Miller Time!

Ann Miller of course.

So Glad to Be Home!

Great song, so so video.

Class Reunion- personal stuff

I went to my high school class's 30th year reunion this weekend. I am never repeating that again. I'll consider go to a college reunion. And we spent the weekend with my brother, sister in law and our two nieces which was nice.

On a lighter side, I have a spiffy new office chair and 12 pounds of Carolina Gold Rice!

After Jake, Expanded

As noted in a prior post, some of the commenters from 'Father Jake Stops the World' have decided to carry on.

I wish them well. The prior website had several things going for it. The first was Terry Martin's passion, which was very much a two edged sword. But it meant that persons of similar inclinations could respect him and feel comfortable reading his blog.

Another was that he had a ground level view (that of parish priest) of what was going on. That coupled with his passion meant that he didn't pull many punches. Which, of course, resulted in some lively reading.

Lastly, because of the first two, he built an online community of like minded persons.

I don't know if the new blog will be successful (I hope it will), but it will be interesting to see what elements from the old site carry over and what new elements get introduced.

Friday pop

4 +3h b1$h0p$

Because They Grew Lonely

Some of the more frequent commenters at Father Jake's place have started their own blog. It will be interesting to see how that develops.

For all my Gamer Buds

Why am I not surprised that wives are level 70?

Probably NSFW.

Lambeth Reflections- Or Matthew Gets Really Cynical

The final Lambeth communique has been sent.

Let's see. The preselected Indaba groups meet and choose a spokesbishop. This spokesbishop forms with other spokesbishop a mini synod (minisynod). This minisynod will hold four open venting sessions. The rest of its sessions are therefore presumably closed. The minisynod will compose a 'reflections document' to capture the mind of the Lambeth bishops. This document will circulate through the conference by means of the indaba groups. All bishops get to speak, but only the minisynod decides, and only the minisynod has editing privileges.

If the groups are selected honestly and the listening process is genuinely responsive, it could work a treat. But the choke point is the minisynod. If the indaba groups which choose the spokesbishops are gerrymandered, then the process will be corrupt.

Who selects the indaba groups and what are the real criteria? Will the group memberships be published?

The advantage of a parliamentary system is that everything is out in the open. With the new process, there are certain critical chokepoints for information flow and decision making. I realize my opinion matters not at all to those organising the conference, but I have no trust in their good will.


Addendum: Perpetua reminded me that I had a prior post on gerrymandering.

My Little Weakness

I placed another book order with Amazon early this morning. I ordered "The Religion of Money: Dialogues in Economic Controversy", just because it looked interesting. I had to get the "Legend of Colton H Bryant" because it is by one of the best of the current crop of writers, Alexandra Fuller. And "Decline and Fall: Europe's Slow Motion Suicide" and "Cry Wolf: A Political Fable" were just calling to me.

But I'm not an addict. I can quit at anytime.....

A Very Warm Welcome to Church Hell

For all of my Church of England brethren, welcome to the Episcopal Church (or Anglican Church of Canada if you prefer). You currently have a leader of Griswoldian proportions, right down to his surface High-Churchiness. What’s coming next is your very own Katherine Jefferts Schori or Fred Hiltz.

The progression is probable, but not inevitable. So there is still time to decide what to do.

But the main thing to be wary of is bishops who flaunt orthodox credentials. Far too many Canadian and American bishops found that when the rubber hit the road, they preferred being a bishop to serving Christ. There’s an exquisite sense of betrayal when you are a member of a diocese that has chosen heresy over schism.

In evaluating bishops, I have found it useful to ask the question “What would Athanasius do?” I commend that to you.

Just do not expect charity. Learn from our mistakes.

From a comment I made over at StandFirm.

Steamy Fun

Our marriage is a mixed marriage and as such has tension from time to time. Sally is a potato girl and will not eat rice. I will eat potatoes but I dearly love rice. So whenever I eat apart from my wife I take advantage of the situation and cook the foods she won't eat.

One of the pots I insisted I keep when we married was a rice steamer. It died two years into our marriage and I had to scramble to replace it. Most people think of electric contraptions when you mention 'rice steamer'. What I have and had was more typically termed a Charleston rice steamer. It looks an awful lot like a double boiler. What it is, is an absolutely idiot proof method of cooking rice. It's nigh impossible to overcook rice in a Charleston rice steamer. The only peril is if the water in the bottom boils away (which is how mine died).

Ever since law school (20+ years ago), I've been making a variation on Jambalaya in my steamer. I made it again today for lunch, in fact. It uses one pot, which is key for me as I'm the one who does the dishes around here.

Steamy Legal Jumble

1. Boil the water in the bottom of the steamer. Salt this water (a pinch will do)
2. Cut the protein into tasty bite sized chunks. The protein can be any mixture of eggplant, shrimp, sausage, cooked chicken, really any meat or meat substitute that remains coherent. I prefer seafood or sausage as that keeps the pans down to a minimum.
3. Once the water is boiling add 1/2 cup rice + 1/2 cup stock for each person to the steam basket (the top bit).
4. Into the same basket add the protein, chopped celery, onion and bell pepper to taste, chopped garlic, and whatever herbs and peppers you think enhance flavour. If I'm cooking seafood, I usually add a pinch of Bay's for example. Go crazy with herbs! Okra is primo in this.
5. Put the basket on top of the pot of boiling water. Cover.
6. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Set a timer for 30 minutes or more.
7. Walk away and neglect the pot until the timer goes off.
8. Serve and enjoy!

Gourmet cuisine it ain't. And it isn't authentic creole either (they don't seem to use rice steamers). But it is really good one pot cooking.

Today's ingredients were:

Two thin sausages (bought on sale), 2/3 cups rice (I really like rice), 2/3's cup beef stock, remnants of an onion (chopped), 1 small bell pepper, 1 stalk celery (all we had), pepper, scant pinch of salt, basil and herbs fine.

I'm absolutely positive my sister has a variation on this with a better name that is tastier besides.


Addendum: One of the criticisms of Charleston rice steamers is that the rice in the top dries out and is therefore hard to clean. There is a trick to that. About fifteen minutes before you're about to do the dishes, return the bottom portion to a simmer. Put the empty or partially empty top part back on. When you are ready to wash up, scoop at all remaining food in the top and save for leftovers in a microwave safe dish. Place the top part in the sink. Put some dish soap in it. Empty the water from the bottom part into the top part. Let it soak for a bit. It should now clean up a treat.

