- False gods, false devils.
- At least read the Executive Summary.
- Amusing legal threat.
- No loss of consortium if you’re not married.
- Cease & Desist, Tax Protester.
- Da? Nyet?
- Patagonia’s contribution to world culture.
- No high-heeled sneakers required.
1
“Idolatry is committed, not merely by setting up false gods, but also by setting up false devils ….”
(G.K. Chesterton) False devils can be from the opposing party, or from an unpopular religion.
So measured, I’d say idolatry is one of the commonest sins in our constant election cycle. Sadly, it happens within hallowed walls on Sunday morning, too.
2
Do Catholic schools produce smart apostates, while Protestant schools produce dumb disciples?
(Matt Bowman’s opener at CatholicVote.org)
A Christian think tank’s new study … suggests that Protestant schools produce more faith-filled, family-focused students than Catholic schools, but Catholic schools produce kids who do much better academically.
His muse is this 56-page study. Check the brief Executive Summary — which emphasizes the social virtues of Protestant school graduates in the face of fears that they’re zombie-like theocrats — to see if the whole thing’s worth reading for you.
3
An attorney, who shall remain nameless, spent some serious money to attend a 2-day seminar on how to hawk high-commission annuities to senior citizens terrified of the costs of long-term care and wanting to get government assistance therefor.
He then wrote a take-down of the various lies, half-truths, and dangerous omissions promulgated by the presenter, without naming any names or cities (except, I suppose, one might surmise that it occurred near where he practices). He circulated it for critique by other attorneys, in a quite limited internet forum just a few days ago, and I provided a kind of superficial critique endorsing his approach.
Today I received his e-mailed thanks together with the news that he has received a threat of lawsuit from someone who says the draft article is about her and is defamatory.
I’m not sure what he’s suppose to do about it, but I (out of the line of fire) had a good chuckle. I have some doubt about the viability of a legal theory that says, in effect, “it’s all a pack of vicious lies and I recognized myself immediately.”
Or maybe I’ve got it all wrong. Maybe she’s claiming a copyright on the lies.
4
There’s little to be amused about over the collapse of the stage at the Indiana State Fair. What follows is not meant to amuse or to induce hand-wringing.
Beth Urschel is suing the state of Indiana and three companies for $50 million in the death of her partner, Tammy Van Dam, who was among those killed when high winds toppled a stage onto fans awaiting a concert. They were married in Hawaii.
(WSJ) Don’t bet anything you can’t afford to lose on this, because the times are changing and there are a lot of Evan Bayh appointees in the Court of Appeals still, but I predict she’ll lose on most of her theories, particularly including loss of consortium.
The legal logic isn’t complicated. A precedent from a suit against Planned Parenthood, which botched an abortion, involved the male cohabitant of the mother. He was denied damages for loss of consortium because compensation for that requires marriage. Since Indiana by statute (not by Constitution, at least yet) does not recognize same-sex marriage, Beth should not be allowed an award of damages for the lost consortium of Tammy.
It has nothing to do with value judgments about the licitness of their relationship, or how close they were, or whether they could marry in Indiana. It’s a bright line, per se rule that excludes such considerations. You’re either married or not. As far as Indiana is concerned, they weren’t.
This no doubt will go into the litany of injustices that cry out for “marriage equality,” but that’s how it is for now in Indiana. And as I parse the state interests in “traditional” marriage versus the modern contenders, I’m okay with that remaining how it is.
5
Dumb title, good blog about what our odious, excessive, confiscatory, thieving taxes are wasted on.
6
Russian professor predicts end of the U.S.A.
Mr. Panarin posits, in brief, that mass immigration, economic decline, and moral degradation will trigger a civil war next fall and the collapse of the dollar. Around the end of June 2010, or early July, he says, the U.S. will break into six pieces — with Alaska reverting to Russian control.
Had I mentioned that my grandchildren are learning Russian? Maybe French would be more helpful if Indiana’s going to become part of Canada.
7
It seems that Patagonia is one of two parents of Lager.
Caution: this sounds like the same sort of genomic analysis that has caused some to lose their faith in Adam and Eve.
8
I tried to come up with some quip to improve this, but I couldn’t.
* * * * *
If you’re missing political rants, I’m sorry, but I was giving the impression that I cared, so I stopped blogging politics. “They” are all idiots except for the ones who are rogues. But RogerWmBennett Tweets about politics and stuff over in the right-hand column. I generally agree with the guy.
Tipsy
Bon appetit!
Tipsy Teetotaler ن 