POWIP Piece of Work In Progress

New Year Anticipation

This year has been one of substantial reflection for me - for which I am thankful. Introspection is the only manner in which a man can begin to become wise. It is in the discernment of his weaknesses that he comes to know himself. And it is a constant process of embracing those weaknesses - owning those weaknesses as his own that a man realizes what he needs to work on. And once knowing what need be corrected, a man has one of two choices: ignore his shortcomings... or rectify them. If he ignores his shortcomings, he cannot be said to be moving forward. He cannot be said to be becoming what he is ordained to become. This is what I believe is mostly meant when we reflect on the Deadly Sin of sloth. If, on the other hand, a man commits to rectifying (or at least minimizing) his weaknesses in character - thoughts, decisions, words, deeds - he has the opportunity to more fully grow into his intended role - his destiny.

Now, for man, the road of life is at first exciting. Then after some time less so. Then a little rocky here and there. Then occasioned by smooth spots along the way. As days accrue, his body diminishes. Slowly he loses his step. And there is no remedy. So, as the body diminishes, the whole man (if he desires to remain whole) is called to brace himself with a more robust spirit. The equilibrium of psyche and soma is upset if the one diminishes and the other fails to increase. I believe the term "wise" applies to the man who meets this continual challenge. The opposite we may call a "fool".

Nevertheless, the spirit is willing ... the flesh is weak.

I am a "piece of shit work in progress."

With that said, and in the spirit of moving forward toward my destiny, I place here, now and publicly, some of the things I would like to fix this year about me.

1) I must quit smoking. I really, really must. I will once again attempt it.

2) I must speak less hastily. If you prefer, I must more often "hold my tongue."

3) I must be more merciful - to strangers, family, friends - in my judgments and in my words (without being cowardly, mind you)

4) I need to be less-cerebral in my attempts to grow in my faith... I need to practice more of what I profess to believe in. This means, I need to attend Mass regularly (fidelity), pray more regularly (fielty), attend the Sacrament of Confession regularly (humility).

5) I need to be a better husband and father.

I was going to add a 6th, because I could go on and on... but these should keep me plenty occupied.

Now, I am not going to get my hopes up. I am rebellious by nature. I like to smoke. I am given to being short-tempered and becoming frustrated with others. I have never really been accused of being romantic... and my kids will tell you I like them to do as I say rather than what I do!

Nonetheless, this Piece of Work in Progress remains hopeful.

To you and yours! May 2010 bring you blessings in abundance! May 2010 be your most glorious year!

Please have a SAFE New Year's Eve.

Enoch_Root

AKA. Bobby Donn Brubaker (the most popular man in Mesa, AZ), the Umbrella of Terror, Jack Ketch.

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You Can Die

Marching to the beat of a different drum?

They warned us that there would be deaths due to Climate Change.

OMG! Rape and violation! Principle! (UPDATE: Nolte unpacks it at Big Hollywood)

I bet douchebag lizard guy is all over this. Yeah, that guy.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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A Scanner Starkly

Dutch immediately to begin using full body scanners on passengers to US.

Pity the poor TSA agents. Meanwhile, there's all kinds of lefty uproar over Mike Gallagher's admittedly ridiculous suggestion.

Hey, dKos guy, I'm really sorry for the hassles at airports. In case you weren't aware, those hassles extend to all kinds of people. In your piece, you talk about how your wife really didn't dig the US until there was a little problem with her Muslim husband and custody. And I'm afraid that the weak-kneed response from US authorities is in large part a matter of State Department attitudes regarding respect of other cultures, no matter how misogynistic those might be.

Perhaps if Muslims found it more difficult to submit to screening and profiling at airports, they would make a louder stink about Islamist splodey-dopes screwing things up for them, rather than the outrage of being inconvenienced by people trying to safeguard the lives of passengers. Unfortunately, certain Islamic organizations seem to believe that R-E-S-P-E-C-T is the real issue, even as Christians are harassed and murdered, Bibles banned, churches torched, and citizens tortured, imprisoned and killed in Muslim countries. Cartoons? Riots! Limitations on minarets in non-Muslim countries? RAAAAACISM!

I'm sorry, but this narcissistic sense of misplaced outrage has gone too far and been coddled too long. It's time for the Ummah to clean up its fucking act.

You know what I call profiling? Scheming to blow up an entire airliner because its destination is the US.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday blamed the latest unrest in his country on the United States and Israel, the ISNA news agency reported.

