Ninja Parade Sneaks Through Town Unnoticed Once Again

Cool Blog

Some of you may have met Darren Cools while he was here working for the Owens. He is a really neat artist, and I've enjoyed his blog very much. If any of you are interested: Crashbox.

Instructables

I like this website. When I'm not going nuts over here, I have to have a project to work on, and it's convenient to have them lined up for you. I especially like their origami CD mix cases, which are not only cooler than jewel cases, but save money, and the fact that they've taught me how to make a tetrahedral kite, which I'm now making out of tape, plastic straws, and chip bags. It's cool, really.

some thoughts

Two things. First of all, I used to be one of those people who looks at a raisin and thinks--this could not at any point in its existence have been a grape. It's just not possible. This shriveled husk of sweetness is nothing like the rounded juiciness (ew. Juicy is a gross word) I think of when I imagine a grape! But I have proved myself wrong. A few months ago, I had the misfortune to read Robinson Crusoe and in this book the hero...well, let's not kid ourselves, the protagonist decided to make raisins. (Here at least I cannot fault him. It was one of the few plausible things he did on that island.) And lo and behold, he took bunches of grapes, left them outside for a lengthy period of time, and voila! He had more raisins than he knew what to do with. So I thought to myself, I have to see if it's really true. I procured a grape, left it on my dresser for four months, and have to admit that it turned into a raisin. Sometimes it's okay not to take things entirely on faith, but in this instance, I should probably have taken everyone's word for it. Second matter. Income tax is the devil! I have started to call Howard Taft "Fatty Stupidhead" to myself. I know we shouldn't speak ill of the dead, but I mean to say. What is it about "no direct taxation" he didn't understand? The Constitution isn't that long, I imagine it wouldn't have killed him to have read it through. They should have told him there was a free bag of potato chips at the end. But seriously, this whole tax situation is out of control. What is up with the courts and deciding tax policy? They write our laws for us, and we bow our heads in consent. But I just found out (ah, the wonders of studying American Government) that federal courts can (and DO) mandate nonfederal tax hikes by requiring things like new prison construction or property tax increases to pay off other things the federal government mandated. Excuse me? Non elected officials deciding what we have to fork over out of our income?Am I the only one who remembers what happened the last time no taxation without representation got foisted on Americans? Apparently we need another midnight ride out of somebody, although who, where, and how is beyond me.

and then...

Bret Favre is gone. At least from football, he is. It's funny, but I was told he had retired, I was genuinely upset; I didn't realize I liked him that much. Maybe it's just that he's such a staple of the NFL...maybe because he's played for literally my entire life so far. He never seemed old to me because he was Bret Favre: he was immortal! Or something like that. I wonder if he will continue to make commercials for heartburn medication (hey, I have acid reflux disease) and jeans with stretchy waistbands.

Nothing to be ashamed of there; the Mannings (all four of them) are still advertising Oreos.

I will miss him next season, and I still say it would have been nice for him to retire on a Superbowl. Yes, I'm talking to you, Eli.

Incidentally, this is the day Stalin died, over fifty years ago. The KGB took over the government then....and still has control. Cue the perturbation.

the greatest nation in the world

I am not a historian, nor do I have more than a passable grasp of history in its grand sweep. But I am secure in my belief that the country God's grace has granted me to call home is so far above all other nations formed and governed on this earth that the title I have given to this post can be applied to the United States of America without much, if any, doubt.

It is evident enough that America can claim this title currently, but I would argue that it is applicable no matter how far back on the timeline you go. Certainly no other country or even empire on record has ever wielded the power we do now. We indisputably have the capability of conquering the entire world in almost a moment's notice, if only for the superhuman weapons array we possess. The only other claimant I have heard for greatest nation in the world is Rome. It seems like a fair enough claim, given that Rome did indeed conquer the known world at the time. To me, however, the fact that America, with the power it has, has not conquered the world shows more impressive greatness.

Rome was great and magnificent. But Rome was also thoroughly pagan, pagan in ways that America, with all the flaws and morally reprehensible customs has never been. Rome condoned infanticide, the father's right to demand an abortion of his pregnant wife, or even then sell the newborn child into slavery to earn money. Prostitution did not just exist, as it does here, but it was legal. It was even expected at certain religious festival in select temples. America's moral situation is hazy at best when it comes to sexual issues. Pornography and underground sex slavery does happen here. But doesn't it say something when it is still an enormous scandal when our elected officials are involved with such things? Involvement with prostitution for such an official can ruin a career for life.

Rome knew it was better than all its neighbors, and so felt morally justified and possibly even impelled to conquer them. America is sure of its golden opportunities and stands ready to welcome all those who wish to come in. "Bring me your weary, and your poor..." stands as another "Come to me all you who labor and are weary..." Rome never rode to anyone's rescue that I remember. But over the twentieth century, rescuing the weak could almost be mistaken for America's primary foreign policy. Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Somolia. Any tiny, helpless nation being attacked from within or without is not too tiny to merit America's attention. Any major catastrophe, be it tsunami, earthquake, or flood, who's there first? The United States Marine Corps. I find it hard to imagine the Roman Legions responding in like manner.

And that, ultimately, is why I believe America to be inexpressably greater than Rome. It is great in a Christian sense, not in a pagan sense. Perhaps no soldiers matched the legionaires of Rome in the millenia between them and America. But I know the Marines are a match for anyone, anywhere, anytime. And they are the ones with the order of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the pin of which you cannot wear unless you refrain from drinking, swearing, and other immoral behavior for a year while guarding the tomb. What did Rome have to match that? They watched gladiators slaughter each other and wild animals tear apart Christians for entertainment. At least we are more addicted physical contact in sports such as football, where no one has died since they stopped wearing those leather helmets. Is this weakness? No. It is greatness.

My Favorite

Seeing as Ben and Sophie have put up favorite authors of their childhood, I though I would follow suit.

Steven Kellogg might not be the best children's author and illustrator, but he was my particular favorite when I was little. It was a staple of our library runs that I would head directly for his books in the children's section and see if they had any new ones. If they didn't, no great matter: I willingly read the old favorites over and over again. His stories about the Great Dane Pinkerton are the reason I still want a huge dog today. He wrote stories on everything from big dogs, to sea monsters, to imaginary islands, to American folk heroes.

His illustrations are fabulous, and so intricately detailed that you can stare at them for hours and still find new details.

I particularly like the weird stories he makes up...such as a boy who gets a tadpole that turns into a monster that he has to keep in a swimming pool and feed cheeseburgers...it's pretty awesome.