Raise that Blood Pressure

Mudville Gazette has a lengthy post on Col. Bud Day and why what he says is important.

For When I Feel Blue

Two terrific websites. First, this is truly cute overload. And this one is only for dire emergencies. We started with two, we added one, one died and then we added two more. So I try not to visit it unless I'm really down in the dumps.

Reason #122

Why I am glad not to be a Vegetarian/Jewish/Muslim/Thin. Yes I know I'm probably dying young. But they will have to pry these from my cold, dead, greasy fingers.

Our house smells absolutely delicious right now.

Acting According To Nature

"But let me introduce to you a new friend of mine, the Hungry Tiger."

"Oh! Are you hungry ?' she asked, turning to the other beast, who was just then yawning so widely that he displayed two rows of terrible teeth and
a mouth big enough to startle anyone.

"Dreadfully hungry," answered the Tiger, snapping his jaws together with a fierce click.

"Then why don't you eat something?" she asked.

"It's no use," said the Tiger sadly. "I've tried that, but I always get hungry again."

"Why, it is the same with me," said Dorothy. "Yet I keep on eating."

"But you eat harmless things, so it doesn't matter," replied the Tiger. " For my part, I'm a savage beast, and have an appetite for all sorts of poor
little living creatures, from a chipmonk to fat babies,

"How dreadful!" said Dorothy.

"Isn't it, though?" returned the Hungry Tiger, licking his lips with his long red tongue. " Fat babies! Don't they sound delicious? But I've
never eaten any, because my conscience tells me it is wrong. If I had no conscience I would probably
eat the babies and then get hungry again, which would mean that I had sacrificed the poor babies
for nothing. No; hungry I was born, and hungry I shall die. But I'll not have any cruel deeds on my
conscience to be sorry for."

"I think you are a very good tiger," said Dorothy, patting the huge head of the beast.

"In that you are mistaken," was the reply. "I am a good beast, perhaps, but a disgracefully bad
tiger. For it is the nature of tigers to be cruel and ferocious, and in refusing to eat harmless living
creatures I am acting as no good tiger has ever before acted. That is why I left the forest and joined
my friend the Cowardly Lion."

From "Ozma of Oz" by L Frank Baum

xxxxx

Is Anybody There? - 1776

In honour of the day.

To get really political and alienate everyone, the question the song poses is still valid. We talk about being free and we mostly are, but very few of us are committed to maintaining and defending that freedom. All too many of my fellow citizens are perfectly willing to sell their freedom for the chimera of security.

The lack of outrage over the Human Rights Tribunals in Canada has been disheartening. The news from England is even more depressing. That's not to say there isn't hope. Even as the ACLU has abandoned its core commitments to the Bill of Rights in favour of a leftie agenda, the Internet has provided an extremely valuable tool for organizing freedom lovers from all nations in ad hoc, issue by issue groups. Youtube has proven a huge asset in shining the light of publicity on authoritarian asshats all over the globe.

The last 232 years have been a pretty good run for our country. I hope and pray that our commitment to remaining free does not flag. With some luck, the world may grow more free rather than less. We certainly can try to make it so.

My Grandmother

In a moment of tremendous serendipity I came across this post (scroll down to the bottom) about my grandmother. The Bull family reunion was this past weekend, so the timing was absolutely perfect. I do not know how good a man and how good a Christian I am, but I do know that part of whatever good there is, I owe to my grandmother.

I've Always Liked 'Em

It appears that men probably ought to eat watermelons.

Reflections on New Jersey

I am ambivalent about New Jersey. As a state, it has been responsible for some of the more odious people in our country's history. Not necessarily the most evil, but the most odious. From its insanely corrupt political scene, including the entirety of its supreme court, to the accents to the post-industrial blight to the drama queenitude of its bloggers, New Jersey has long been the "Me First State". On the other hand, I rather enjoyed living there. It can be surprisingly beautiful (the Great Swamp is especially nice). Three of my best friends live there. A truly wonderful mystery series is set there. And it is responsible for one of my favourite quotes.

So what about New Jersey that makes it 66% evil and nasty and 34% delightful?

Doing it on the Downlow

The rumour is that the bishop of San Diego has authorized same sex blessings, but wants them to be done quietly and discretely.

I do not know if that is true. If it is, I would not be surprised and if it isn't I would be. Which is the point of this post. Too much of our church's policy and discipline has been handled in quiet. Too much of our theology has been two-faced. When Bishop J Jon Bruno boldly proclaims that same sex marriage does not happen in his diocese and at the same time pictures are posted from such a coupling, then things have clearly gone too far.

The goal of most bishops in the Episcopal Church is apparently to maintain plausible deniability as to what is going on while at the same time allowing priests to regularly violate the canons (try googling 'open communion' and 'episcopal church'). I'm all for scandal avoidance. The Episcopal treasurer embezzlement scandal was mortifying. The point is that while hypocrisy is comfortable in the short term, in the long term it bites you on the arse.

Once a bishop, or anyone, acquires a reputation for double dealing, trimming, sophistry or pharisaism then his authority as a bishop is shot. Bishops have no tools to compel obedience other than those available to any employer. Whether they want to acknowledge it or not, part of the underlying problem with the Episcopal Church has been the almost universal loss of credibility by our hierarchy. And that is not a new thing, it has been coming on ever since the Bishops took the safe choice in dealing with Bishop Pike.

The big question is whether they as a group possess the will to regain credibility. I truly wish I could believe that they do.



Disclaimer: I graduated from the same college (University of the South) as Bishop and Mrs Mathes. I knew them both well. We were in the same graduating class (1982). I am from the same town as Mrs. Mathes.

Georgia Politics Gets Jiggy

I have to give Otis Marks II the nod here, because he "is the man with the people in his plan."

It's Like Going Back Twenty Years

There's a news article in the London Times that states (factually) that overcrowding in Scottish prisons is quite high (although it does not state capacity). What is eye opening is that the article then goes on to make the point that to reduce over crowding in the aforementioned Scottish prisons, the Government will have to start releasing prisoners early, imprisoning miscreants less and limit judicial sentencing discretion.

The authorities traveled to Finland and Ireland to study alternatives to prison. They also say they went to New York to study what the Yanks have been up to. They apparently did not pay attention to what the NY Correctional people told them.

