March 2006 – Always Jason

SF governors condemn catholic church

The San Francisco board of governors has passed a resolution criticizing catholic beliefs. The board demands the former Archbishop of San Francisco who now serves at the Vatican to withraw the directive that “Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Francisco stop placing children in need of adoption with homosexual households.”

In addition the board claims that the church’s position is “an insult to all San Franciscans” apparently even those San Franciscans who support the church’s position.

The resolution concludes by saying, “Archbishop Neiderauer and the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Francisco to defy all discriminatory directives of Cardinal Levada.”

Clearly this is an unconstitutional attack on the catholic church. No government is allowed to use its power to prevent the free exercise of religion. The city government does not have the right to demand the catholic church to change its beliefs or practices.

The resolution is non-binding. Is there any doubt that if the city did have the ability to make the resolution binding that it would?

(hat tip: Roman Catholic Blog)

More ‘not news’ of the day

Reuters Headline:High caffeine levels found in energy drinks

Energy drinks that promise to boost performance and rev up metabolism can contain three to four times as much caffeine as a typical soda, a new study shows.

As Honeybun said, “well duh, they just figured this out?”

I just can’t beleive they wasted money on a study for this.

Journalists don’t know?

Hugh Hewitt interviewed Time correspondant Michael Ware about Ware’s reporting in Iraq. What most interested me in the interview is that Ware is incapable of making any judgements about events unless he has personally witnessed them. And even then, he can’t make judgements because he wasn’t there to see the alternative.

Are Iraqis better off now than under Saddam? Ware doesn’t know because he wasn’t there under Saddam. So Hugh then asked if Russians were better off under Stalin or Krushev. Ware again couldn’t answer because he wasn’t there.

Why is he even a reporter? His facts are useless. He can report but, following to his logic, we can’t make any judgements based on the information he provides. Yet people are making judgements on the information coming from Iraq. Quagmire! Another Vietnam!

The press is useless when reporters have no sense of history. Are Iraqis better off now? I’m reminded of a comment I heard about our search for WMD. Of course we couldn’t find any WMD. Everywhere we dug, we found a mass grave.

Update: Welcome Hugh Hewitt readers. And please vote for my entry “The Thinker” (entry #82) on Painting the Map Red contest. I really want the radio.

I don’t even like beer

GuinnessÂ Â Â

(66% dark & bitter, 66% working class, 66% genuine)

Â Â Â

Okay, we all know Guinness is the best possible score on any “What Kind Of Beer Are You” test, so you can just go on and pat yourself on the back now. Like the world’s most famous brew, you’re genuine, you’ve got good taste, and you’re sophisticated. What else can I say, except congratulations?

If your friends didn’t score the same way, get ready for them to say: Guinness is too heavy; it’s an acquired taste; it’s too serious–and they probably think those things about you at times. But just brush ’em off. Everybody knows Guinness is the best. Cheers.

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:Â Â Â

You scored higher than 35% on dark

You scored higher than 32% on workingclass

You scored higher than 27% on genuine

Link: The If You Were A Beer Test written by gwendolynbooks on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Buck Owens

Buck Owens died today. I expect my boss will not be in the office next week as I’m sure he’ll be taking time off to mourn his favorite country music singer.

Buck Owens was country music back in the 60’s and 70’s. I remember watching the TV show Hee Haw with my grandparents back in the day. Who could forget that red, white, and blue guitar?

Buck Owens even crossed political boundaries. When an avowed liberal like my boss and proud conservatives like the Powerline guys both love Buck Owens, what could be more American than that?

God bless Buck Owens.

Why conservative politics will win

Roman Catholic Blog asks what type of mentality leads to Germany having the lowest birthrate in Europe.

USA Today provides the answer: liberal (“progessive”) politics. Liberals are not having babies. Without babies, their ideas will eventually die out – or at least become less popular. This is why conservative ideas have a bright future in the states. Europe doesn’t seem to have that option and instead may turn into a collection of Islamic nations.

The warning signs for suicidal ideology (meaning your ideas are not sustainable because there is no future generations to continue them)? Not going to church regularly, protesting against the military or military use, being accepting of drugs, homosexuality, and euthenasia, and cohabitating instead of marrying are all signs that you may not have children.

The religion of fear

I’ve been observing lent during March. Thankfully, I can do so free from reprisals in this country. People who choose not to observe lent are also free from reprisals.

Meanwhile, a Christian in Afghanistan is not so blessed. Abdul Rhaman, who has admitted to converting to Christianity, is facing the death penalty for being a traitor to Islam.Â His own family turned him in. The Middle East times has a photo of the most damaging evidence against him – his bible.

So Islam once again demonstrates it is not the religion of peace, but is the religion of intimidation and fear.

(Hat tip: Michelle Malkin)