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Whirled Views 12.4

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Good morning!

Today’s movie quote: “Mongo only pawn… in game of life.”

122 Comments to “Whirled Views 12.4”

  1. 1. Gravatar by adios 12.04.07 at 8:44 am

    Blazing Saddles?

  2. Good morning all. I posted my opinion of Santa Claus on that thread if any of you are interested.
    StuBob if you are around, will you weigh in on why it is healthier for a woman to be with a man who has been circumcised rather than one who has not?
    Anlir, I tried to email you yesterday but I am blocked from sending you an email from my work computer. I will get my vote to you soon, although you could pretty much guess who my choices will be.
    Love you all and miss you terribly.
    Kim

  3. Arrgghh, Adios beat me to it!

  4. 4. Gravatar by Lynn Vincent 12.04.07 at 8:59 am

    Adios wins! Blazing Saddles is correct. Can’t remember — is it virtual triple espresso you like?…

    ~~000)

    :-)

  5. Did you hear about the big Southern Baptist church in Fort Worth that’s having a huge disagreement over their church directory? Some people are opposed to showing pictures of gay couples, as they feel as if that is too strong of an endorsement of the sodomitical lifestyle. They want the gay members to be shown in individual pics only. Others feel that’s a hateful, judgmental approach, and want the gay members treated just like the straight members, and shown with their spouses/partners. Some, to avoid a rift, are suggesting that they do away with directory pictures altogether.

    http://snipurl.com/1umb6

    And this is a Southern Baptist church in the buckle of the Bible Belt. I expect that in 10-15 years time most evangelical churches will have fully accommodated gays into their churches.

  6. On my blog today I have a post about Alan Keyes–the candidate that almost no one is talking about.

    I’m also asking people to tell what their favorite Christmas songs are.

    You’re all invited.

  7. On my blog today I have a post about Alan Keyes–the candidate that almost no one is talking about.

    There’s a lot of good reasons for that Kyle. Good luck in trying to change that fact.

  8. 8. Gravatar by rdean 12.04.07 at 9:28 am

    How come no posts on the recent documents released by the Pentagon.

    Seems Iran halted it’s Nuclear weapons program in 2003 and the President was informed.

    CIA estimates are that the earliest Iran could have a nuclear weapon is 2010 but probabably not until 2015. Of course, they would have to hire some scientists first. Seems their intellectuals are mostly behind bars.

    Funny how many Americans think a little enriched Uranium and a basement and “wallah”, nuclear weapon. Well, it just ain’t that easy.

    Watching those reruns of Bush on the news smirking and giggling about “Who want’s Iran to have a nuclear weapon?” and all the time knowing they don’t have one and won’t have one. Maybe that’s why he was smirking and giggling.

    Every week is a new scandal in the Bush White House.

  9. Kyle A.
    Alan Keys is a good man. He was good in all the positions he served, except as a candidate. A man has have conservative positions and be firm in his positions. He also has to convince people that he is capable of doing that. That is where he falls short. Barry Goldwater had the same problem.

    I’ll bet Silent Night wins going away. Like Amazing Grace, the melody and words combine to make a perfect song for the occasion.

  10. 10. Gravatar by StuBob 12.04.07 at 9:35 am

    Lately, WoW writers (those who write the initial posts) have been posting further comments down the threads. Thanks, guys. I like that.

    Kim — Regarding the relative safety of the circumcised vs. uncircumcised partner, it all comes down to HPV. HPV grows well in the pocket between the foreskin and the glans. More HPV in the man translates to a greater inoculum of HPV in the woman, which increases the odds that a given inoculum will result in infection. HPV infection is responsible for 90-something percent of cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix.

    This also explains why uncircumcised men are at much greater risk for cancer of the penis. HPV causes that, too.

    If this post passes the spam filter, I’ll be surprised :-)

  11. 11. Gravatar by adios 12.04.07 at 9:38 am

    Yep Lynn, I’m a triple espresso:)

    Kyle, my fav is “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” Great tune, wonderful doctrine.

  12. 12. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 9:39 am

    Rdean, I’m quite neutral on Bush and politics, mostly believing that 1) the msm is constantly pushing an agenda and 2) there’s no way we common folks can be adequately informed to qualify to have an opinion. However, when I heard the Iran/nuclear weapons story this morning, my first thought was, “Yeah, right.”

  13. 13. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 9:41 am

    This is day 2 of the announcement for nominations for the First Annual “Wabby” Awards here on WorldMag.

    What’s a “Wabby” you ask? Why it’s a 24-K *digital* Golden Carrot given out for Excellence in Blogging.

    Most of the “Wabby” Awards will be selected by the “Society of Wascally Wabbits”. However, we’ve decided to have a couple of “people’s choice” awards, that you will get to vote on:

    Best Blogger - Christian

    Nominees should be someone who sets a good example of the Christian faith and a WorldMag regular who upholds the standards of good conduct on here.

    Best Blogger - Non-Christian

    Nominees should be someone who represents the non-Christian minority well on here and a WorldMag regular who upholds the standards of good conduct on here.