Here's a tip. It's free, but true nonetheless. If you increase prison capacity and then incarcerate miscreants for the term of their sentences, and start imposing recidivism penalties as well, crime drops dramatically. Whatever the cost of imprisonment, having criminals loose in society committing crimes costs a great deal more.

The frugal thing to do is to build more prisons. That is the only way you have a chance of protecting your citizenry from theft and violence.

Nothing Like A Dame

For my wife.

Church Statistics

Well, we wanted a broad church, now we have and are getting a broad church.




My irreverent take on the Pew survey.

Meta point on Heller

Two things that struck when I was re-reading the Supreme Court's opinion in Heller vs District of Columbia. First, All nine justices believe the right to bear arms is an individual right. Glen Reynolds noticed the same thing. Second, the majority held that the right to self defense must be effective and that it is a natural right that precedes and is made explicit by the Second Amendment.

Do any other countries recognize the right of their citizens to exist? I know the UK does not, but does anyone else?

Competition

I promise I'll return to teh subject of 'fake charity' but for now I'd like to write about competition.

Suppose there was a chain of coffee shops that catered to the upscale caffeinated beverage drinker. Let's call it "Tasty Elegant Coffee". Initially it was extremely successful, opening up coffee boutiques in every state, with multiple shoppes in major metropolitan areas. As is common with franchises, it sold territorial licenses to various entrepreneurs, promising them exclusivity as to territory. As part of the franchise agreement, the owners were required to purchase supplies from company headquarters.

Over time, the corporate management at Tasty Elegant Coffee grew worried that their customer base was demographically unbalanced. Their customers were older, whiter and wealthier than America as a whole, so they commissioned some market surveys as to what Americans said they wanted in coffee. Corporate management found out that most of their potential customer base preferred a weaker, less bitter flavour of coffee, more lukewarm and less scalding than what had been previously offered. They were also put off by the simple elegance of the Tasty Elegant Boutiques and the time required by the personal service offered at the shoppes. Price was also considered to be an issue.

Directives fluttered down from headquarters. The coffee blend was altered from all arabica to a robusta and arabica mix. It was given a vanilla flavour. The coffee was made weaker, held for longer and was kept cooler. Many boutiques had their furniture removed. No longer were patrons encouraged to sit and read. Incandescent lights were replaced by fluorescents. The air conditioning was eliminated.

Some franchisees sold their franchises. Others introduced elements from other franchise chains, adding menu item,s such as slushies and hot dogs. Still others struck out on their own, offering their interpretation of what a coffee shoppe ought to be.

Recently the headquarters, refusing to see that the customer base was still continuing to leave, has taken to suing its franchisees who have rebranded but remained where the old shoppes were.

Even more recently, some franchisees have hooked up with some international coffee shoppe owners and formed a new coffee shop chain, Classic Coffee and Pastries. They promise to use all arabica beans, keep the coffee fresh and full strength.

Tasty Elegant Coffee has reacted by decrying Classic Coffee and Pastries' actions as parasitic, asserting that there is only room in the North American market for one coffee chain and that even if they are not serving coffee any more, strictly speaking, nonetheless coffee remains as part of the name of each shoppe and therefore its prior territorial claim must be respected.

Two large global chains, Roy's Coffee Club and The Other Coffee have expressed some interest in cross training with the new entity.

That's where the story ends for now. I do not know about anyone else, but people get really silly about business matters and territoriality. Fair play and equity seem to go right out the window.


{Here is what germinated the little story above}

My Dangerous Affair With Speed

The new season of Top Gear has started up. And joy of joy, the first episode is on Youtube.

Oh and the family reunion/beach trip was lovely. My goodness a lot happened whilst I was enjoying the simple life.

Beach Reading

I'm heading off to the beach for a family reunion in just a couple of hours. If anyone is curious just what I might be reading during those idle moments, the answer is the Supreme Court opinion in District of Columbia vs. Heller, which has just been decided (affirmed, 5-4, if anyone is curious).

Addendum: Premature posting can be awfully embarrassing. For now, I'll just link to this guy's humiliation. If I have some bad fish or the trip home goes badly on Sunday, I may get sarcastic or something.

Cockroaches scurry away in the light

{from EUreferendum via Samizdata}

And no, I'm not picking on the Europeans here. Our home grown politicos have similar vices. The problem is pretty much universal, alas. This video is just very funny. I nearly busted a rib when the lady from the green party scurried back and forth.

Fake Charity

When we give money to charity we feel better. Likewise when we work to help others. In fact there's a song from a recent hit on Broadway exactly on point. None of this should be news to anyone.

What about scams? While the good feeling when we help out a fraud is real, it rapidly turns to hurt, anger and betrayal when the fraud is discovered. The problem with charitable frauds is that the people running them are dishonest. While that may also seem obvious, the point is that a large percentage of the adult population is reasonably skilled at spotting scammers and con artists, which means that the fake charity has a limited pool of targets.

There is another sort of charity out there though. If you give money to Lutheran World Relief or World Vision, a high percentage of your money gets to worthy recipients. There are a variety of charity ratings websites out there to help you sift the scammers from the well-intentioned.

There is a problem with the ratings system, however. All they do is check to see how much of the money raised is spent on the charity's purposes. To understand why this might be a problem, think about your position on abortion. It doesn't matter for purposes of this thought experiment whuich side you are on. If you look at the ratings lists you will see very highly rated charities that are pro-life or pro-choice. They all have low overhead and fund raising costs, which makes them worthy charities in terms of the ratings. But that doesn't change the fact that they may be spending your money on something with which you are opposed.

Which brings me to my point. I ran across a charitable organization in my internet wanderings earlier, Bread for the World. They are fairly highly rated by the various ratings organizations. Their volunteers are passionate and committed. Their main focus is on hunger. It's rather difficult to knock fighting hunger, so that sounds like a good cause.

How, though, do they fight hunger? The answer in one word is lobbying. As near as I can tell, none of the money donated to Bread for the World actually feeds anyone who is hungry, unless our elected officials count as being hungry when they get peckish after a long committee meeting.

They don't hide their focus on the website, but they don't call attention to it either. The graphics show very cute children smiling. What possible connection those children have to anything Bread for the World does is not clear. Perhaps they are the children of the staffers?