'This is a play staged by the US and Zionists (Israel) which just makes us puke,' said Ahmadinejad in his first reaction to Sunday's protests against him and his government.

'Both those who staged and those who acted in this play are making a mistake, as the Iranian nation has seen many such plays and will not be affected,' the president added.

He also accused the United States and Britain of supporting the protesters and said the two countries would regret it.

You know, I wish our government would support the protesters and give this murderous asshat something to puke about.

Below, antidote to image above, NSFW, via Theo Spark.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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My Rove-y Rove is Newly Divorced?

Sad face for his 24-year marriage.

I'm wondering if it is maybe a consequence of all the work on Courage and Consequence? (I'm pretty damn excited to read this, by the way).

It's no secret I love teh Rove, but here's reason number 87 of millions why he's cool and cute: for the price of a mere SASE, he'll send you a special autographed bookplate for his new opus! He's also a good Twitterer, and has been very generous with his own time to have conversations with his followers. My heart went all a-flutter after I got my first KarlRove direct message.

Ruby Slippers has more, including Greenwald and Sullivan losing it over Rove's supposed marriage hypocrisy.

Cheers to Bachelor Karl!

Dahlhalla

Dahlhalla is a professional troublemaker and classical musician living in New York City. Schooled in Seattle (with Liz Mair), and college-d in San Francisco (where she played with the Grateful Dead once, no joke). She truly lives the plots of several telenovellas on a daily basis. Yeah. Just ask any anonymous blogger you know. Currently dating her way through the former Bush Administration, Dahlhalla is gathering enough material to hopefully post more than once every other month. But until then…OMG SHOES.

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Cognitive Bias – Even Scientists Suffer It

No, this post is not about AGW. Some people are using this Wired article: "Accept Defeat: The Neuroscience of Screwing Up" as one of a myriad of explanations as to why scientists would screw things up so monumentally [like not noting heat transfer of hot air to supposedly hotter ground in their models], but considering the cherry-picking of data all around, and the politics and money at stake, I don't think that's what is being covered here. I think this has more to do with problem-solving, and problems being prematurely "solved".

Meep

Meep is a member of the Irish Catholic mafia, having a suspiciously high number of green-eyed, red-haired friends. While she doesn’t have red hair herself [except when she goes into the sun (rare for any vampire)], she does have green eyes. She’s a raving Papist and is a life actuary on the side [i.e., she counts dead people]. An amateur pain-in-the-ass [willing to go pro!], she likes covering retirement, mortality, math, and education issues.

Mullahs Blame Bush for Inherited Mess

Foment and crotchfire.

A response to imperialist Islamist expansionism.

No TSA head? Look for the union libel.

Caution: Dangerous explosive triggered by PMS.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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AFP: China Executes Gordon Brown

China executes Briton: British Prime Minister

Pope Benedict may want a do-over

Cass Sunstein will protect them

Baucus li-li-libuh . . . sulullandered.

Alternative medicine.

Tucker Carlson hires Jim Treacher. Okay, that one's over the top.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Those Whom I’ve Neglected

Among commentators, I apologize to Carin and agile dog for not taking enough notice of their contributions.

All of the Protein Wisdom gang have gotten short shrift from me this past half year, and I will endeavor to do better. Mike and company at Cold Fury also deserve better notice; Mike invited me to a show, but I was so distraught at not being able to manage it that I didn't recognize the kindness. All of the folks at Six Meat Buffet deserved better than they got this year.

As difficult as some of you will find it to credit, Thor deserved more direct responses than he got from me this year. I will endeavor to do better. At the same time, Meep, Kill Truck and the other women contributors deserved more commentary from me, as well. Rocketman Bob has done a bang-up job, and I can't thank him enough. Same for Enoch.

Apart from being immensely kind to me, Scott and Liz at The B-Cast are also enormously hard-working. If you haven't spent time there, please do, and patronize their contributors. Carol at Sheeples is a wonderful person and blogger. Fausta covers a lot of stuff that flies under the radar for most people. Even though they never link here, Ace and company and Ed and Allah at Hot Air do important stuff. Insty promotes the best stories, and maintains his equanimity.

Every day on the web teaches me the same lesson: if you aren't happy, you don't have anything. And there are many of you whom, by necessity, I'm leaving out. So, if I seem down and snarky and quick to anger, please let me know. Most of all, again, to all of you who read, my great thanks.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Twisted Pervert Stacy McCain Prefers Molly Ringwald to Ann-Margret

WTF?

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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