"In many ways, he's sent from God because the world's a mess."

Sting identifies Obama as the savior of the world.

The British singer, who released the seasonal album "On A Winter's Night" this week, said he's fascinated by American politics, Obama, and also by Obama's opponents on the right.

"It's aggressive and violent and full of fear," he said of the backlash against Obama. "They don't want change, they want things to feel the same because they feel safe there."

Sting, 58, said he's hopeful that the world's problems can be dealt with, but is frustrated that "we seem to be living in a currency of medieval ideas."

"My hope is that we can start talking about real issues and not caring about whether God cares about your hemline or your color," he said. "We are here to evolve as one family, and we can't be separate anymore."

There's always a bigger fish in the sea

One great white is mauled by another. I guess the moral is this: if you think you're Big and Bad, there's probably somebody Bigger and Badder.

Why you playing with that, Levi?

You read this kind of thing, and you think, What has happened to his life? Is he a pawn? Is someone using him? Can a 19-year-old man think for himself, or is someone doing the thinking for him? Will he regret this ten years from now... five years from now... two seconds after he puts his clothes back on?

Rex Butler, a lawyer for the 19-year-old father of Sarah Palin's grandchild, says it is a "foregone conclusion" Johnston will pose nude for Playgirl and is now getting gym-ready three hours a day, six nights a week, working out with an Anchorage body builder, the Associated Press reports.

How long does it take to be fully and completely "gym-ready?"

Ah, I see I'm not the only one concerned about Mr. Johnston.

Hitch on the lessons of religious debates

Christopher Hitchens writes about what debating Christians in general (and Douglas Wilson in particular) has taught him:

I haven't yet run into an argument that has made me want to change my mind. After all, a believing religious person, however brilliant or however good in debate, is compelled to stick fairly closely to a "script" that is known in advance, and known to me, too. However, I have discovered that the so-called Christian right is much less monolithic, and very much more polite and hospitable, than I would once have thought, or than most liberals believe. I haven't been asked to Bob Jones University yet, but I have been invited to Jerry Falwell's old Liberty University campus in Virginia, even though we haven't yet agreed on the terms.

Wilson isn't one of those evasive Christians who mumble apologetically about how some of the Bible stories are really just "metaphors." He is willing to maintain very staunchly that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and that his sacrifice redeems our state of sin, which in turn is the outcome of our rebellion against God. He doesn't waffle when asked why God allows so much evil and suffering—of course he "allows" it since it is the inescapable state of rebellious sinners. I much prefer this sincerity to the vague and Python-esque witterings of the interfaith and ecumenical groups who barely respect their own traditions and who look upon faith as just another word for community organizing.

You can find information on the DVD Collision here, even if you don't see the point.

Them eyes

It is far better for you to look at them than for them to look at you. (Thanks, Instapundit)

Oh, no! It's THEM!

All Hallow's Eve

A very sensible view of Halloween. Thanks, TMH.

Mental illness, stigma, and Alex Forrest

Glenn Close has a great article for HuffPo on the stigma of mental illness.

Even as the medicine and therapy for mental health disorders have made remarkable progress, the ancient social stigma of psychological illness remains largely intact. Families are loath to talk about it and, in movies and the media, stereotypes about the mentally ill still reign.

Whether it is Norman Bates in Psycho, Jack Torrance in The Shining, or Kathy Bates' portrayal of Annie Wilkes in Misery, scriptwriters invariably tell us that the mentally ill are dangerous threats who must be contained, if not destroyed. It makes for thrilling entertainment.

There are some notable exceptions, of course -- Dustin Hoffman in Rainman, or Russell Crowe's portrayal of John Nash in A Beautiful Mind. But more often than not, the movie or TV version of someone suffering from a mental disorder is a sociopath who must be stopped.

Remember Balloonboy

(HT: BHT)

a balloon and his boy

If you're going to go on national TV and say that what happened wasn't a hox, be sure that everyone's in agreement about that. You could have trouble if they aren't.

Don't judge too quickly

Pastor Piper

Justin Taylor has an excellent little article on John Piper, pastor to Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis.

Could you classify Obama's presidency so far as an "Epic Fail!"?

It sure seems that way. Three of his big ideas - Cash for Clunkers, Chicago 2016, and healthcare - have all been busts. Healthcare is a work in progress, I guess. But he doesn't seem to have increased his support for overhauling the system since he gave his big speech to Congress.

What can Barack fail at next? Stay tuned!

Socialism wins!

In Greece! You know, the country that's, like, the birthplace of philosophy or something. Yeah, that Socrates dude must be proud.

With 88 percent of Greece’s 10 million votes counted, according to The Associated Press, the Socialist Pasok Party was leading with 44 percent of the vote to 34 percent for the center-right New Democracy Party, a margin expected to give the Socialists their largest victory ever and a comfortable majority in Parliament.

“Today we set off together to build the Greece we want and need. We have no time to waste,” the Socialist leader, George Papandreou, said in his victory speech. “We want it, we can do it, we will succeed.”

“Nothing will be easy,” he added. “But I will always be honest and upfront with the Greeks.”

And he'll stay away from the hemlock, I imagine.

"Hollywood has the best moral compass, because it has compassion."

This has to be one of the most hilarious - and saddest - statements I've heard that have come out of this whole Roman Polanski fiasco. And it's from a guy who blatantly pushes his films for Oscar nominations, just so he can rack up those little gold statues. Talk about superficial...

I really don't need to add anything to the discussion on Polanski's portal into perversion, but I've liked what I've read from these people.

• Allahpundit
• Marci A. Hamilton
• Glenn Harlan Reynolds

Twitter can be so surreal. I'm having a "conversation" with the son of this man and this woman.

Duran Duran should feel very happy about this.

If you live another 20 years, you could become immortal. I'll be 58 years old in 20 years. I don't think I'd want to look like I'm 58 for forever. Maybe 25.

Rob Bell wants his own definition of "evangelical"

Rob Bell, author of Velvet Elvis (my copy is currently resting, still unread, in a box in a storage facility with many other books), is defining the term evangelical in a new way. He said that he will "embrace" that word "if by that we mean a belief that we together can actually work for change in the world, caring for the environment, extending to the poor generosity and kindness, a hopeful outlook. That’s a beautiful sort of thing."

So, in Bell's mind, it really doesn't matter if a person is a confessing Christian, Muslim, Taoist, or Hare Krishna. Or even an athiest. As long as she wants to "work for change in the world," or she is "caring for the environment," or she has a "hopeful outlook," she is an evangelical.

Hmmm. Bell brings to mind someone else who saw differences in the meaning of words.



(HT: Pyromaniacs)

Was Eve the "Mother of Humanity"?

No, Ardi.

Ardi will be our Mother until the next discovery, that is. Then whatever that new discovery is, will be our Mother.

And we shall go on and on and on, lsearching for and finding our Mother in strange and new places.

Ken Burns' documentary on the National Park System is now playing on PBS stations

Is anyone watching this? I've tried to for the past two nights, but it's been so mind-numbingly boring that my interest quickly wanes. And it's a shame, really, because I have a great affinity for the parks. I've been to several of them, including this one and this one. But this one holds my affections above all others.