I have no doubt that the people involved with Bread for the World are sincere. Many of them probably donate time and money to actual efforts to feed the poor. But it's hard to see what actual good the organization accomplishes. The U S government has spent and continues to spend enormous sums on world aid, some of which goes for food. More to the point, there are some highly effective charities out there, Oxfam, Worldvision, and the Salvation Army all come to mind, that really and truly do help the poor worldwide. They also speak to politicians from time to time as well, but they do not consider that to be their main focus.

If you want to help the world, please do so. There are many, many people that deserve and need your help. But is the charity of your choice really and sincerely helping others directly or just really sincere? There aren't any starving political operatives, printers, mass mailing specialists, lecturers, fundraisers and lobbyists in these parts, and at the risk of appearing cold blooded, maybe there ought to be.

Denmark is Close to Finland, Right?

It's not as awesome as Gunther is, but I think it's special in it's own right.

1 Picture = 1,000 Words (Irony Dept)

Reflection on GAFCON

The Global Anglican Future Conference is going on in Jerusalem. Many people, most of whom are smarter and better educated than I am, have commented at great length about it.

The question I keep asking myself about the future of my church is "What would Athanasius do?" The problem is that his situation was not exactly on all fours with ours. On a related topic, Deacon Phil asks the valuable question of "who are the schismatics?"

At this point, I really wish there was a handy desert nearby to which I could retire for some meditation. As it is, a long car drive will have to substitute for an anchorite pillar.

For My Good Friend In Austin Texas

{I blame Prudence Ponder for this, but I found it over at The Hostages}

Jerusalem

May what is being done in Jerusalem this week make the words of this lovely poem and song a reality.

Ice Cream

Of all ice cream everywhere my favourite has been and probably forever will be home made amaretto ice cream. In all due modesty, I make a mean frozen dairy treat. However, of the commercially available flavours, the gold star goes out to Greenwood Dairy's Bourbon Butter Pecan. (The more astute or inebriated of my readers may be sensing a theme here). However, I've had to lay off Greenwood's finest because it's only available in 2 and 1/2 gallon containers.

Recently, the local grocery store has been having Haagen Dazs more or less permanently on sale. And I've been feeling adventurous. We just had their Caramelized Pear and Toasted Pecan ice cream and it was just lovely. Reasonably rich, refreshing, lots of pear flavour and the crunch of the pecans makes for a nice contrast. I think we'll be having that again.

For Bishop Robert O'Neill, Wherever He May Be

Song for the Day

Desmond Dekker- The Israelites

It actually charted number nine on this day in 1969 as well as seewming appropriate for other reasons

Double Snub

Even after all the analysis, musical theatre, low humour and snarky commentary about Piskie madness, I didn't get invited to GAFCON. To be overlooked in that manner was manageable on my part because I reckoned they didn't want someone of my wild-eyed (verbal) bomb throwing propensities.

Today the list of people who are banned from GAFCON was posted. And I am not on it!

Those farging bastages! Those iceholes!

All that is left to do is weep tears of bitter despair and re-read "Whose Body".

A Painful Conclusion

Hills of the North hits the nail on the head. Someday I'll be that perceptive

Why I Like Baseball

Switch hitter meets switch pitcher in the minor leagues.

Friday Books

Last night we received two, count 'em two large packages from Amazon.com. Sally had two books and I had five.

I have looked at all five of mine and have read cover to cover one so far.

First was The River Cottage Meat Book. This is a large, heavy book that is part rant about where meat comes from, treatise on the types and varieties of meat and a cookbook. The author's style is readable and the photos that accompany it are excellent. But boy is this book heavy. Looks like I'll be learning some new tricks to try out on my wife!

Second was The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook. This is a straight off cookbook with little essays interspersed between the recipes. While the authors' style is easy, it isn't as informative a book as the meat book. I do trust their opionons however, because of one tidbit I read. The two authors' favourite restaurant in or near Charleston is The Wreck, which Sally and I have been to, on my sister's recommendation. So while I'm not convinced I got my money's worth with this book, I think the material contained therein is sound.

Third is The Isle of Stone: A Novel of Ancient Sparta.I just started this novel and am on page three, I think. Lately I have been on a classical kick and have been consuming historical fiction like popcorn. I think my mistake was rereading Colleen McCullough's excellent series. At any rate, I'm looking forward to seeing what Mr Nicastro has to say about the siege of Sphacteria and the consequent destruction of Spartan morale at home and prestige abroad. Also, it's pretty neat to see how someone is going to portray Spartan domestic life. The Spartan culture was about as alien as it possible to be to modern Western culture. He started the book with an earthquake, so it very much begins with a bang!

Fourth, is the book I finished: Genghis: Birth of an Empire. This is by one of the co-authors of the Dangerous Book For Boys. Which of course is an excellent book for boys of all ages. Genghis is about the Mongol of the same name. While I doubt it will win the Pulitzer or the Nobel, it is a well written page-turning, oh my gosh look at the time kind of book. It ends right when Genghis about to unite all of the Mongols. The next book is already out in hardcover, but will not be out in paper for another year. I may have to break down and buy the hardcover. In my opinion, Conn Igguldsen rivals C S Forester in writing action-adventure books.

Last is a book I am reading slowly: Surprised by Christ: My Journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity. Alice Linsley had mentioned it on her blog. I've read two chapters, but this is the intertwining of the authors autobiography, with facts, dates, names and pictures with his spiritual autobiography. It is scholarly, spiritual and personal, so I think it will deserve some paced reading and reflection on my part. The first two chapters were excellent.

More Harassment By The Mainstream Media

Why won't they just leave +Gene Robinson alone! All he wants to be is a simple, country bishop.

{H/T to Louie Crew for the pointer to the article. H/T to Greg Griffith for the pic}
{and how weird is it to see the two names above on the same line?}

Karl Rove is a Smart Man

In a guest column in today's Wall Street Journal, Karl Rove points out the economic ignorance of both candidates. He is a very clever man. Just once, I'd like to hear an economic proposal from a candidate that wasn't fundamentally flawed.

And it is not alright if they do not actually intend to implement the stupid proposal. If that is the case then the candidate is pandering to the idiots among us, which is a bad idea. And is lying to all of us. I know I am an idealist, but I would rather not have to decide between candidates on the basis of which one is the better and more skilled liar.

A Legend Passes- RIP Cyd Charisse

She was the first woman I ever had a crush on. She had some of the most memorable dance sequences in movies of any dancer. She was 86.

