dougs digs

Here’s to those who observe strict cocktail hours, from 5 p.m. sharp until last call. Thank you, Happy Hour heroes.

The rest of us owe these marathon binge drinkers a great debt of gratitude. Sustaining themselves on nothing but tortilla chips and buffet chicken wings, these Friday Night knights in coats of sport have the courage to begin their evenings hours earlier than those who feel it necessary to go home after work and change, nap or shower.

Thanks to those who turn a few beers after work into a Grey Goose-fueled blackout, Happy Hour heroes test their limits every weekend. The rest of us should be ashamed to be content with simply "going out", as opposed to the biological feats these hardened heroes pull off week in and week out.

entire article . . .

The connectedness of humanity is an amazing thing.

For years, since the actions that followed 9/11 specifically, I have been in a fluxuating state of anger and embarrassment. Especially as a Christian, secondly as an American.

Along with the bleeding ears of my wife from my seemingly endless tirades, blogging has been very cathartic. In addition, the insights (via blogs) from others within the global community in which I operate have been incredibly helpful as well. I have come across many who share my anger and embarrassments concerning our current sociopolitical climate as it relates (or doesn't relate!) to truly following Christ and can articulate my thoughts and feelings better than I can.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Everything they do is done for men to see . . .

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

Just as the people of London stood with America after 9/11, the people of America – and the entire world – stand with London today. By most recent estimates, the attacks yesterday on three trains and a double-decker bus "left at least 50 dead and 700 people wounded." The atrocity reaffirmed the world's resolve to defeat international terrorism. America's commitment to defeating terrorists has led many to ask a legitimate question: are our policies making us safer?

links :

• Center for American Progress
• Strategic Forecasting, Inc. (STRATFOR)
• Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania Political Fact Check