U of MN newspaper: "Jesus forsakes Trinity Bible College"

The University of Minnesota's Morris campus newspaper, the Register has that sentence above the paper's name in their current issue (PDF file). The sentence refers to a football game in which UMM beat TBC. Is that supposed to be some kind of attempt at a joke? What bigot came up with it and what bigot approved it for print?

Apologies to Bloglines users

It seems switching to Blogger Beta screwed up the site feed for a while. Looks like it is probably fixed now.

This seems to be the only feed URL that's working right now:

http://shockandblog.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Chavez calls President Bush "the devil." Liberals fail to call Chavez a "fundy."

Just imagine if President Bush had called Hugo Chavez "the devil" in front of the U.N. Assembly. He would've been soundly condemned by the left as "a crazy fundy." So why does Chavez get a break? More than a break. He gets praised by the left.

Blogger Beta

I've signed up for Blogger Beta, which incorporates some new features. Most of them seem to be "behind the scenes" stuff, but watch for the new post labels at the end of each entry. They will help you find similar posts.

AP reporter: NRA-endorsed candidate lacks hunting license

This may be the most pathetic non-story hit piece from the left-stream media I've ever seen:

NRA-backed candidate lacks hunt license

By NANCY ZUCKERBROD, Associated Press Writer
Fri Sep 15, 5:27 PM ET

Republican Bob Corker, a self-described hunter, has the backing of the National Rifle Association yet the Tennessee Senate candidate won't be firing a gun anytime soon.

His license expired.

Well, whoop-dee-flipping-doo.

Corker had a license with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency last year but it expired in February, according to the state agency. The GOP candidate is in a competitive race against Democratic Rep. Harold Ford (news, bio, voting record) Jr., for the soon-to-be-vacant seat held by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Gee, he's in an important, heated political race. Ya think that might have something to do with it, Nance?

The NRA endorsed Corker Tuesday, giving him an "A" rating and describing him as "a longtime hunter and sportsman." The former Chattanooga mayor told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that he typically goes bird hunting several times a year.

Hmm... So what do you think is different about this year? Gosh, I just can't place my finger on it...

The dove season is under way in Tennessee, and politicians typically use the start of the season to show off their hunting skills.

Um, only if they are phonies trying to butch-up their images like certain presidential candidates named John F. Kerry.

Corker campaign manager Ben Mitchell said Friday the candidate has been too busy campaigning to go hunting. "He certainly will be out hunting again in the future and will have the appropriate license when that happens," Mitchell said.

A perfectly reasonable explanation - not that one was needed in the first place. One does not need to have a hunting license to support or be supported by the NRA. This is just another "unbiased" (yeah, right!) left-stream media attempt to hurt a Republican candidate any way they can, no matter how lame. They are getting desperate.

What's really funny about all this is that you don't even need a gun, much less a hunting license, to be a member of the NRA.

[Special thanks to Kimberly at CU for discovering this story.]

Remembering 9/11: right vs. left

This is how the right remembers 9/11:

Project 2,996 (admittedly a few left-wing bloggers, but mostly right-wing bloggers - thousands of them)

And the left?

CanadianCynic:

[crickets chirp]

PZ Myers:

Five years of dishonor

There was some kind of anniversary yesterday, to which I did not and will not refer—I think the tragedy of that day has been overwhelmed and lost by the ongoing catastrophe of the criminal response by our government, and while a single day is trivial to memorialize, five years of disgrace is surprisingly easy for many to gloss over.

Democrat Underground:

How do feel when you see w faking sincerity at 9-11 memorials?

Are you flying the flag today? Some folks are.......

If Bush hadn't stolen the election Al Gore would have prevented 9/11

Happy Terror Day!

So...how many days long is the griefgasm scheduled to last?

Bush declares Sept 11 - Patriot Day, 2006 (Flags at half staff Monday)

My 1st thought that morning: bush did this.

What is disgusting about today is that the nation is wallowing

Some idiots' attempt to be funny (they fail):

Ground One

The Freedom From Religion Foundation:

(Image mirror in case they remove it.)

The ACLU:

Five Years After 9/11 Attacks, the Fight to Uphold Americans' Fundamental Freedoms and the Constitution Continues, ACLU Chief Says

In the five years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, Americans have successfully kept the light of freedom shining even as the Bush administration has consistently violated the spirit and letter of our laws, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

"The hallmark of the past five years has been the administration's stunning dismissal of the rule of law and its willingness to trample on our Constitution," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "This is our democracy, our America. We must not stand on the sidelines while the president abuses his power and diminishes American values."

