jeffreymark

BLOGGERS IMPLICITLY OFFER A GLIMPSE AT THE TRUE STATE OF THE UNION

I'm not watching the Obama twilight zone tonight. Not that I don't care; I just... don't care. He, his ilk, and chicken s#$t Republicans impel me to believe tonight is just another Shakespearean drama offered by the local high school drama department. Sweeping crescendos, swooning Senators, and back slapping good ole boys turn my stomach. 

If one desires to cut through the heavy fog of pseudo eloquence and get to the truth one ought to glance at other conservative blogs. Their cynical tone does not lie. For instance, Ann Althouse offers this biting commentary:

Here's where I blog everything about the State of the Union address that doesn't involve the text.

I've already blogged the text. That's done! No more fretting over typing out what the Prez is saying in real time. Been there. Done that. This post is for everything else. What are they wearing? Who's falling asleep? What was that funny look? Where did he stumble over the text? All style and no substance, except to the extent that style is substance, baby.

Perhaps Scott Johnson over at Powerline adds a few strokes to the cynic's picture when he explains:

If you're looking for commentary on the president's State of the Union address tonight, I'm afraid I have to send you elsewhere. My pain threshold limits me to a few notes. 

Sorry I cannot comment any further. Besides, I'm watching a great hockey game right now. I have no time for puking political punditry.

DESPICABLE WANNABES

Those who arrogantly flash the bling belong to one of the most despicable classes of people on earth-millionaire wannabes. Read the nature of true millionaires here. (via Instapundit)

STATE OF BLOGGING

Summer relocation; new job; millions of names and faces to memorize; I got a little burned out on blogging. And, I used my newly found challenge as an excuse. But, when I make blogging a scarcity around these here neck of the JeffreyMark woods, I feel a bit empty. It's as if my soul steadily inflates to dangerously explosive levels. So tonight I hit the old release valve and let a few dangerous pounds of hot air rhetoric escape. I hope to get back into the old routine quickly. 

BLOGGING HIATUS

I just changed locations and needed to get my feet on the ground in my new job. Today we got the internet hooked up at our house. Needless to say this whole move has lead to a blogging Hiatus. I will be back!!! -this week that is. Looking forward to getting back to basics. 

PERVERTED ASSUMPTIONS CONCERNING HATE SPEECH STRIKES AGAIN

I follow Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs fame sporadically, but faithfully. I have discovered her comprehension of Middle East culture, particularly in relation to Israel ranks second to none among amateur pundits. Her analysis of terrorism and its stealthy operations dispels the unfortunate myths our liberal elites mindlessly digest concerning Islamism. Pamela recently posted a cancellation notice PayPal sent her because of her hate speech and presumed intolerance. PayPal, is the credit agency that works with Ebay. John, over at PowerLIne, explicates her predicament much more eloquently than I could: 

Pamela Geller runs a web site called Atlas Shrugs. Her primary focus is Islamic terrorism, to which she is adamantly opposed. She also defends Israel against the constant slings and arrows launched against it. Her tone, to be sure, can be strident, but the views she espouses are, for the most part, those of a majority of Americans.

But they apparently are too much for Paypal, which is terminating her account on the ground that Atlas Shrugs "promote[s] hate, violence, [or] racial intolerance." There is a certain irony here, in that Pamela is a fierce opponent of actual hate, violence and intolerance as manifested by jihadists and their supporters.

As Pamela points out, Paypal is not exactly consistent in its evaluation of "hate" sites. Revolution Muslim, for example, uses Paypal.

One can surmise that Paypal's action against Atlas Shrugs was prompted by complaints from pro-terrorist elements. Be that as it may, it is undoubtedly one small part of a broad effort to stigmatize and delegitimize the expression of mainstream, conservative views. (I'm not sure whether Pamela is a conservative or not, but her anti-terrorist stance represents a key element of contemporary conservatism.) If you would like to complain to Paypal or support Pamela's work, follow the link above for instructions.

Pamela, I assume the problem with PayPal is indicative of our greater society's paranoia. People are afraid they may get their heads chopped off. So, they choose to pick on soft targets such as Christians and Jews. Sadly, the West has lost its morals thereby losing its nerve. We're a culture without a solid rock to stand on. 

NEW BLOG ON THE HORIZON

I'm crazy. Not like a fox crazy, but whacked out, talk to myself, answer myself crazy. And I love it. This insanity prohibits me from calling the little men in white coats to cart me off. Not a good thing for someone whose blood pressure reaches stroke proportions when even smelling a white coat. At 55 I continue to lay awake at nights and dream like a little boy of what might have been. Monsters, lost loves, reality; reality in a sort of fanciful way. I mean reality that isn't reality. Hitting home runs, making millions, persuading harden criminals to turn or burn for eternity. All these things lay stored up in a memory vault waiting for the spirit to possess them and raise them from the dead. Like Hebrew dry bones they want to walk. 

I think of the church with electric candles sitting on the communion table. Electric candles. Flip a switch and wallah. Those candles come to half life. I say half because they have no dancing flame. They point me toward an artificial spirit. A fake Jesus so to speak. Yet, to the little old ladies of the United Woman's Society those electric candles grant security and peace. They offer a pseudo solid rock in a sinking sand world. If a man dare touch those candles they'll turn him into a reluctant eunuch for the Kingdom of God.  

Now a crazy unlike a fox fool such as I could run with that one.  It might make plenty of narrative hay. May even get Christians seeing their asinine selves between the lines. Sadly, I learned long ago how nuts we all are. We bluff, cajole, and mindlessly shout our fool selves into a fantasy land. A place where perceptions become reality, and no one dare tell us the emperor has no clothes, for fear of annihilating our fragile self esteem.  Thank God, however, for such as we belongs the Kingdom of the fiction writer god's heaven. Fiction requires good sportsmanship from sportsmen who make sport of our insanity. I intend to do just that, well sometimes, on a new front. Like starting over, or being the real me-I just gotta be me; just let me be me! 

I plan to let readers of this blog know when the new format opens up. Oh yes, I shall gladly link all you bluffing, cajoling, fit throwers like me to the spot. Stay tuned. 

POLLING IN A CHRISTIAN CONTEXT

George Barna, the Gallup pollster of Christianity, offers a relatively new blog for those interested in the religious state of the nation. Mr. Barna, always in touch with America's religious pulse, provides a compelling, sometimes provocative analysis of our collective soul. His work is primary in our culture. He addresses the very institution that shaped and continues to shape the American myth. Not only does George Barna present facts, he often synthesizes the facts as well.  Those seeking a  little help in sorting out today's national perplexities may do well to read Mr. Barna's contextual snapshot. Follow his blog here. 

NEW BLOG FROM CHRISTIAN RESEARCHER GEORGE BARNA

For years Christian pollster and researcher George Barna has challenged us with compelling glimpses into the state of the church and society. Now Barna brings his keen wisdom home to a personal blog. 

BLOGGING FRUSTRATIONS

I wrote up a piece today about American views concerning Christmas. After minutes of agonizing thought I almost completed the post and tried to save it. The page froze. I refreshed the page only to discover I had lost most of my post. This seems to happen quite often with Typepad. Sometimes Typepad automatically saves the piece. I'm starting to get real pissed off at this problem. Usually I rewrite the portion I lose. Not this time. I said to hell with it. I got a life to live; presents to buy; a job to do. Perhaps I'm a bit word processor illiterate, but I'm getting frustrated. 

UPDATE

My wifes dad died this week. And today my graphics card crashed. Needless to say blogging has been scarce. When I get my Mac fixed I will be back-hopefully by the middle of next week. Blogging from an iPhone ain't easy.