Here is a lesser known one from Silk Stockings:

The Love Song of the Rev Dr Martin Dudley

I know the video is from the 90's, but it does have a 70's feel to it. George Benson recorded it first, in the late 70's.

Civilized Entertainment

Sally and I do not watch much television together. She is a tv buff, and I am more of a reader/Internet junkie. But almost every evening we watch, together, a television show we record off of the Game Show Network at some unholy hour of the morning. Like all game shows, it is total fluff. But "What's My Line' was civilized fluff. Nothing off-colour is said, the people on it, especially the panel, are pleasant, courteous and kind. After the first couple of seasons, the panel would dress up for the show, wearing evening clothes. And for all of that, it is fun.

Here is a taste of what I was discussing above. Steve Allen has just been married to Jayne Meadows. And guess who is the celebrity mystery guest?

Gang tied to Episcopal Church

The New York Daily News reports that an Episcopal priest has been 'blessing' the children of members of the Latin Kings gang.

The money quote:

One son was blessed at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Morningside Heights four years ago during a quasi-religious ceremony. "It's like a christening," he said. "The priest holds the baby and we say our prayer at the same time. We have to have the window open and the baby pointed toward the sun."

The priest has been relieved of his position, but is apparently unrepentant. I've put his resume in the comments (I can not seem to be able to link to it in a reproducible way).

I have nothing to add. I'm gobsmacked.

A Sordid Affair

The trial of Charles Bennison, bishop of Pennsylvania is over. The judges have retired to their homes and a verdict should come down sometime in July, we are told. The smart money is on the bishop being deposed.

I've been thinking about the trial. I haven't posted much about it other than the usual snarky comments, but over at Chris Johnson's blog Perpetua asked why a trial? Here are my thoughts.

If they depose Chuck, then when they go after +Duncan they will have accomplished much to set the stage.

First, as we all know depositions of bishop by trial have been rare. So to go after +Duncan after this sordid affair means that they can spin it to the press and the pew potatoes as going after another 'bad egg' and that all they are doing is 'cleaning house'

Second, and most of y'all will disagree with me on this, but Chuck's role in all this was over thirty years ago. John is the true culprit here. But they are attacking Chuck with John's evil. On first blush, it shouldn't be necessary. Chuck has run a diocese into the ground, whether through active fraud or gross negligence, it really doesn't matter. Pennsylvania is missing a whole bunch of dough that they had before Chuck became bishop. Losing money is just about the only sin the Episcopal Church recognizes anymore, but it isn't sensational, and it won't get folks energized. So, they stress the sex and hope to impugn subsequent defendants with the same sort of depravity. It's guilt by association.

Third, no one really likes Charles Bennison. He was rector here in Atlanta and his legacy was division. I doubt he has changed since. He also has a reputation as a loose cannon. With a much more important trial looming, a loose canon (mispelling intentional) is the last thing the party faithful want. Going after Chuck really won't hurt 815's voting strength.

Fourth, it sends a message to any waverers. Fall into line or we will go as far back as we have to and dig up the dirt against you. We will hold you culpable for any wrongs you may have committed, no matter how ancient.

The main point is number one. We convicted a sleazoid. He was the first bishop convicted of anything for quite a while. Therefore anyone who gets convicted is obviously a sleazoid.

The problem is that all the evidence weighs against John. Chuck behaved as an ambitious priest would. He is slimy, but I don't think that what he did, given when it happened, amounts to anything he ought to be deposed for. Because of all things he is accused of, which of them occurred when he was bishop?

If we are to hold men accountable for the entirety of their lives, what should we make of St. Augustine? He was largely blameless as a bishop, but was not before he became one. For the record, I do not believe that Charles Bennison is fit to tie the shoes of St. Augustine, but what specifically did he do as a bishop to deserve this? And of those acts, what evidence of the same was presented at trial?

And finally, isn't it convenient that all of the hierarchy involved, with the exception of Charles Bennison, are dead or retired?

Dear Mr. Siddiqui

The more I read Kathy Shaidle, the more I appreciate her.

Harry Enfield

He's faded off the scene a bit, but in his prime, Harry Enfield was without peer.

Unfortunately, heeding this video wouldn't have done Britain any good. The Conservatives are just as bad in expanding authoritarianism.

But we can all learn something from this one.

Freedom vs Security

Read this editorial. Reflect upon it. Then understand that if you favour any of the changes made in Britain mentioned in it, you and I are enemies. Further, if these are the sorts of things that you favour, you are what Aristotle described when he said some men are born to be slaves.

You would have been thought mad 20 years ago to have predicted that it would be a crime for people to smoke on an open-air railway station in the middle of the countryside, smack their children on the leg, hunt foxes, own a donkey without possessing ID for the animal, recite a poem without a licence, possess a.22 calibre air pistol for sporting purposes, engage in teenage canoodling, or set off a firework after 11pm.

and

Twenty years ago you would also have been regarded as barmy if you had said innocent people would have their DNA held on a database for criminals; or that there would be one CCTV camera for every 14 people; or that children would be fingerprinted and their records held, as though they were all potential victims of abuse; or that it would be unlawful to stage a silent, one-person protest within one kilometre of the Palace of Westminster without permission from the police; or that trials would be held without juries; or that microchips would be placed in our dustbins; or that there would be 266 separate provisions granting power to enter homes without permission, a symptom of the expanding role of the state in the lives of citizens.

If you wish to be secure, to lock your timid self into a police state, feel free. Start a subdivision where surveillance is omnipresent. Have security guards that you and your spineless neighbours pay for patrol the streets. Fingerprint and record the DNA of your hapless offspring.

Just do not try to take me with you. Unlike you, I value my freedom more than my life. I will use every legal means I know, and I know how to play politics, to fight you to the bitter end. And ask yourself, if you have any imagination at all, is a life like that ever worth living? Is the relentless pursuit of safety an activity worth doing?

For further reading, check out this.

Parting epigram: "In a world of wolves and sheep, I would rather live as a man."

Friday Inspiration

The Rev James Bernstein discusses his remarkable spiritual journey from orthodox Judaism to Orthodox Christianity. This is a wonderful talk. It's part of podcast. The first part discusses the ecumenical relations between Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Anglicanism. As an Episcopalian, I was confronted by how deeply we have severed our relations with the other two churches.

{H/T Alice Linsley}

Wine Tasting

I had no idea it could be so exciting.

