Metallic Pea

‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!’  ~ Matthew 23:37

Due to the continuing rise in gasoline prices, I’m thinking about using this same method for transporting my chickens to town.

• In addition to serving as the chairman of my thesis committee, Dr Brian Linn has found time to lead the field of military history.

• Another childhood memory bites the dust. I am very upset. I found out to-day that Iron Eyes Cody from the famous anti-pollution television ads was not really an Indian—he was Sicilian!

• What folks don’t know is that the ‘alternative interrogation techniques’ (read, torture) used by U.S. forces at Guantanamo Bay were ‘copied verbatim from a 1957 Air Force study of Chinese Communist techniques used during the Korean War to obtain confessions, many of them false, from American prisoners.’ Lovely.

When I was a baby, I kept a diary. Recently, I was rereading it. It said, “Day 1–Still tired from the move.  Day 2–Everybody talks to me like I’m an idiot.”  ~ Stephen Wright  

• ‘The researchers carried out the study using computer technology to alter pictures of 15 men’s faces so that they displayed different degrees of hairiness. Five levels of facial hair were used – clean-shaven, light stubble, heavy stubble, light beard and full beard.’ (Curious about the results?)

• If some in South Africa have their way, whites will have no right to own land.

• If you are a skeeter magnet (as is my wife), then this is for you.

• ‘So what does Paul say to his pluralistic, postmodern Greek listeners? He does not say, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!” His approach is quite different than the simplistic seeker-friendly slogans of watery postmodern evangelicalism. Instead, Paul presents a gospel-oriented apologetical message anchored in a Biblical philosophy of history. He offers a comprehensive worldview, stressing the sovereignty of God, His total control of life, and His providential governance of history.’

• In the Land of the Free Report: ‘The Justice Department is considering letting the FBI investigate Americans without any evidence of wrongdoing…’

• ‘Conservative Anglican churches in Virginia are celebrating a major legal victory. A Circuit Court judge in Fairfax County has ruled in favor of 11 breakaway congregations, who left the Episcopal Church over the denomination’s liberal policies.’

• What is a washed-up Hair Band drummer turned animal rights activist to do when his tour manager books him for a rodeo? Perhaps the bigger question is: Was Merle Haggard busy?

• ‘Researchers at the Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel, measured the amount of a toxic molecule called malondialdehyde that is produced in the stomach when heated meat frees iron to produce free radicals. The consumption of red meat increased malondialdehyde levels by 50%, but the addition of red wine to the meaty meal not only totally prevented the elevation of malondialdehyde in the blood plasma but even reduced it by 34% over pre-meal levels.’

To-day’s 1980’s Moment is brought to you by Merle Haggard and George Jones: