About time: Former president Jimmy Carter condemned the effect U.S. intelligence programs had on U.S. moral authority in the wake of NSA revelations brought to light by leaker Edward Snowden, Der Spiegel reports. “America has no functioning democracy,” Carter said at a meeting of The Atlantic Bridge in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday. I've never been …
Southern Joy Quartet with the Joyful Three: In the Valley
Mark Five SJ-4809 A very traditional Southern Gospel album. Although undated, I think it's from the early 1970's. One thing you immediately pick up on is the change in content of the songs; it's hard to imagine even a classic like the title track making much of a dent these days with our obsessive ego-pumping. …
Continue reading "Southern Joy Quartet with the Joyful Three: In the Valley"
The Chickens Come Home to Roost for the Church of England
There's a lot going on these days; the problem for me is that most of it either doesn't deserve comment or I've already done it before. The topic at hand falls into the latter category, but it probably deserves a little recap. Liberals like Mark Harris like to remind us from time to time that …
Continue reading "The Chickens Come Home to Roost for the Church of England"
The Strange Case of Bose Speakers
The death of audio pioneer Amar Bose brings back the memory of something that was a passion of mine during the 1970's--audio equipment. (The legacy of that passion may be seen in my digitisation technique for some of the albums on my music pages). It may seem strange now but the quest for analogue perfection …
Newbury Park
Newbury Park (Cream CR-9003) Most Christian albums in the 1970's eschewed secular labels and concert venues, nurturing the developing Christian sub-culture and being evangelistic in the process. This album and group were an exception, although their later work was more distinctively Christian. But if you like the 1960's with its "Sunshine music" (like the Mamas …
The Government Agent Who Promoted Cohabitation
We're up on another 4 July, and frankly this one looks to be depressing. Many of us find ourselves in a country that doesn't want us any more; we've even gotten to the point where we find a person like Edward Snowden a hero for exposing the NSA, even when he fled to places our …
Continue reading "The Government Agent Who Promoted Cohabitation"
When It's Easier to Demolish Your House Than to Make the Code Police Happy
In Palm Beach, where else: Two new residences will be going up while five old residences will be coming down, as approved Wednesday by the Architectural Commission...264 Bahama Lane: Owner Karl Wattenhofer is demolishing his house to cure a code-enforcement violation for unapproved window changes. He currently has fines that total more than $74,000. For …
Continue reading "When It's Easier to Demolish Your House Than to Make the Code Police Happy"
Why Both Lewis and Tolkien Were Both Wrong on Marriage
Christianity Today's piece on C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien on marriage is making the rounds, especially in the wake on SCOTUS's boffo performance on same-sex civil marriage. CT's take is that Lewis was wrong and Tolkien was right, but unfortunately things aren't that simple. CT's analysis (coming as it does from an Evangelical publication) reminds …
Continue reading "Why Both Lewis and Tolkien Were Both Wrong on Marriage"
Same Sex Civil Marriage: The Saddest "I Told You So" of Them All
It happened: SCOTUS has struck down the provision of the Defence of Marriage Act that denied federal recognition to same-sex civil marriages, and basically "punted" on Proposition 8 on a standing issue. The latter doubtless seals that provision's fate. One of the reasons I find myself getting away from blogging on political issues is that …
Continue reading "Same Sex Civil Marriage: The Saddest "I Told You So" of Them All"
"Open" Cubicle-free or Office-less Workplaces New? Hardly!
Not only is the "cool office" a myth, it isn't a novelty either. Consider "the Open Office Space Panopticon" like this: Trading in a cubicle for a shared desk not only encourages conformity — no more quirky puppy posters! — but also lets your boss see what you're doing at all times. Or at least …
Continue reading ""Open" Cubicle-free or Office-less Workplaces New? Hardly!"
Positive Infinity 