The Daily Detour

Monday Morning Weekend Review

Well, it was a quiet weekend at The Daily Detour because Yours Truly implemented a self-imposed hiatus from the blog in order to hang out with the family. But, all was not quiet in the culture.

Just a few highlights...

Jack Bauer managed to get out of another tight spot. Only this time it was for time served on a DUI. Now he can finally get back to saving the planet. Hopefully, it's just in time to start filming for the next season of 24. Of course, with the writer's strike, Bauer's best-laid plans may be thwarted still.

The gloves stay off as Obama confronts the Clintons. Things are heating up with Obama and the Clintons continuing to slug it out for Democratic supremacy. And I thought politics was supposed to be becoming a kinder, gentler sport...

This past Saturday, Sen. John McCain added to his New Hampshire victory by beating the other GOP rivals in the South Carolina primary. Some are saying he is the new frontrunner. With the wide-ranging results from the handfuls of primaries held so far, it's too premature to make such claims, though he is making a strong case. On the other hand, Sen. Fred Thompson was making his last stand in South Carolina, so the Fredheads should not be surprised to see him reluctantly drop out of the race pretty soon. As media savvy as he is, it seems he is discovering just how difficult a national presidential campaign can be. Too bad, I like Fred.

Meanwhile, as FOX News reports, "With popularity comes notoriety." A painful lesson that is coming back to bite GOP candidate Ron Paul on this timely Martin Luther King holiday. Ouch!

There's so much political news, is there time for anything else? Not much, though the Patriots continued their perfect march to the Super Bowl by beating the Chargers yesterday. Was it just my imagination or were the Pats fans actually booing every time the announcers mentioned the Chargers during the awards ceremony after the game? The collective assessment by those watching the game in our house seemed to confirm that suspicion.

And on the other side of the NFL, it does look as though one Manning brother is going to make a surprising debut in the Super Bowl. While Peyton is relegated to his final "Pep Talks with Peyton Manning" commercial of the season, his younger brother Eli managed to get past iron-man Brett Favre in OT to take the Giants to the Big Game. This stunning loss of by the Packers leaves Favre's future up in the air. I'll be happy for Favre either way. But in the meantime, see if you can quess who I'm pulling for in this year's Super Bowl? :) Until next time...

UPDATE: So much for civil debate and the free exchange of ideas. In tonight's Democratic debate in South Carolina, Obama and Hillary really let the mud fly. Keep yer heads down and yer waders on!

UPDATE: Well, the inevitable finally caught up with Fred Thompson. He announced today (Tuesday) that he is withdrawing his bid for the presidency, a mere 4 months after he got into the race. The initial bubble of excitement burst much sooner than he ever anticipated. And the Fredheads are draped in black. I join you in solidarity.

Monday Morning Weekend Review

Well, if you were checking the blog over the weekend, you realized it was a pretty quiet weekend in TDDville. We celebrated our youngest son Mark's 1-year birthday (which is officially today, even though we got the party started yesterday). Not only that, but we got dumped on this weekend and actually canceled church Sunday. So instead of snuggling up under the blankets with a cup of hot cocoa and watching An Inconvenient Truth, I spent a lot of time shoveling our cars out of the snow banks. Needless to say, it was a pretty hectic weekend.

But all has not been quiet in the culture. There's much brewing on many fronts.

Gov. Mike Huckabee's climb in the polls continues to baffle the GOP conventional wisdom. His impact on the race is evident simply by watching the frontrunners' responses (i.e. Romney and others). It's the same trend I've repeatedly highlighted between Obama and Hillary. Things are heating up!

The biggest news in politics today is the announcement by Democratic-turned-Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman. He has decided to cross the aisle and endorse Sen. John McCain for president. Realistically, I'm not sure how much his endorsement will help the flagging McCain candidacy. However, I have come to admire Lieberman's willingness in recent years to transcend the typical partisanship and pursue political principles.

In other political news on more of a local level, our U.S. Congresswoman Julia Carson, D-Ind. died on Saturday morning after a lingering battle with lung cancer. Amidst the grief you can already see a bi-partisan effort by many who would love to hold this congressional seat. (And no, I'm not one of them, despite suggestions from well-meaning friends and colleagues to seriously think about it. I will once someone comes along with the financial backing to fund my candidacy.:)

New Jersey made big news recently. Gov. John Corzine has signed legislation that has banned the death penalty in the state. This makes New Jersey the first state in more than four decades to enact such a measure. I've haven't written much on the death penalty (but probably should). A quick take: I believe the death penalty provides a just and necessary means of punishment for those who are worthy of such punishment. To eliminate such punishment in the name of justice is to actually do a greater injustice for society in the long run.

Well, for those of you (us) who care, the latest season of Survivor: China came to end with Todd the Schemer walking away with $1 million prize. (Fortunately, Caleb picked Todd in our Survivor pool, so the Crane clan is a whopping $16.00 richer. Oh, sweet victory! :) Todd wasn't the only winner however. James the Gravedigger won the fan vote as most popular survivor this season. And in a spontaneous gesture, Mark Burnett, the producer of Survivor decided to give Denise the Lunch Lady $50,000 because she has lost her job as a result of being on the show. (I know I get the same itch every season at this time to sign up for the next season, but I'm not sure if I'm any closer. I still haven't figured out whether you can actually get through the 39 days without having to lie or stab someone in the back.)

The Miami Dolphins finally won a game salvaging what was shaping up to be a goose egg season. More importantly, the consummate ironman, Brett Favre, broke Dan Marino's long-standing record for total passing yards. It just confirms why Sports Illustrated named him the "2007 Sportman of the Year".