From "Gasping for Air America Radio" to "Dead Air America Radio"

Report: Air America to declare bankruptcy

The left-leaning talk network Air America Radio will announce a major restructuring Friday that is expected to include a bankruptcy filing, according to the website ThinkProgress.org.

The struggling network could remain on the air under the deal, but significant personnel changes already are underway, the website reported, citing three independent sources.

Air America dismissed five employees yesterday, explaining they would be given no severance without a capital infusion or bankruptcy, ThinkProgess said.

The network also has severed ties with host Jerry Springer.

The loons at Democrat Underground are in Full Denial Mode:

AAR's bankruptcy is NOT DOES NOT REFLECT LEFT WING RADIO FAILURE

AAR started with a deep hole because of the Evan Cohen situation. Everyone should see 'Left of the Dial' to get a sense of the financial problems AAR had since its infancy.

AAR has not been run well, yet its ratings are very good for a radio network that has been run horribly.

The right wing will quickly pounce on this story as proof that Left Wing Radio doesnt work.

Left wing radio has not worked in the past because it was always on radio stations that carried 20 hours of right wing radio and 4 hours of left wing radio. People expect to hear right wing radio on right wing radio stations and that is why random left wing radio shows have failed in the past.

Also lets keep in mind that the right wing has a 20 year head start in the radio wars.

If you want to tell me that left wing radio is a failure, please do not cite AARs financial problems, but rather show me the ratings.

You don't want to see the ratings. Trust me. They're so low that you'll want to commit suicide.

Mark Bavis

Mark Bavis loved hockey. He started skating at the tender age of 4 and started shooting goals shortly after. His identical twin brother Mike also enjoyed the game and the two practiced and played together in minor hockey and then for their high school team, the Catholic Memorial Knights. Mark and Mike helped the Knights win three state championships.

In college, Mark played for the Boston University Terriers and played in the NCAA Tournament four times with three trips to the semi-finals and one championship game against Northern Michigan in 1991. The championship game went into triple-overtime, but ended in an 8-7 win for Michigan.

After college, Mark played in the American Hockey League for three years as a ninth-round draft pick for the New York Rangers. Later, he played for the South Carolina Stingrays for two years, where he and Mike became teammates again the first year. This would be the last time the two played together professionally. Mike eventually went on to become an assistant hockey coach at Boston University.

After leaving the Stingrays, Mark turned to coaching and eventually landed jobs as assistant coach for Brown University and then Harvard. Of the latter, he said, "I'm very excited to have the opportunity to be at one of the best institutions for academics and hockey in this country." Mark's work at Harvard eventually earned him the notice of the Chicago Freeze, a North American Hockey League team, who made him an assistant coach in 1999.

Then in 2000, Mark was hired by the Los Angeles Kings as an assistant scout under hockey great Garnet "Ace" Bailey.

On September 11th, 2001, Mark and Garnet were traveling together aboard United Flight 175, which crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m. Eastern.

At Mark's memorial mass on September 19th, Mike spoke of Mark's deepening faith, his plans to enroll in law school, and their love for each other. "We had an unspoken love. We spent so much time together. I knew how he felt and he knew how I felt."

Mike spoke of when he became a father for the first time, saying, "Nothing was like the day I saw my brother holding my son, Jack."

And of the fateful events surrounding Mark's death, Mike stated, "It makes me feel good that my brother was with Ace. We need courage to face what happened, as a family and as a country. We need to return to life as it was on September 10th. I'm going to be out there again. And I'm going to be flying by plane... trying to figure out a way to beat BC. In no way am I going to let the people involved in this think they got me twice."

Mark's legacy did not die with him, however. During his days playing and coaching, he mentored many young hockey players. Mark worked for both the Massachusetts USA Satellite Program (where he eventually was named the program director) and the International Hockey Academy. He also opened a hockey summer camp of his own in Canton, Massachusetts, which helped children both athletically and academically.

His work now lives on with the Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation, which was founded by his family and friends. The Foundation provides annual grants to help young people with tuition, summer programs and appropriate extracurricular activities so as to better themselves as well as their schools and communities.

Additionally, Kevin O’Sullivan, an old friend and Catholic Memorial teammate, recently opened a sports complex in memory of Mark: the Mark Bavis Ice Arena in Rockland, Massachusetts. The complex features two ice surfaces, a turf field, 5 locker rooms, 5 party rooms (where kids can enjoy sports-themed birthday parties), a lounge with a big-screen TV, a meeting room and a pro shop.



Mark was preceded in death by a brother and his father. He is survived by his twin brother, Mike; his mother, Mary; two other brothers, Pat and Johnny; and three sisters, Kelly, Mary Ellen and Kathy.