    Nominations for both categories are now being accepted. I will repeat this on each day’s “Whirled Views” blog for the next two weeks (except for the weekends). You may also submit your nominations directly to me via my e-mail at: [email protected]. You may nominate up to 3 people in each category, but please do so only one time.

    After the two weeks are over, the top 3 nominees in each category will be presented to you for final voting over a week’s period.

    The final results, along with the winners in the other categories (coming from the Society of Wascally Wabbits) will be announced in early January at the First Annual “Wabby” Awards” Ceremony on here.

    The other categories for a Golden Wabby will remain secret until the Awards ceremony, so as to not unduly influence judges. ;-)

    Let the nominations continue!

  14. 14. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 9:46 am

    My favorite Christmas hymn is “Once in Royal David’s City.” Every year I attend the Traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols by the Maryland State BoyChoir (I think this will be year 12 or 13 for me). If you ever get a chance to see this, please do. You will love it - it is really spectacular. They process to this hymn, the first verse is sung a cappella by one young boy with additional voices and the organ added for each subsequent verse. The congregation joins in the last verse and the choir does a descant. This Sunday - I can’t wait!

  15. Rdean, I’m quite neutral on Bush and politics, mostly believing that 1) the msm is constantly pushing an agenda and 2) there’s no way we common folks can be adequately informed to qualify to have an opinion. However, when I heard the Iran/nuclear weapons story this morning, my first thought was, “Yeah, right.”

    Wow.

    Do you seriously believe that American intelligence didn’t just report that Iran stopped working on nuclear weapons in 2003, and that the MSM is just making it up?

  16. 16. Gravatar by kBells 12.04.07 at 9:56 am

    #13. Didn’t Random already do this?

    O Holy Night.

  17. 17. Gravatar by StuBob 12.04.07 at 10:06 am

    Favorite Christmas song: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.” Old, thoughtful lyrics set to an old, thoughtful melody.

    Least Favorite: “Happy Christmas (War is Over).” John Lennon’s terrible combination of sappiness and sanctimony using a children’s chorus singing too high for its range and rolling along in 6/8 time. Too awful for words.

  18. 18. Gravatar by StuBob 12.04.07 at 10:08 am

    Actually, it could be in 3/4. It’s almost a waltz.

    In fact, it’s the same feel and tempo as “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

    Terrible. Terrible. Terrible.

    OK. How about some other Least Favorites?

  19. 19. Gravatar by kBells 12.04.07 at 10:22 am

    My least favorite it not really a Christmas song, but they play it constantly this time of year. I guess that’s why I hate it “Baby it’s Cold Outside”.

  20. 20. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 10:27 am

    No, NT. I simply don’t believe that Iran said, “Oh, never mind, let’s just stop and behave ourselves.”

  21. 21. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 10:29 am

    As for the pure music, in my mind you can’t beat the Brahams “Lo How a Rose er Blooming.” I’ve never been able to find a good recording of it anywhere. I ordered one from Amazon and the other organ selections on the cd are fine, but the “Lo” is so “low” that you can’t hear it, no matter how high you turn up the volume. Fortunately my friend, our church organist, plays it at least once during the season as a prelude or communion hymn.

  22. Least favorite: “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” - Dumb!

  23. 23. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 10:30 am

    My least favorite is “We three kings.” I was going to save this for a “rant” on Friday, but I especially hate how contemporary Christian “musicians” butcher traditional Christmas hymns just so they can put out a Christmas album (do we still call them albums?) with their own “unique” sound.

  24. 24. Gravatar by adios 12.04.07 at 10:31 am

    Amen, Kbells,

    We should treat music like milk, skim the cream off the top. I understand way “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas” survives, but “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” loses something after the initial punchline.

    The exceptions of course are “Christmas in Dixie,” I’m not southern, but it is a lovely tune and “It’s Christmas Once Again in San Diego.”

  25. No, NT. I simply don’t believe that Iran said, “Oh, never mind, let’s just stop and behave ourselves.”

    In other words, you believe America’s intelligence agencies are either deluding themselves or deliberately lying to the American people.

  26. I’ll go with something a bit more modern. “Hey Guys, It’s Christmas Time!” off of Sufjan Stevens’ Christmas box set that was released last year. He records many of the obscure and traditional hymns as well, but the original songs are a blast, too.

    NT, I think the point being made is that the American intelligence community has had a series of hits and misses over the past decade, particularly in the Middle East. While I’m personally encouraged by the Iran report, it’s also possible that the Iranians have gotten better at hiding their work.

  27. 27. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 10:58 am

    Thank you, Robhays for answering better than I would have.

