"Talk to me about the truth of religion and I'll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I'll listen submissively. But don't come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand."


-----C.S. Lewis, "A Grief Observed"

Okay, I finally went out and purchased Beck's new album, Sea Change. I have to admit, I think I actually like this album, but not for the reasons I expected. I figured this would be a groundbreaking piece of work, but what I discovered is that it's really OK Computer "countrified." That's right, I'm making up a new word; "countrified." I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this album. You put Nigel Godrich of Radiohead fame on the boards, and get Beck in one of his hipster-doofus country moods, and you're bound to get a quasi-masterpiece.

All in all, a good album for the range-riding-neurasthenic-somnambulists among us.

"Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. "

-----Teddy Roosevelt

I can't tell you how many times that kind of thinking has got me promoted.

Read this article.

Link to DATA article

"It takes a lot of work to get condemned by Iran and Cuba, and North Korea has done it."

-----Ari Fleischer, on the recent nuclear events in North Korea

New Year's Resolutions from Martin Luther:

"Resolved: that every man [and woman] should live to the glory of God.

Resolved second: that whether others do this or not, I will."

"An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons -- marriage, or meat, or beer, or cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning."

-----C.S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity"