Motown is Now NoTown

This is a video about how Detroit was turned into a post-apocalyptic venue. The tight shot here is the downtown core. If you want to walk to Wayne State University from here you go through a landscape resembling Dresden immediately after the Allied bombing. Detroit is Murder City. Everybody who can has moved to the suburbs or out of state altogether. Ideas have consequences and Detroit is one of those consequences. It is important because the same ideas that brought us Detroit are being pushed hard at the national level today. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.


hotair.com/archives/2009/12/21/new-crowder-the-death-of-detroit/

PETP - People for the Ethical Treatment of Passengers

There are not many things that I have agreed with coming out of the Obama Administration, but this is one that I do. I posted earlier this year on the awful treatment afforded the passengers on a Continental flight to Minneapolis/St.Paul this summer. The new rule would fine an airline heavily for similar treatment and it's about time. The airline industry reacted by saying the new rule would result in more canceled flights. So? Would you rather be on the ground in an air conditioned or heated terminal depending on the season or strapped in your seat on a plane for 6-7 hours with overflowing toilets, screaming kids, no ventilation, etc.? Not a tough call! Many airlines have treated their passengers worse than cattle for a long time and it's way past time that something like this was done.

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091222/ap_on_bi_ge/us_tarmac_strandings

One Person's Difference

If you haven't watched the movie Bella, you should. It's the story of a life saved from abortion and the struggle of the one parent and a Good Samaritan. Here is the story of the man behind the movie and it's a great story of one man deciding to be salt and light to the world. He has made a difference for Christ and I thank God for him and others like him. How is your salt and light doing?
www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=119213

Chokepoints and Core Competentcies

I noticed a small article last week that said the U.S. Navy believes that Iran could now shut down the Straits of Hormuz. This area is the chokepoint in the Persian Gulf through which 40% of all the oil in the world passes, so the strategic implications to the world economy are enormous. The article below questions whether the Navy could reopen the Straits if Iran decided to close them, as it certainly would if Israel decided to strike at its nuclear program. The author's answer is "yes" but maybe not quickly because the Navy has lost its edge in performing its core competency: control of the seas. Diplomacy is laudable but when the talking stops and vital interests are at stake, you had best make sure that Teddy Roosevelt's "Big Stick" is ready to go. Politicians and Navy brass take note.


www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/017/344friup.asp

I Am Not Making This Up

The Copenhagen conference on global warming was pretty much shut down yesterday by this. : )


www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601130&sid=a5wStc0K6jhY

The Still Point in the Turning World

I was thinking about the Christmas story today. I like John 1, "¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. " It is so neat, clean and cerebral. Which is precisely why reading the Christmas story in Luke is so necessary. The story in Luke is much messier: arbitrary Roman edicts, difficult travel, no room at the inn, a young woman with a sullied reputation, a long suffering and patient man. That of course is the central part of the Christmas story - that God sent His only begotten Son into the mess that is humanity to redeem us and draw us up into heaven to be reconciled to Him. Beauty at Christmas is fine - listening to Handel's Messiah, looking at pastoral pictures, enjoying delicious food with family and friends - it's all good. But the essence of Christmas is that in a chaotic and messy world, a loving God arrived as one of us to bring us His peace then, now and forevermore. Amazing.

What Kind of Jacket?!

Many of you are probably buying North Face gear for someone on your Christmas list. North Face makes good, if somewhat pricey, clothing. Now there is an alternative - The South Butt! Take a look at the cheaper alternative before you click that "Buy" button. www.thesouthbutt.com/ Hurry, though, because in a classic illustration of bad judgment or bad legal advice, or both, North Face has lumbered into court to shut this young upstart down. www.kgw.com/news/business/79246147.html Hats off to this young man and shame on North Face! They should be buying him out, not shutting him down.