  28. I’m reading in The American Spectator various book recommendations for gifts. They do that every year. The one most recommended is “My Grandfather’s Son by Clarence Thomas.
    But I came to comment on a recommendation of Norman Podhoretz” World War IV, (which I haven’t read). He says it “places the War on Terror squarely into its proper historical, political and military perspectives, and provides a powerful reason for electing as your next president only someone who instinctively understands these vital truths.”
    The problem is, our politicians, Bush, Chaney, Huckabee, McCain, Clinton, Edwards, Obama, etc. all of them, are only concerned with the politics of the ongoing conflict, and elections.
    They don’t understand the conflict nor Islam. Bush thinks they can negotiate peace in Palestine. Clinton says she will negotiate face-to-face. Neither of them understand that a primary requirement of Islam is jihad. They should read, The Al Qaeda Reader. This is not a book about opinions nor politics from a western perspective. It is a translation of writings of Muslems, mostly Ben Laden and al-Zawahiri. They mean business. To bad we don’t.

    Now, my least liked Christmas song, (other than “Rudolph”, that is). I nominate “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. I always start listening to it faithfully, but by the fifth day, I always hit the button for NEXT.

  29. NT, I think the point being made is that the American intelligence community has had a series of hits and misses over the past decade, particularly in the Middle East.

    That’s reading an awful lot into the original comment that simply isn’t there. I think her original point was that the MSM is misleading us. When it was pointed out that the report came directly from American intelligence agencies, she backed down a bit. But getting your point out of her original comment is quite a stretch.

  30. Least favorite, definitely “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” After I heard it once all the way through (for those who haven’t heard it, basically a guy is seducing his girl to spend the night because it’s too cold for her to leave), I turned off the radio whenever it came on.

    I don’t hear “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” all that often, so it doesn’t bother me. One time when my sister’s oldest son was three or four, he was talking on the phone to Mom (his grandma) and said he wanted to sing her a song. My sister’s heart went to her feet when she heard him start singing that song.

    I am a bit tired of “Mary, Did You Know?” The first year it was out, I heard it as a solo and thought it rather nice, but by the time the season was over, I’d heard it sung as a solo four times–every Christmas event I attended. Ever since then I’ve heard it at least once a year as a solo, and it just is too long and not all that melodious.

  31. NT,
    All that bluster despite the fact that Mommy corroborated what I said immediately after I posted it?

  32. “Waging jihad against the infidels is the basis of glory and honor, whereas abandoning it results in humiliation and debasement. This is confirmed by the Prophet’s assertion “If you take up a domestic life, hold on to the tails of cattle, are content with farming, and thus abandon jihad, Allah will let humiliation lord over you until you return to your religion”. The Al Qaeda Reader, p. 161.

    Let’s talk about this. Surely they are reasonable people.

  33. Night Train, re Alan Keyes,

    He’s the only presidential candidate to whom I’ve ever sent money. In 2000 I sent his campaign checks at least twice, maybe more. I didn’t dare put his bumper sticker on my car, ironically because I was living in an all-black neighborhood and I was afraid of vandalism if I “came out” as a conservative.

    I intended to vote for him in the primary, “wasted vote” or no. I got to the primary and got a ballot. I waited in a long line to vote, and suddenly realized it was a primary and I should have gotten a Republican ballot, but they were automatically giving Democrat ones. There was no waiting for the two Republican booths…but I didn’t dare go back up and ask for a Republican ballot. (Not that I “didn’t dare” physically, but as the only white person in that room, where two separate precincts voted, in all of my voting in that neighborhood, it just seemed a little crass to be that obvious I was a Republican.) I decided that instead of voting FOR Keyes, I’d vote AGAINST Gore, and so I did. It did strike me as ironic that I’d been the only person in the room planning to vote for the black guy.

    After that, I determined that Keyes wouldn’t make a good president anyway. He had great ideas, but I’d only ever seen him in print. I heard from reliable sources that in person he wasn’t very genteel. (That’s probably not how they phrased it, but basically he didn’t have very good manners or something of the sort, that he was too bombastic.)

    And of course he’s so unelctable there’s simply no point of “talking about him” much. I wouldn’t even know he was in the race this time except that a couple times people on here have asked why no one talks about him.

    So, has he been discussed enough now? :)

  34. 34. Gravatar by Pauline 12.04.07 at 11:53 am

    The first time I heard Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, I laughed so hardly I nearly cried. Of course, part of what struck me so funny was that it was being sung by a special choral ensemble at church (but not in a church service, it was just a fun get-together for young adults), and humor has a way of being noticeably absent in some churches. It was nice to be able to laugh and not have to take everything seriously.

    Shortly after I got married (a couple years later), I got a tape of it for my husband for Christmas, and we had a lot of fun listening to it and singing along. By now I’ve heard it enough times that I just smile instead of of laughing, but I enjoy seeing my kids enjoying it. I much prefer it to hearing them sing Jingle Bell, Batman Smells (though I’m not going to make a fuss if they sing that too).

    I can’t think of a least favorite right off, except that I get very tired of hearing White Christmas and some other (non-religious) favorites by the end of the season. (I never tire of carols like Silent Night and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.)