More About Freedom

While I've been ranting more or less incoherently about freedom and the loss thereof (Canada, I'm still lookin' at you!), RobertaX wrote an excellent post on the self same subject and why she blogs. Check it out.

Current Broadway Diva- Sutton Foster

She really is a triple threat.

Politician Does the Right Thing

The British Parliament recently emasculated the right of a prisoner to habeas corpus in the name of fighting terrorism. One Conservative MP, who is shadow Minister of Justice, is resigning so that he can run for his seat on the issue of the new law. David Davis appears to be a man of principle. Such men are lacking in every country. We need more of them.

Proposed Revision to Canadian Flag

Our spies in British Columbia have sent us what the BC HRC want the new Canadian flag to look like. I'm sure Mr Warman and Bishop Ingham will both be equally thrilled.







Oh, and if anyone wants to bring me up in front of a Human Rights Commission tribunal, I'm an American and I live, work and blog in America. I'm also an attorney. Bring it on.

Yet more background.

Canadian Theatrics

Iowahawk has discovered a script for a vintage Canadian radio play. Well worth the visit!


For those who wish to know more, here is some background.

The Perils of Bad Latin

100 percent of your daily snark allowance

This poem just makes me happy:

Imagine hopey-changey

it’s easy if you try
The people all around us
Redistribute your pie
Imagine all the hippies
Living off the state

Read the rest of it here.

{H/T Tam}

Buy 'n Bail

Because there just hasn't been enough fraud in the real estate market of late, the Wall Street Journal reports on a growing phenomenon of homeowners buying a second house at today's reduced prices, promising the lender that the loan payments on the second house will be financed from rent on the first house, and then walking away from the first house. Which then gets foreclosed.

If you think qualifying for home loan was difficult before, it's about to get a lot harder.

{H/T Volokh Conspiracy}

Problem meet Solution

The Archbishop of Canterbury apparently has been whining that he is being ignored by those is power, whilst they do pay attention to Muslims.

In a seemingly unrelated news item, the latest synod of the Church of England tabled a proposal to increase evangelism efforts in favour of a motion to increase tourism to religious buildings.

I have heard that the Archbishop of Canterbury is an ivory tower type, so I will break it down for him. Your Prime Minister is a politician. Politicians have a constant need to garner votes, especially in a parliamentary system. British Muslims are a growing group demographically, and they vote as blocs. It is relatively easy to ascertain what they want or need and deliver that to them.

Those who go to the Church of England are a declining group and are not united in very much of anything. They do not vote in blocs. Further, museums do not vote. Only people can do that.

Your old boss, Tony Blair, was a committed Christian. He paid some for that. You had greater access to him and his councils, not because you are wonderful or sage, but because you were the head of his church. The situation has changed. Tony Blair is no longer a Prime Minister or an Anglican. The new guy, Gordon Brown, needs votes. From all accounts he is rather desperate.

I have no solution to your political problems in the short term. For the long term, it occurs to me that if there were some way forthe institution you lead to regain focus and increase your numbers, then the Prime Minister might very well start returning your telephone calls again.

I'm a lawyer not a theologian but it occurs to me that there is a word that describes how a Christian group can embiggen itself by recruiting.

What's that word? Oh yes.... evangelism.

Because all the cool kids are doing it

I took the Political Compass Test.





Tip of the old fedora to Brad Drell and BabyBlue.


Addendum, the Deacon joins the in crowd.

It's kinda scary how we're all actually pretty close together. No real extremists so far.

The Folksmen- Blood on the Coal

Advice for a Young Woman

I've given it many times. Most women refuse to believe me. But I am a man, and I know men. I am right.

{Beginning of helpful advice}

There are strong men. There are sensitive men. In our history as a race, there has been exactly one strong and sensitive man. He was born two thousand years ago.

Your odds of meeting/dating/marrying a man who is both strong and sensitive is exactly nil. You must choose one or the other. You will never have both. You will never be able to remake him. You can not fix any of his imperfections. We come 'as is', in two basic models with no returns, exchanges or rain checks.

{End of helpful advice}

For what it's worth, Sally gets the above, mostly. ;)

Tuesday Clarifier

One of my favourite blogs on the Internet is Fr. Jeffrey Steele's blog: De Cure Animarum. His latest post links to a whole website devoted to Byzantine chant. Check it out! Truly wonderful, moving music.

Museum of Terror

I know it sounds like a Simpsons episode title, but it's a real museum in Budapest. I've always wanted to visit Hungary. One of my favourite books as a teenager was John Michener's nonfiction account of the Hunagrian Uprising in 1956, "The Bridge at Andau".

I doubt that I would enjoy the museum, but if I were to visit Budapest and not see it, I know that I would regret it for the rest of my life.

Computer coolness

IBM has built a computer for the DOE that has broken the petaflop barrier. What really has to be chafing the folks in Redmond is that the Roadrunner computer runs Linux. On Playstation 3 chips. I love technology.

Synchronicity and Grass Roots

The blogosphere has been abuzz with various discussions of fake 'grass roots' anti-firearms organizations for a while. The groups are usually dubbed 'astro-turf' organizations by their detractors. I'd been gestating a post on the subject when I saw an unrelated post over at StandFirm about the Dean of Seabury-Western's latest sermon.

The sermon, which appears on his blog, is on the old idea of 'living for the moment'. Which is generally good advice and is biblical. But the phrasing of his sermon reminded me of the old sixties song "Let's Live For Today" by a band called The Grass Roots. My curiosity piqued, I turned to Wikipedia to learn more about the band. And astonishingly enough, the Grass Roots would have been more accurately called the Astro-Turfs. And it all comes full circle.....

Grown Ups

The Episcopal Church is in many ways stuck at the emotional maturity of a nineteen year old. The Church is about what I want at this instance without any real reference to anyone or anything else.

If I want to have sex with someone else, then that should be okay. If I want to have an abortion, that's fine. And at all costs I must be hip, trendy, fashionable and with it. Even the ongoing litigation can be explained by the teenage maturity model. Think about how adolescents react to rejection.

What makes all very sad is when you realize what the average age of an Episcopalian is.....



The above is a cut 'n paste of my comment over at Innocent as Doves. Anne Coletta is posting an excellent series on why she is no longer an Episcopalian.

It Really Is True

One of the jokes made by reasserters is that conversation in the Episcopal Church is them speaking and us listening. I have thought there was some truth to it, like all humour, but what it really was about was some bitterness and a lot of exhaustion.

Then I came across this essay in the Washington Post. The author is a writer and Episcopal priest, rector of a very large church in New York City. His main point is that it's unfair to criticize Obama's former preacher, the Rev. Wright, because we don't know the context. It's all very relativistic and wrong-headed.

But the headline made my pause for a second: "Preaching is an extended conversation". The Rev. Tully liked that phrase so much he used it again five paragraphs down. Preaching can be a lot of things. It can edifying or harmful, exciting or tedious, provocative or soothing. But what it can not be is conversation. Merriam-Webster defines conversation as the "oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas or an instance of such exchange". Sermons are monologues. Conversations must be at least a dialogue.

Once again, Johnson's third law of Episcopal thermodynamics is proven yet again: "Every joke you make about the Episcopal church eventually becomes true."

Maybe what the Episcopal Church needs more than remedial theological education is remedial English education. Could most of our problems be solved with mandatory vocabulary drills?


{H/T The Reformed Pastor}

Saturday Broadway

I'm not really a fan of Stephen Sondheim. He has written some good stuff (West Side Story and Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), but his later work is very much hit or miss.

This is one of his hits. The singer is Dean Jones of Disney fame. The song is "Being Alive" from Company. I loathe Company. But this performance hits a chord. There are better singers than Dean Jones (although he is a fine singer), but this is my favourite version of this song. He owns it.

Stormy Weather

The one and only Lena Horne from the move of the same name.

Thursday Bracer

The Fabulously Talented Nicholas Brothers

And that Cab Calloway isn't bad either.........

Stress

Office Worker Goes Absolutely Insane - Watch more free videos

Folks seem divided as whether this is real or a fake. The lack of cords on the monitors does seem to indicate fakery, but on the other hand, it looks awfully real.

{H/T The Lobster Pot}

Irony, defined

Check out this news story.

{H/T Instapundit}

Story of a foreclosure

I know I am probably a broken record on the subject, but I thought discussing an actual foreclosure might be of some use.

It took me a while to come up with a foreclosed property that I could discuss. Apparently my firm is a bit more successful than I had realized in the REO market. Anyhow, the following property is one with which I have had absolutely no involvement. All the information I have is derived from public records.

Some background information: The property is a house and lot located in south Fulton County. Fulton County is the largest county in Georgia, both in size and population. Atlanta proper is located mostly in central Fulton County. North Fulton County is largely middle class to upper middle class suburbia. Many athletes and CEO's live in north Fulton County. South Fulton County was, until very recently, a backwater. There are actually still some working farms in south Fulton. Within the past five or so years, there has been a boom in affordable starter type housing construction in south Fulton.

Our purchaser, Mr Kelly, bought the property back in October of 2004 from a builder. He paid $167,000 for it. The property was a new house located in a brand new subdivision. To finance his purchase, he borrowed $127,500 on a first loan with an adjustable interest rate and $25,000 on a second with a fifteen year balloon payment. That means he was to pay interest only for fifteen years and the entire amount of the loan would be due at the end of the term. The interest rate on the first started at 5.125% and could potentially increase by one per centum every six months. Mr Kelly did not have to make any principle payments on his first note until 2014.

Since 2004, Mr Kelly accumulated a total of eight starter type houses, all in south Fulton. He, however, lives in New York City. Late last year his properties started to be foreclosed upon. So far, he has lost six of his eight properties. Our property was foreclosed on April 1, 2008. The lender on the first note bought it back in at auction for $140,000. The lender on the second note was cut off and lost everything.

For those who have difficulty following the math, Mr Kelly bought the property for $167,000. He financed $152,500 of his purchase, meaning he actually paid (cash) $14,500. This is not a happy story. A man bought a house, probably for speculative purposes, couldn't sell it and wound up losing his investment. A lender lent him money on a second and lost all of their money as well. The lender on the first note now has a house and lot that it likely will not be able to sell for anything close to what was lent on it any time soon.

It is a sad situation. My point is that, while it is typical, it bears little to no resemblance to the situation being presented in the media. To the best of my knowledge, Mr Kelly is not homeless. He actually had a decent interest rate on his first note. His credit rating is likely in tatters, but that is not the end of the world. And he still has two houses left.

Finally, I could find none of the indicia of bad faith anywhere. There were no gouging interest rates, no weird financing, fly by night lenders, powers of attorney to strangers, flip sales or stray documents.

The sub prime lending market makes a great story and sub prime lenders make great culprits, but, at least here in Georgia, what's driving the foreclosures is that the former owners bought investment property at the peak of the real estate cycle. Builders over built houses compared to demand. And lenders got over-excited about generating commissions for making loans. Housing prices are getting rational again and those who bought high are getting squeezed.

There is no solution needed. This is a self-correcting problem. In a few years, housing will exceed the stocks in demand and prices will rise again. No one need do anything at all.

Anti-Intellectual

Rick Hills has a provocative piece on why he is not an intellectual.

Arlene Dahl

It's not my favourite Western, but it is a wonderful scene.

Hey Hey! Ho Ho! Deadbeats Have Got To Go!

The first Tuesday of every month is foreclosure day in Georgia. Foreclosure auctions are generally held on the courthouse steps of the county where the property is located.

This morning I was in the Fulton County Courthouse. The Fulton County Courthouse is in downtown Atlanta and is three blocks away from the State Capitol and two blocks from Atlanta City Hall. as is often the case on foreclosure day, a group had decided to add to the press of people and have a little protest.

Marching up and down the street in front of the foreclosures were a total of twelve protesters when I entered the courthouse. Ten of them had very similar signs that read (more or less) "Abolish sub-prime loans. Stop illegal foreclosures." One protester had a sign that said simply "Stop obesity" against the background of a dollar bill. The last had a very verbose sign alleging someone named Angela is a political prisoner in the jail.

When I left the courthouse all twelve were still there. However, they were gathering in a tight group and there was a video crew with a talking head. So if anyone watches the evening news tonight and sees a protest group in Atlanta at the county courthouse, please remember there were only twelve of them.

With any luck they won't be chanting during the shoot. They were singing a hymn when I entered the courthouse and doing an excellent job of it. So you may be able to hear some good singing instead of the usual chanted drivel.

More for myself, than anyone else....

The Impotence of Proof Reading

Theological Music: N'Awlins Style

Clifford over at Red Stick Rant has posted an excellent video which he believes sums up the Episcopal Church's current theology. He may be right.

I prefer to think that this says it all:

The Episcopal Church: Come and Grow!

This article over at StandFirm made me reflect upon my church's former slogan.

The Episcopal Church: Come and Grow!

I've never really been sure what they meant by 'grow'.

It can not be spiritually. As an institution, the Episcopal church is moribund, if not deceased.

It can not be numerically. The membership is shrinking.

The only two possible answers are financially and chronologically.

So.

We have either:

The Episcopal Church: Come and grow (richer) or
The Episcopal Church: Come and grow (older)

The problem with the money option is that the church wants your money. They wish to hold on to their own.

So what is left is:

The Episcopal Church: Come and grow old.

A revisionist confronts Orthodoxy and is unhappy

The following comes from this thread. Starting at #38, Tom Woodward, a priest and one of the leaders at the now-defunct 'Episcopal Majority', pops up. Hilarity ensues. For the record, any post by a smartass calling himself 'mousestalker' is me.
=================================================================

Because I am slow, I just realized why it is revisionist priests and, presumably, bishops have such difficulty at reasserter sites. They are used to being treated with respect because of their office and to be deferred to as having authority.

Unfortunately, at StandFirm it's the American Revolution and they are Crown appointees. Their titles and ranks make them suspect and while they use roughly the same words, the accents and emphases are different, not to mention the goals.

Or to use another analogy: I used to be in a relationship with a drunk. She was sober when we started dating, but she turned to the bottle afterwards. It was a rather difficult time. My wife was in a relationship with an addict. He was clean when she met him, but he resumed his drug use and their relationship foundered. My wife and I share that same history and it's a commonality that has brought us closer as we both learned from the experience. Neither of us have any great desire to repeat our previous relationships.

I think the reasserter websites are healthier than revisionist ones because of the shared experience of pain. We have all been at least singed by bad religion and it has made us demand healthy religion, sound religion, Truth rather than bullshit. Generally, we are all on the same page and can provide support and comfort to one another. And it has made us skeptical of the odd revisionist parson who pops up and expects to be treated with as much deference as in his home parish.

To Tom Woodward and any other revisionist preacher who may come this way. I do not hate you. I am well aware of my sins. But you are not my confessor, spiritual guide or priest. I am not under your authority. And while I will always be civil, I do not trust you, intellectually or spiritually, unless and until you earn that trust.

You're the charming guy who has a flask in his pocket and is slightly slurring his words. And you've just crashed our Al-Anon meeting.

The Importance of Public Morality

Pete Hitchens goes yard. Just read the whole thing. Then take a break and read it again.

The money quote for me is "A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen."

{H/T Kim du Toit}

Class in Embalming

The children of God having left, the remaining Episcopalians in San Joaquin have been asked to help those in other breakaway dioceses remain Episcopalian. I assume that there will be seminars in how to ditch those pesky Standing Committees, how to pry largesse out of 815, how to have some level of input as to who your new bishop will be, basic lawsuit filing, and of course the ever popular labyrinth design workshop.

For a denomination that prides itself on dialog, the Episcopal Church resorts to scorched earth tactics in lieu of negotiation entirely too much. Our leadership not only can no longer use the language of Christianity, it can not act Christ-like either.

I am very much in favour of those who wish to stay Episcopalian staying Episcopalian. I am also in favour of those who wish to leave, being allowed to leave. And I am keenly aware of the fact that there are only a limited number of churches that I have ever contributed money to and that under any sense of fairness I would ever presume to feel that I have some sense of ownership. Anglo-Catholic I may be, but I didn't build those buildings, I didn't work in them, raise children in them or get buried near them. I have no right to have a voice in their disposal.

I wish like heck that those who have no direct interest in the building (I am looking at you Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori) would keep their big fat flapping mouths shut and mind their own business. If you feel you have a steward's obligation towards the properties, then may I ask what efforts you have ever put towards their construction and maintenance? As to the funds you have direct and overt authority over, is handing them to Goodwin-Procter really the highest and best use for them? I assume you learned at your recent poverty summit that there are still poor people in America.

Some factual background information:

The reconstituted Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin consists of six parishes (churches that are self supporting) and ten missions, one of which has its own building.

Diana Rigg as I Will Always Think of Her

More flashbacks to a mis-spent youth.

Cows With Guns

Thursday Morning Renaissance

Chey in my earlier post about Renaissance asked if they had done a song called 'Mother Russia'. They did. The concert Youtube video that is available of it is not the best quality, but here is a recorded version:



(the video is about the last Tsar's family)

If anyone wishes to explore their music more, the "Live at Carnegie Hall" album is perhaps the closest they ever came to a 'greatest hits' album.

Retro Wednesday- Carpet of the Sun

In the seventies, I was probably one of two Renaissance fans in North Carolina. Annie Haslam's voice still gives me chills.

Small Groups and Minority Rule

Let's suppose that you are in charge of organizing a conference of some kind. You know that the attendees you agree with constitute about 400 or so. You know that the attendees you disagree with number around 480. If you allow any sort of mass vote on whatever issue has you divided, then your side will lose.

What you have going for you is that you are in charge of the organizing. Knowing something of the history of post colonial Massachusetts, you arrange for a no-lose situation. You break the 880 total participants into 22 smaller groups of forty each.

Your 400 pals get divided into 16 groups of 25 each. Each of those 16 groups also contain 15 of your opponents. The remaining 6 groups are composed entirely of your opponents. You announce that all work, and therefore decisions, will be made by the groups.

Your side wins all decisions 16 to 6 every time.

In politics that is known as gerrymandering and it has a long and ignoble history.

I wonder if there will be a new name coined for it in the context of Anglican church politics?

Heavy Metal Cello

H/T to Sven

Tuesday Afternoon Hollywood Moment

because I don't post enough Ann-Margret

What Will Happen At Lambeth

There has been some discussion of what the indaba groups are and how they will function. I thought I would give those unfamiliar with them or with facilitated groups in general, some idea of how these thing work.

Truth in Lending

Friday Fun

The Only Celebrity I Know

Poster Child for the Foreclosure Crisis

Laura Richardson (D-Calif.) of Long Beach bought a second house in Sacramento when she was a state representative. Shortly thereafter she ran for Congress and won.

What followed was pretty much inevitable.

I wonder how safe her seat is?

The Very Best Guide to Marriage on TV