The Jesus Seed

A fascinating article about Guy Consolmagno, the Pope's astronomer, and the possibility of intelligent life in the universe and the impact it would have on religious belief. Consolmagno doesn't believe it necessary for faith and science to be at odds. He says the devout can be afraid to even think about science because it might make them question their faith, but "a faith that is afraid of the truth has no faith."
Very interesting stuff.

Hide the Kids

The National Institute on Media and the Family has released their Top-Ten list of video games to avoid for your children and teens, also known as Davis's Christmas list:

Game Lists		Rating:
Parent Alert! Games to avoid for your children and teens
1. Far Cry		M
2. F.E.A.R.		M
3. The Warriors		M
4. Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse		M
5. True Crime: New York City		M
6. Blitz: The League		M
7. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories		M
8. God of War		M
9. Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil		M
10. Urban Reign		T
11. Conker: Live and Reloaded		M
12. Resident Evil 4		M

Headline of the Day

Sometimes, all you need is the headline . . . no story needed.

Only a Creature With a Soul

Three Ethiopian lions came to the rescue of a 12-year-old girl who had been abducted and beaten by seven men trying to force her into marriage (whatever happened to getting on one knee with a ring?).
Wildlife experts say the girl's crying might have sounded like a mewing lion cub, prompting the lions to protect her instead of eat her. However, the lions—after guarding the girl for half a day——went back into the forest when rescuers arrived.
Interesting, isn't it? It seems hard to imagine that lions would surrender a girl to humans if they thought it was a cub. Not only that, they chased away human predators yet retreated to allow rescuers to bring aid to the girl . . . how did they know the difference between good people and bad?
Maybe lions just know assholes when they see 'em.

Sage Advice

If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security; as well as our liberty.

—John F. Kennedy. October 29, 1960.

God Doesn't Give a Shit About Madonna's Record Sales

So says Madonna:

At the end of the day when I'm standing at the golden gates, I'm sure God doesn't give a shit how many records I've sold or how many number one hits I've had. All he gives a shit about is how I behaved, how I treated people.

He might have a thing or two to say about torpedo bras and dry-humping the stage, though.

Our Triumph

Here's a quote from that great short story, "Sonny's Blues," by James Baldwin, dedicated to my fellow songwriters:

All I know about music is that not many people ever really hear it. And even then, on the rare occasions when something opens within, and the music enters, what we mainly hear, or hear corroborated, are personal, private, vanishing evocations. But the man who creates the music is hearing something else, is dealing with the roar rising from the void and imposing order on it as it hits the air. What is evoked in him, then, is of another order, more terrible because it has no words, and triumphant, too, for that same reason. And his triumph, when he triumphs, is ours.

One Day at Wal-Mart

Walking into Wal-Mart yesterday, I passed two young girls. I'm guessing they were 16, if that. As I neared the door, one of them shrieked, "Nice ass!" I looked back at them, and they giggled and said they weren't talking about me. I looked around, and the only other person nearby was an employee gathering shopping carts, the crack of his ass about six inches above the waist of his pants. Oh, you're talking about him? Ouch.
Arriving home (after asking an employee where the Chapstick was, not realizing that she was busy restocking the condom shelf), I told my wife about the girls and asked her if my ass looked good in the baggy sweatpants I wore. She said my sweats were too baggy to show off my ass.
Unconvinced, I went and stood before the bathroom mirror, and had to admit that my sweats were indeed too baggy to show off my Schwarzeneggerian can.
Looks like I'll have to dig out the spandex pants from the rock n' roll days. That'll show 'em.

Bumpersticker of the Day

Spotted this at the library:

Well-behaved women rarely make history.

Come Sail Away

Let's take a trip to the Mountains of Creation. Located in the Cassiopeia constellation.

Sad

It goes to show you that politicians of both parties can come together in a bi-partisan manner when it comes to something really important: protecting incumbents.
In 2006, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for re-election. Thanks to campaign finance laws and redistricting, the number of House elections projected to be competitive is 30.

Fare Thee Well, Old Friend

A sad day for Jimmy's household today. We had to put our furry friend, Casper, to sleep this afternoon. He took ill yesterday, and we learned that he had kidney disease and diabetes. Treatment options were not only expensive but had meager odds of success. Mrs. Jimmy and I were there to comfort him when they gave him the sleep agent.
It's not my style to over-eulogize, but I like to think that he's trotting around somewhere where there's grass to chew on, freshly laundered clothing to sleep on, running faucets to drink out of, crickets to kill, windows to watch from and bellies to knead.
We had him for ten years. A pretty good run, but as Robert Frost wrote, "Nothing gold can stay."
Damn it all.

An Inexcusable Outrage

Send this story to everyone you know. Have them all send it to everyone they know. If you are so moved, you can write Florida Governor Jeb Bush.