    The one pet peeve I think of is the line in Away in a Manger where it says “no crying he makes.” I just don’t sing that line. Jesus was fully human, which means he didn’t know how to talk when he was born and he cried like any other baby to let him mommy know when he was hungry or wet or needed to be burped or just wanted to be held, like any other baby. I was very happy when one of our pastors made that exact point in a sermon last year and made a point of skipping that verse of the carol.

  35. 35. Gravatar by Pauline 12.04.07 at 11:53 am

    oops, “I laughed so hard”

  36. Since Iran won’t let us in their country to do full inspections, I assume all this time the world has been believing their continuous claims of having nuclear weapons.

  37. Two of my favorites already mentioned:

    O Holy Night - first piece of music ever braodcast on radio
    Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (Es ist Ein Ros Entsprungen) - It’s Praetorius, not Brahms, Mommy and the Empire Brass have a great arrangement of it on an album of Christmas tunes - Joy To The World, IIRC.

  38. 38. Gravatar by StuBob 12.04.07 at 12:07 pm

    OK, here’s another one: “The Christmas Shoes.” My vocabulary is inadequate to describe the awfulness of this song. And, I understand it’s become a made-for-TV movie?

    And, another goodie: “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” from Handel’s Messiah.

  39. 39. Gravatar by Karen O 12.04.07 at 12:11 pm

    Most Favorite - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

    Least favorite - Here Comes Susie Snowflake. Too “cutesie-ish”.

    I tear up every time I hear Snoopy’s Christmas. (I think that’s the name - or maybe it’s Christmas Bells?

    The other day I barked along with the Jingle Bells version done by dogs. My daughter thought I was nuts.

  40. 40. Gravatar by Karen O 12.04.07 at 12:13 pm

    StuBob - The Christmas Shoes song makes me cry every time I hear it.

  41. missing a comma in my previous post - it’s not “Mommy and the Empire Brass” - it’s “…Mommy, and…” :-)

    A bad one: I don’t know the name, but I think it’s old and it’s about wanting a hippopotamus for Christmas. I keep hearing it on the radio the last few years, and I think it’s supposed to be cute, but it gets real old after the first hearing.

  42. I’m in Phoenix airport right now after two *heavy* days of rain at home.
    On my way home last night, there was a pickup truck almost completely submerged on a road I drive on almost every day. What a change!

    PS, Hi Frank!

  43. 43. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 12:16 pm

    Re: #6 - favorite Christmas songs:

    1. “Oh Holy Night” - various

    2. “White Christmas” - Bing Crosby

    3. “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” - Band Aid

  44. 44. Gravatar by rdean 12.04.07 at 12:20 pm

    #20: No, NT. I simply don’t believe that Iran said, “Oh, never mind, let’s just stop and behave ourselves.”

    “Largely because of international scrutiny and pressure.”

    That is the reason given.

    I think that Bush has used deplomacy so little during his “reign” that many of his followers have forgotten what exactly that is. With the “you are with us or against us” mentalitly that Bush has and the Republicans have adopted, it turns out that “everyone” is against you.

  45. 45. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 12:23 pm

    TRR, There IS a Brahams “Lo” and it’s beautiful. I bet you’ve heard it and didn’t know what it was. See if you can find a rendition or get your church organist to play it for you. A humorous side note, I used it as the Mother-of-the Groom’s song at our son’s wedding to be played as I processed to light a candle.

  46. 46. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 12:25 pm

    Robhays - Don’t bother trying to converse civilly and logically with Night Train. It can’t be done, and is the reason I didn’t reply, myself (we can expect some silly, scathing, or otherwise inappropriate reaction from him to this post).

  47. 47. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 12:26 pm

    Re post 45, I should have mentioned that the wedding was in July!

  48. I guess I’m just a sap because I like almost all the songs listed as “least favorite”.
    Oh well.
    I grew up with Bing Crosby, Mario Lanza (O Holy Night), Burl Ives, Tchaikovsy-The Nutcracker Suite, and other Christmas carols played at home on the record player. We had both LPs and 45s and could listen for hours.
    And despite the fact that “The Fish” plays Mary Did You Know and Christmas Shoes over and over and over again, I’m still not that tired of them.

    Haven’t heard Grandma Run over lately though…

    Most favorite songs would have to be the the melodic and haunting tunes like What Child is This and Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming.

  49. 49. Gravatar by StuBob 12.04.07 at 12:39 pm

    Karen O (40): Me, too! That’s part of the reason it’s so incredibly awful. I just can’t stand to be manipulated like that!

  50. Here’s a serious curiousity question for all the skeptics, atheists, and agnostic bloggers here.

    What keeps you coming to World Mag Blog to comment on issues and topics of the day? What prompts you to debate with Christians about the veracity of Christianity? What is your motivation?

  51. 51. Gravatar by KayVee 12.04.07 at 1:08 pm

    My favorite Christmas Carol is “O Come All Ye Faithful,” preferably the Latin version, “Adeste Fideles.”

    I always enjoy Karen Carpenter’s “Merry Christmas, Darling,” and Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad,” too.

    I don’t think there are any Christmas songs that I don’t like, but that may be because I don’t listen to music radio very often any more, so I don’t hear them.

  52. 52. Gravatar by Bob Buckles 12.04.07 at 1:08 pm

    #44 RDEAN

    “I think that Bush has used deplomacy so little during his “reign”… ”

    Annapolis?
    North Korea?
    Al Gore in the White House?

  53. 53. Gravatar by rdean 12.04.07 at 1:39 pm

    North Korea? China stepped in there, it was nothing we did.

    Al Gore in the White House? You can’t be serious.

    Now, for a real heart breaker. A grown woman with children set up a myspace account and pretended to be a young boy interested in a mentally challanged girl down the street. She spent months gaining this poor girl’s trust and then called her dirty names. The mentally challenged girl, so disdraught, hanged herself in her own closet. The parents of the dead girl (who are now divorcing) had the account traced back to the woman living up the street. She felt she did no wrong.
    This is someone who was born without a heart, without a mind and without a soul.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21882976/

  54. 54. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 1:51 pm

    Rdean - We already did this story here. I hope you’re not one of the folks who routinely berates Lynn for repeaters. Also, I don’t think it’s accurate to describe the victim as “mentally challenged.” She had ADD and suffered from depression, neither of which puts her into that category. IMHO.

  55. 55. Gravatar by KayVee 12.04.07 at 1:53 pm

    Adios,

    I missed your mention of a song called “It’s Christmas Again in San Diego” my first time through this thread. I’ve lived in the San Diego area for 14 years and have never heard it. Who sings it? Is it from a show or something?

  56. 56. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 2:05 pm

    RDean and Mommy,

    I saw another update on the story of the young girl who committed suicide on “360″ last night. I cannot think of a more heartbreaking story that I’ve heard in quite awhile. To think that nothing legally can be done to the adult is really frustrating. The dead girl’s parents could sue the lady, but in the end, they would probably not recover anything financially. And their little girl will still be dead. One can only hope that out of the tragedy some new laws on on-line harassment will be brought forth.

    *****

    Make it Man,

    I don’t know about anyone else, but speaking as a “Class A Skeptic/Doubter”, I come on here just to aggravate you ;-)

    Nah, seriously, I enjoy the interaction. And I try not to debate the veracity of Christianity. I’m not interested in proving it wrong. I’m more interested in getting people to question what they believe and why.

  57. Favorite Christmas carol: “Silent Night” or “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”.

    Least favorites: Anything with cutesie tunes, animals or snowmen.

    I agree about “Mary did You Know?” Great song, but overplayed.

    Actually, I find most of the carols and songs, both good and bad, overplayed this time of year. Why not spread them out and play/sing them in July? Isn’t that preaching the whole Gospel?

  58. 58. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 2:16 pm

    Anlir, I don’t mind revisiting it. I mostly just thought it was humorous that a poster brought it up because there are some folks around here who are less civil than you I are(you know them - they jump on every little possible infraction of spelling, grammar, or protocol) who complain when a topic is brought up a second time.

  59. I actually enjoy “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” though I prefer religious carols to the secular holiday tunes. I have a collection of over 300 Christmas CDs, so we don’t have to hearing stuff repeated too often around here. :)

  60. As for the lady Donato referred to above, she’s someone who needs Christ.

  61. Alan Keyes: I supported him in 2000, went to several of his meetings in Iowa and found him a very captivating speaker. Genteel? I suppose, but emotional. However, after his disastrous senate race in Illinois against Barak Obama, I don’t think he has any chance at the presidency either.

  62. 62. Gravatar by mumsee 12.04.07 at 2:37 pm

    Don’t have a favorite or least favorite and people coming over for our fourth of July celebration no longer ask why we are listening to Christmas music in July. They know I like Christmas music, like the message of Christmas, and listen to it all year round. Hopefully, listening to the message throughout the year helps me to live it. The new kids tried asking, the older kids just shrugged and said, “Get used to it”.

  63. 63. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 2:43 pm

    Mommy,

    Got it. I understand what you’re saying.

  64. 64. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.04.07 at 3:09 pm

    The second hour of this has just begun. They are discussing China now.

    Public Radio Presidential Debates
    All of the major Democratic presidential candidates will meet in Iowa today for a two-hour debate, as an extremely close race is shaping up in the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Presented by NPR News and Iowa Public Radio, hosted by Robert Siegel, Michele Norris and Steve Inskeep.

    Streaming live here:

    http://www.kuow.org/

  65. 65. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 3:12 pm

    hamachitwo, pardon me if I yawn

  66. 66. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.04.07 at 3:12 pm

    Favorite xmas songs:

    All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

    Happy Holidays (Beef Wellington Remix) Bing Crosby

    Merry Christmas (I don’t want to fight tonight) The Ramones

  67. 67. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.04.07 at 3:14 pm

    Not at all mommy. Some of us follow politics. By the way, you have salad in your teeth and smell like blue cheese dressing ;-)

  68. Mommy: You’re joining a very large crowd in a huge collective yawn! :)

  69. 69. Gravatar by rdean 12.04.07 at 3:22 pm

    #61: Alan Keyes: I supported him in 2000, went to several of his meetings in Iowa and found him a very captivating speaker.

    But a truly terrible and awful person. He disowned his own daughter, cutting all family ties with her after running on a platform of “family values”, what a creep.

    It did have a somewhat happy ending. Concerned citizens took pity on her (she had no job, was living with friends and could no longer pay for college) and donated enough money so she could continue college. However, there are rules. She had to take a full load of classes and maintain her “B” average to continue to recieve aid, otherwise, it would go to someone more deserving.

    The last I heard, she was doing quite well and he will not allow his daughter’s name to be mentioned in his presense. Like I said.

  70. 70. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.04.07 at 3:24 pm

    Outkast,

    You’re the one who lives there and has been following the candidates around for the neighborhood paper… I’m surprised you’re not there.

  71. 71. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 3:25 pm

    Now, now. If it’s NPR, it’s definitely worth listening to! I realize we all can’t pay attention to all of the debates because there are so many of them. But we should try to listen to some and be as informed as we possibly can. I have watched/listened to the debates from both parties because I want to be informed.

  72. 72. Gravatar by mommy 12.04.07 at 3:31 pm

    Anlir, We’re buddies, so you know that I ask this question legitimately, but what possible thing do you think you might be “informed” of at this stage of the game? Do you really think something new is going to be said. I suspect that most folks who watch do so to catch their least favorite candidates in “lies” and inconsistencies (”he’s a HYPOCRITE!” or, “she,” as the case may be). Some so that they can share them with us here, the next day.

  73. I’ve never written for a neighborhood paper, Hamachi, so I’m not sure what you’re talking about.

    If you’re talking about what I do for a living, then that’s something totally different. I write for a national magazine based in New York, a monthly newspaper in Anamosa (IA) and a bi-weekly feature publication that’s distributed in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.

    Mommy: You are absolutely correct in saying that nothing new is being said by most of the candidates right now.

  74. 74. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 3:48 pm

    Mommy,

    I think it’s important to see the candidates in a variety of situations, to see how they handle things. Sometimes they come out with new policies or new ideas. Also, I think it’s important to watch and see if what they say in one place is the same as they say in another. I also try to pick up clues from their off the cuff remarks, to body language, to their attitude as to whether or not I can vote for them. In the last 11 months I have changed my mind a couple of times about who I will vote for in the primary.

    I probably follow politics more closely than the average person. It interests me and I like to be really informed. I try to watch the candidates of both parties in a dispassionate manner because I really want to hear what they have to say. But then, I watch CSPAN, so I’m probably not someone you would want to emulate ;-)

    Seriously, I had a co-worker ask me this afternoon who Ron Paul is. She had not a clue if he was a politician, or a musician, or a preacher. I guess I’m astounded that someone could go this long and not know who he is.

    We’re cool by the way :-)

  75. BTW: NPR is becoming more and more of a joke every year. I used to listen to it to be “informed,” but then realized I was never hearing anything but hatred for Bush and conservatives and Republicans.

  76. 76. Gravatar by mmacmurray 12.04.07 at 3:49 pm

    Mumsee, #62 - I like to play “The Messiah” at Easter as well as at Christmas, especially the “Hallelujah Chorus.” And I think my dad once preached a sermon called “Joy to the World” on a Sunday nowhere near December; we sang the carol following the sermon.

    Hope all is well in Idaho. :-)

  77. 77. Gravatar by Karen O 12.04.07 at 3:52 pm

    Does anyone like the song, We’ve Got that Holiday Feelin’ by Steve Lawrence & Edie Gorme? I enjoy bopping around the kitchen to that one.

    And I even like Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree & Jingle Bell Rock, especially for bopping around to.

  78. 78. Gravatar by ChristianLeftist 12.04.07 at 4:00 pm

    I like the favorite Christmas songs! That should be a topic all its own:

    Favorites (no particular order):
    God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen/We Three Kings (BNL/Sarah McLachlan version)
    Once in Royal David’s City
    Most of the John Rutter carols - have been fortunate enough to perform many of them with orchestra and chorus
    Christmas in Killarney
    Leroy Anderson’s arrangements of Christmas medleys

    Least Favorites:
    Blue Christmas
    Jingle Bell Rock
    And I despise the Hippopotamus song, but can’t stop humming it once I hear it.

    A couple years back, I sang Silent Night to my daughter a few times and she called it the “Christmas Lullaby” (Auld Lang Syne was the “New Year’s Lullaby”) She asks for them sometime in the middle of summer even.

  79. One snowy December night as I was driving through a city far from home, I began flipping from one radio station to another. I still remember the moment when I happened onto a Christmas melody that immediately gripped and haunted me.

    I had to pull to the side of the road so I could feast on every syllable. When it was over, I wept, and smiled, and resumed my journey a better man.

