “Patient A presented to the emergency room of a Birmingham hospital with the head of a baby protruding". The baby was a "stillborn, macerated, six pound, four ounce baby".

HT Southern Appeal