Additional information and photos about Mark can be found on the Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation website.

We remember Mark and everyone one else who died on September 11, 2001. They may no longer be with us, but their legacies will live forever. Please click the image below to go to the "2,996" project website where you can find links to more tributes. Thank you, and may God bless you, God bless the Bavis Family and God bless America.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Unfortunately, the "2,996" website went down. Here's a mirror:

http://bamapachyderm.com/2996-the-911-tributes/

And another:

http://stix1972.typepad.com/stix_blog/2006/09/project_2996.html

More thoughts on the "2,996" tributes

We say "We Remember," but we really can't. It's almost impossible for any one person to remember all 2,996 names, faces and lives of those who died on 9/11. That's what's great about the "2,996" project. Everyone who died that day is being remembered and honored as individuals by thousands of people around the world, and hopefully, these stories will touch the lives of thousands more. I myself have been touched by Mark Bavis' story and the stories of all the other people I've read about. I won't soon forget any of them.

The unsung heroes of 9/11

The firefighters, police officers, the passengers aboard United 93 and a few average citizens get a lot of coverage for being heroes on September 11th, 2001, but there are a couple groups that I think don't get nearly enough credit.

The first group is the nation's air traffic controllers. These people not only handled the first reports of the hijackings and talked to some of the four planes' passengers and crew members, but when the unprecedented order came down, they worked to bring thousands of commercial and civilian aircraft to quick and safe landings. It simply amazes me that not one accident happened during all that chaos.

The second group is the crew members in those planes. The flight and cabin crews no doubt were put to the test without initially understanding why. They not only had to land the planes, but had to keep passengers calm. Perhaps some word of the 9/11 hijackings reached the passengers and crew of some or all the planes and they might have been worried that they were next. I don't know since these events aren't really covered much. Whatever the case, they did their jobs superbly.

All this really goes to prove just how level-headed dedicated, and skilled these people are and they must be commended along with all the other heroes from that day.

Seeing eye-to-eye with a liberal

Carl's a liberal blogger who writes Simply Left Behind. With links to websites such as DailyKos, Jesus' General, CanadianCynic, and the campaign websites for Ned Lamont and Hillary Clinton, it's easy to imagine us never seeing eye-to-eye.

But we have. For one brief, shining moment, we have.

After his friend's very touching tribute to firefighter Billy McGinn (which I recommend people read), Carl wrote this of the "2,996" project, which I cannot disagree with one bit:

It takes an act of God to unite Michelle Malkin and I on the same page, but it has happened.

I type this a full week ahead of the rememberance, and I cry typing it. As I read the list of tributes and read Mike's memories, I'm struck by two things.

First, how ordinary the people doing the tributes are. None of us are anybody special, there was no symposium of college professors or political heavyweights that assigned us the task. We are all volunteers. We have all asked for some small part (1/2,996th, to be precise) of this effort. Is it penance? Guilt? Patriotism?

No. It's love.

You see, the other thing I'm struck by is the ordinariness of the people we write about. Yes, some were heroes in the ultimate sense of the word, like Billy McGinn, rushing into buildings that sane people were rushing out of or trying to escape, or realizing they had no chance to get out and trying to make peace and offer comfort to those around them, or saving one building from one more plane. Many were not heroes in anyway than being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and we mourn them too, as heroes because like so many on this planet, they are merely for being there. All of them, all too human, with the flaws and foibles inherent in humanity. And all the grace, as Billy's life demonstrates.

All too mortal.

For my part, Lt. McGinn was about as close as I came to actually knowing someone who died that day. When I first found out about him, it was from Mike, who I proudly call my friend. As I searched the Net looking for information on his brother, Billy, I realized how heartbreaking the loss was. And then I multiplied this loss by the three thousand others.

Suddenly, the true weight, the truth of the tragedy, unfolded. As you scan the Net today, and read this and other tributes, I hope you too are overwhelmed by the fact that all these people had plans and hopes and dreams, families and friends, jobs, hobbies. They watched TV, ate lunch, attended parties and school plays, right alongside you and I, or people just like us.

They were, in fact, us. And it is in this spirit we write. Today, we do not mark their deaths. We celebrate the lives. Their lives, but also ours, because in these stories you're about to read (or have been reading), we see ourselves, our loved ones.

Our family.

And lest we forget, there are living victims, as well. The rescue workers who risked their lives and are now deathly sick for the risking. The men and women who stood on the debris pile to keep digging up bodies and body parts, who now cough and wheeze and wonder if it's a bad cold or asthma. Or worse. I know some of these people. As I've related in other pieces on this blog, I'm even friends with a few, people who were there, helping, even rescuing. Even getting caught in the collapses and finding safety and shelter.

