In connection with the film clip Phil posted below (compiled from footage of Vikings at the Tivoli Fest, Elk Horn, Iowa three years ago), I have finally got my plans nailed down to go to Tivoli again this year, my third time. The dates are May 23 & 24. It’s a long drive, causing one to seriously ponder the eternal question of whether we’d all save a lot of gas if federal highways had been laid out diagonally, instead of east-west, north-south. But you can get there from here, and I’ve proved it before. (There’s always the thrill of bypassing John Wayne’s home town [Winterset, Iowa] as you go.)



Tonight, for no particular reason, I’d like to list three common word mispronunciations that irritate me and make life not worth living.



First, “Prostate.” There is only one “r” in prostate, when you’re talking about the embarrassing male organ. “Prostrate” is commonly substituted for it, but prostrate is how you’re left after the surgery.



Second, “Realty.” In my experience, about 90% of Americans pronounce it “ree-la-tee,” instead of “ree-ahl-tee.” (I’m sure you know this; I’m explaining it for that other guy over there.) I once corrected a female acquaintance on this point, and she said, “I used to work for a ree-la-tor.”



Third, “Calvary.” Lots and lots of people believe that Christ was crucified on some sort of battlefield where mounted warriors had once clashed. Note the placement of the “l” and the “v.” “Cal-vary” is where Christ was executed. “Cav-alry” is the Charge of the Light Brigade and Custer’s Last Stand and “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” which brings us back to John Wayne, and so neatly wraps up this post.

Have a nice weekend.

You have heard the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, but perhaps you have not understood what it means. Well, Lars’ posts on liberalism and something my five-year-old said last night has inspired me to think through this story from the perspective of a politically liberal American.

5,000 men (and countless women and children–uncounted because of the deplorable chauvinism in that culture) had followed their teacher around and become hungry. They were natural victims of their devotion to the teacher.

Jesus asked his disciples what food they had brought to feed the masses and found his own disciples hadn’t prepared anything. It was a food shortage. Something must be done about it, or innocent people would suffer. Continue reading A Parable for Liberals →

Oh, I like this one.

From Freedom Dogs: A Tale of Two Houses.

I don’t mention Michael Savage much on this blog, but when I’ve done it, it’s been in a negative way. I don’t like his show (I once called my local station to complain about it), and his on-air personality gives me prickly itch. I share with a few others a not-so-secret suspicion that he’s pure snake oil—not a conservative at all, but a performer who’s found a routine that makes him money, and milks it.

But he’s not a danger to the British Commonwealth.

Here’s Threedonia’s report (featuring a cool picture of the signing of the Magna Carta) on the story of the British Home Office’s decision to list Savage among 16 people banned from their borders. Savage’s response is (for once) entirely appropriate:

“Darn! And I was just planning a trip to England for their superior dental work and cuisine,” he joked….

It’s become increasingly clear that our present educational system has cultivated public ignorance to the extent that liberals nowadays don’t even know what “liberalism” means. Continue reading Lesson in liberalism, for liberals →