    Alas, I’ve never heard this particular version again, although I’ve heard the song (Blue Christmas) done to death, especially by that fellow whose name I forget (think he was from Tennessee and was kind of famous at one time). The song as it was etched into my heart and soul that night, however, was unforgettably performed by Porky Pig.

  80. 80. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 4:12 pm

    Speaking of Christmas songs, I feel sorry for the workers at my local Barnes & Noble. Having to listen to Christmas music all day and all night must drive them insane by December 25th. I’m only there an hour or two each day and I’m already tired of it, and it’s only Dec. 4th!

    I always pull out my Filter cd’s in December. For some reason “Take a Picture” is always playing in my head at Christmas. I don’t listen to it any other time of the year. Also, “Hey Man Nice Shot” from the “Short Bus” album.

  81. Anlir, you hang out at B&N? In Atlanta?!

    We should get together sometime. You can treat me to Chipotle!

  82. “I don’t know about anyone else, but speaking as a “Class A Skeptic/Doubter”, I come on here just to aggravate you.”

    Oh good. I’m glad I’m special! :P

    Seriously though… You like to make people question their beliefs? Why?

  83. 83. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.04.07 at 4:39 pm

    My mistake, Outkast. The only place I’ve ever seen your by-line is at dubuque365.com. I had no idea you were such a heavy hitter! ;-)

  84. I write for a national magazine based in New York

    And what “national” magazine would that be, Outkast?

  85. Hey Man Nice Shot - Good call, Anlir. Used to listen to that before basketball games. Didn’t help my shooting one bit, though.

  86. 86. Gravatar by adios 12.04.07 at 4:52 pm

    Kayvee,

    Not sure who sings “It’s Christmas Once Again in San Diego.” It’s on the playlist of most local stations, but it’s a favorite of one of the DJs on KSON. Keep the radio on in your car and I’m sure you’ll hear it before the 25th.

  87. 87. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 4:52 pm

    Make it Man,

    I think it’s good for people to have their beliefs put under a microscope so to speak. It will either make you stronger in what you believe or make you re-think your beliefs. You could say I’m a little subversive in that regard.

    I recognize that the audience is much more than the WorldMag regulars who chat back and forth on here every day. There are a lot of people who just read the comments. I keep them in mind when I write.

    Also, I think it’s good for WorldMag readers to see that there is more than 2 sides to every story.

  88. Is there any other reason you might have that attracts you to World Mag Blog and it’s denizens?

  89. Oh. I agree that it’s good for people to examine their beliefs, and realize that there are more than one side to every story…. which is surprising to many, not to mention more than 2…

  90. NT: www.djtimes.com

  91. 91. Gravatar by rdean 12.04.07 at 5:07 pm

    #75: I was never hearing anything but hatred for Bush and conservatives and Republicans.

    Well deserved considering what they have been doing to this country for the last seven years. What is the national debt now, 30 trillion?

    Thanks George, for all you did to help the victems of Katrina, all you have done to make us safer, bringing “Democracy” to Iraq and Afghanistan. All the “friends” you have made for us around the world. The work you did on the infrastructure of the US. The work you did toward making us energy independent. The work you have done protecting the average American. The way this administration has “helped” our returning veterans. Especially the high quality medical care. There simply aren’t words for the way you have supported the American People.

  92. 92. Gravatar by ChristianLeftist 12.04.07 at 5:36 pm

    RR:

    Try this link,if it comes out:

    There are a lot of other songs in the mp3 directory on this site.

    Blue Christmas

  93. 93. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.04.07 at 5:57 pm

    “What is the national debt now, 30 trillion?”

    I read yesterday that by the end of Bush’s term, the debt will no longer fit on the Debt Clock in Times Square.

  94. 94. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.04.07 at 5:58 pm

    ChristianLeftist! Excellent find, my friend!

  95. 95. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 7:09 pm

    Re: #88

    Make it Man:

    Sure. Several reasons.

    1. People are generally nice around here. That’s different than a lot of blogs.

    2. As a liberal, I get to be a big fish in the pond (metaphorically). On a liberal site I’d be just another tadpole.

    3. I enjoy it. I like the fact that a woman is in charge of the site. And I really like Lynn - she’s a pretty cool lady.

    4. I get to interact with people who are different from me.

    5. I’m doing my own little part to show people that people can disagree and still be nice to each other.

    I guess that about sums it up.

  96. Well, Rudy’s pervert priest problem is finally coming to light, and just in time for Iowa, no less. I’ve been wondering if anyone was ever going to bring it up, and they finally did.

  97. 97. Gravatar by rdean 12.04.07 at 7:28 pm

    #89: which is surprising to many, not to mention more than 2…

    Truer words were never spoken. Actully, more than two is way more likely than just two.

  98. Night Train I finally got it when you said something about being named after a fortified wine. I got hit by the Night Train Express in high school. Oh no! Don’t let anyone know I was actually drinking really nasty wine in high school. If I close my eyes my head can still hurt.
    I like almost all Christmas music whether religious or secular and believe me the Episcopal church has some painful hymns. But I absolutely DETEST the Christmas Shoes song. I see now redeeming qualities in it.