The people who lived or worked (or both) down there, who now sit, sick with fear and wonder if they, too, might have life cut short.

We need to remember them, too. They're heroes, living among us.

My deepest thanks to Mike for writing such a beautiful story about his brother. I can picture Billy, and would like to have known him. Maybe had a beer with him.

You know, ordinary stuff.

It's amazing how extraordinary the "ordinary stuff" can be. It's seems like an oxymoron, but it is absolutely true. I learned that lesson from my father's example and events like 9/11 just continue to prove that.

Thoughts on the other "2,996" tributes

I've been reading some of the other "2,996" tributes - about 2 or 3 dozen so far - and I've come to the following conclusions:

1) 9/11 robbed us of many beautiful people of all walks of life.
2) "2,996" is proving that there are still many beautiful people of all walks of life in this world.
3) Many of those lost have left behind legacies that will continue to touch lives well after all of us who lived through that horrible day are gone.
4) Though terrorists may kill us, they will never win.

Al Frankenfurter to speak at fundraiser

...for the Stevens County, Minnesota, DFL:



BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Look, I'm Minnesotan, but I'm sorry... Someone like Al Franken coming to speak at some dinky little DFL fundraiser? That's truly very sad. Gasping for Air America Radio must not be paying the bills.

And I love that the fundraiser is traditionally called "the Bean Feed." Something hilariously appropriate about that.

Not sure what the heck they're doing having this at the National Guard Armory, however. Well, whatever the case, I'm sure the thoroughly predictable and pedantic jokes about President Bush's Guard service will be regurgitated again because of the setting. The Frankenfurter and his Democrat fans undoubtedly will think it clever and will blow milk out their noses from laughing so hard.

Here's some additional information:

Demographics (via Wikipedia):
Stevens County, Minnesota: pop. 10,053
Morris, Minnesota: pop. 5,068

And Stevens County went to President Bush in both 2000 and 2004.

It's funny when kids are literal

The other day, I told my 5-year-old son to go look for something. He came back a few minutes later to say that he couldn't find it. I told him to go look "high and low for it," and that's exactly what he did by walking around while moving his head up and down over and over.

Kids: proof that God has a sense of humor.

The definitive (maybe) "Don't Dream It's Over" video collection

Muzzy's got it: Music Monday - Don't Dream It's Over Edition

It's impossible to not sing the chorus, isn't it?

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come'
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win

You may not know all of the rest of the lyrics, but I know you know the chorus.

Haleigh Poutre proves miracles DO happen

Via Michelle:

Relative says girl making progress

Child abuse victim Haleigh Poutre, once deemed to be "virtually brain dead" by medical experts, continues to improve and is even speaking a few words, her biological grandmother said this week.

Sandra Sudyka, of the Feeding Hills section of Agawam, angered over the state Department of Social Services apparent termination of her and her daughter's bimonthly visits to Haleigh at her Boston hospital, said she has decided to speak publicly of her granddaughter's condition.

"She was doing well," Sudyka said of the last time she saw Haleigh on July 18. "She was bright-eyed and smiling. She is always responsive to us."

...

Doctors initially reported that the battered and emaciated Haleigh was in a vegetative state due to a sheared brain stem. Social services sought to end life support systems, a plan approved by the state Supreme Judicial Court on Jan. 17, before improvements in Haleigh's condition were known.

"They don't want people to know how she is doing after they wanted to pull the plug," Sudyka said.

...

"I was saying to her 'I love you,' and she was trying to say 'love' and it came out as a vibration...'ove,'" Sudyka said.

The following month, during their last visit with Haleigh, Avrett asked if they could bring anything for her next time around.

"She put her arms up (as if) to say, 'I don't know,'" Sudyka said.

When asked if they could bring books, Haleigh distinctly said "no," Sudyka said.

Sudyka said that during that visit she told Haleigh, "Before I know it, I am going to walk in here and you are going to say 'hello.'"

Haleigh responded to Sudyka by saying 'ello,'" Sudyka said, adding that hello was Haleigh's first word when she was 10 months old.

Sudyka said Haleigh has been communicating nonverbally for some time. Once, when asked 'Who loves you?' she put her hand over her heart and pointed to Sudyka and Avrett, Sudyka said. Another time Haleigh wrote out her name on a "Magna Doodle" toy. Haleigh, Sudyka said, does not walk and is confined to her bed and wheelchair.

Praise God!

Previous posts:

Haleigh Poutre continues to recover
Haleigh Poutre turns 12; receiving physical therapy
Haleigh Poutre continues to improve; Michelle asks where Tookie's supporters are
The sanctity of Haleigh's life