  99. Kim, I’m sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience with one of the Gallo Brothers’ most popular products. There’s only one thing for it. You just have to saddle up and get right back on that horse.

  100. RDean, neither you nor I know everything that passed between Dr. Keyes and his daughter.

  101. I love
    We Three Kings of Orient Are

    Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

    Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella

    Christmas has it’s Cradle

    And for my favorite recording:
    It’s the Holiday Season/Happy Holidays by Andy Williams

  102. 102. Gravatar by Lester 12.04.07 at 9:10 pm

    Since Iran won’t let us in their country to do full inspections, I assume all this time the world has been believing their continuous claims of having nuclear weapons.

    Uh, Outkast, the IAEA has been inspecting Iran’s nuclear program for years.

    If you mean “we” as in the U.S., Iran has no requirement to do so under the NPT.

    DJ Times is really cool.

  103. 103. Gravatar by Kim 12.04.07 at 9:40 pm

    Night Train I enjoy a nice Pinot Noir now.
    One of my favorite secular Christmas songs is Santa Baby—the original version by Eartha Kitt

  104. 104. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 9:44 pm

    EYG,

    Your favorite song is a classic. My mother has Andy Williams records and she talked about his show and how much she liked it, especially his Christmas music.

  105. 105. Gravatar by mmacmurray 12.04.07 at 10:01 pm

    Has anyone heard from Random Name since those terrible storms hit Washington?

  106. Kim - That’s one of my favorite secular Christmas songs as well! :-)

  107. Hi Anlir,
    :-)
    I put his CD on when I’m doing Christmasy things like gift-wrapping or cooking, or tree decorating.

    I love it. It’s so happy and upbeat and classic and even hip.

    He says some really sweet things about his mom on one of his albums. She always thought he won an Oscar, when in fact it was a Grammy. But, he didn’t correct her after a while because of his affection for her. I think that story makes all moms smile.

    I wonder if he’s still alive?

  108. Kim,
    It is a cute song.
    How’s work?

  109. 109. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 10:34 pm

    EYG,

    Andy Williams is still with us. He has a theater in Branson, MO called “Moon River”. How appropriate.

  110. That name is perfect. He and Audrey Hepburn sang the best renditions of that song!
    Is he still performing?
    I know tony Bennett has still got it.

  111. 111. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.04.07 at 11:00 pm

    Yeah, Kim,

    How’s the new job treating you? In the swing yet?

  112. 112. Gravatar by Anlir 12.04.07 at 11:13 pm

    EYG,

    Yes he is still performing. He just finished a tour of Europe, and he still does performances in Branson.

  113. 113. Gravatar by KayVee 12.04.07 at 11:37 pm

    Adios,

    Thanks for the info, I’ll tune the car radio to KSON on the way to work tomorrow.

  114. 114. Gravatar by rdean 12.05.07 at 8:41 am

    Shocker:

    http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/04/494207.aspx

  115. 115. Gravatar by rdean 12.05.07 at 8:43 am

    #100: RDean, neither you nor I know everything that passed between Dr. Keyes and his daughter.

    When it comes to this, we most certainly do, considering how much it was covered in Chicago. It was on the news every night for weeks. Keyes daughter is gay. That is why he disowned her. He has made it clear he absolutley hates gay people and wants only the worst for them.

  116. He has made it clear he absolutley hates gay people and wants only the worst for them.

    Why do you feel the need to twist the news to fit your twisted worldview, Donato? Where has Dr. Keyes ever said he “wants only the worst” for homosexuals?

    . . . besides in your imagination, I mean.

  117. 117. Gravatar by rdean 12.05.07 at 3:47 pm

    You could start at “burning in hell for all eternity” and “one of the greatest perversions in nature worthy of capital punishment”. Loving start there when talking about their children. You know that, right?

  118. That doesn’t mean Dr. Keyes WANTS them to burn in hell for all eternity, Donato. He’s just warning that could be the judgement awaiting those who don’t follow God’s clear instructions for sexual behavior, and don’t repent while there’s still time.

  119. 119. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.05.07 at 8:02 pm

    I wasn’t aware Alan Keye’s daughter is a lesbian. Interesting that he and Dick Cheney raised girls who are lesbians. What are they doing wrong?

  120. For one thing, #119, it seems to show that homosexuality is NOT hereditary! :)

  121. 121. Gravatar by HamachiTwo 12.06.07 at 5:04 am

    Please, #120, please elaborate on your personal knowledge regarding the sex lives of the four parents and the other ancestors of these fine lesbian ladies. Be careful. There are many examples of Republican homosexuals living double lives in the closet. To be married and have children does not necessarily insure heterosexuality is their natural preference.

  122. But you asked in #119 what they were doing wrong to produce two lesbian daughters, #121, and I responded that they were doing nothing wrong.

    Even the best of parents in this world have “bad” children — which proves that sin (including the sin of homosexuality) is not merely hereditary, but part of the sin nature (as explained clearly in the Bible, which you apparently reject).