And most important on the sports front, our fantasy football team, Craniacs, just barely managed to slipped past D.J. and into the finals next week. :) Until next time...

UPDATE: Apparently, New Jersey Governor John Corzine's "progressive" measure to ban the death penalty has spared the notorious sex offender Jesse Timmendequas, whose grisly murder of little 7-year old Megan Kanka in 1994 inspired Megan's Law (the law which requires law enforcement officials to notify the public about convicted sex offenders living in their community). I hope Gov. Corzine can live with his decision.

Monday Morning Weekend Review

MMWR, where you have you been? It's like a long-lost friend coming home. :)

The "Teddy Bear Teacher", Gillian Gibbons, was pardoned by the Sudanese president and flew home to England today after British politicians met with the president pleading on her behalf. (See photos here.)In the midst of the negotiations, they wanted to assure the Sudanese leader that Britain respects Islam. I'm assuming "respect" here means "understand, but disagree with..."

Related to this, a thought occurred to me as I was reflecting further on this incident. If insulting one's religion were cause for prison, beatings, and/or death in this country, I suppose Hollywood would have been wiped off the map long before now. How often do we see those in the entertainment industry misusing God's and/or Jesus' name? It is too numerous to count how often that commandment of the Ten Commandments has been violated. And yet, here's the point: Despite what atheistic antagonists like Sam Harris might suggest, there is a tangible difference between Christianity and Islam. One that cannot, nor should not, be overlooked. Okay, moving on...

Leeland Eisenberg, the man who took the hostages in Hillary Clinton's N.H. campaign office, is being held on a $500,000 bail. In addition, the judge has ordered that he undergo a psych evaluation. Rush Limbaugh made a very interesting point this afternoon on his radio show--If the man was as mentally unstable as he himself suggested, why did he make sure to call CNN as the situation was unfolding? Was there a "method to his madness", as the saying goes?

Mike Jones is in the news again doing his part to expose the hypocrisy that is so rampant in our society, or at least, on the right side of our society. You may remember him as the homosexual prostitute who felt it his duty to come forward and expose the blatant hypocrisy of evangelical leader Ted Haggard. He now is making similar allegations against republican Sen. Larry Craig. Understandably, people are wondering if there is truth to the claims, or if it is an ongoing PR campaign to sell his not-quite-bestselling book about the Haggard affair. His efforts to expose the hypocrites among us seem driven less out of a sense of restoring righteousness to our society and more out of a desire for vindication on behalf of the homosexual community.

And finally...daredevil Evil Knievel made his final jump Friday, passing away at the age of 69. Always decked out in his signature red, white, and blue flamboyant outfit during his prime, Mr. Knievel evolved into a fascinating symbol of American pop culture with each daring feat. Until next time...

Where in the world is the MMWR?

That may be what some of you have been asking, since that regular feature here at The Daily Detour has been less-than-regular. It's a fair question. I have no excuses for the continuing trend this week except to say that the miles I've been logging in the car have inhibited my ability to keep up on the happenings in the rest of world. (That, and the fact that I'm still in mourning after the Colts loss yesterday. Once my deep, dark depression lifts, hopefully I'll be able to get back on my game.) Off to St. Francisville... :)

Monday Morning Weekend Review

The blog was a little more quiet over the weekend from my end, and that was by design. I want to keep my previous post on "Christianity's image problem" out front because it is an issue that need not stay theoretical, but instead, needs to be thoughtfully considered, and acted upon. Some great comments there. I'll weigh after everyone's had a chance to say their piece. :)

The MMWR is back this week after a short hiatus. Some much news, so little time...

Fred Thompson recently made his debate debut against the other GOP rivals. How'd he do? You decide.

Al Gore is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, right alongside people like Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, and Dr. Martin Luther King. Not everyone is as excited about the latest addition to his trophy case.

Is Al Qaida dropping to the mat? The U.S. military thinks so with blows that they believe are "devastating and potentially irreversible to Al Qaeda in Iraq in recent months". Some are even suggesting there should be a declaration of victory. As much as I look forward to that day, let's not be too hasty folks, lest we forget President Bush's ill-advised declaration of victory aboard an aircraft carrier--turning one of the greatest presidential PR coups into a crow-eating contest overnight.

There have been still more school shootings of late. Though they are increasingly common, the search for understanding as to why they happen is still subject for much debate. A participant in a recent FOX News discussion on the subject suggests it is a parenting problem. Another, a Catholic priest, pointed to atheistic origins behind such acts. I don't see it as an either/or explanation. These shootings reveal explanations that go much deeper. As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once famously said,

...the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between parties either--but right through the human heart.

Rush Limbaugh has decided to "turn lemons into lemonade" over his recent comments about "phony soldiers". As you read the linked article, pay particular attention to the interesting gauntlet he laid down for the 41 Democratic Senators who are asking for his head on a platter. Will they do it? Doubtful...

There's a novel idea for the hearing-impaired. An artist has grafted an ear to his forearm "for provocation", among other things. It worked. (Keep a toilet hand in case of upset stomach.)

And in other odd news, a man finally completed a 13-year manually-powered trip around the world. After a trip like, there's nothing a good nap won't take care of. Until next time...

Monday Morning Weekend Review

Well, I'm still working on getting back up to speed with the new adjustments for Jean's rehab. Slowly but surely...

In one of the biggest waiting games, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich disappointed his biggest fans by announcing that he will NOT be running for president on the GOP ticket. According to those who know him best, it seems his current efforts to win the future will serve the country better than his occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards made a sobering prediction about the African-Americans: Either prison or death. Here's what he had to say on the subject. Not too optimistic, but as much as I usually disagree with Sen. Edwards on most issues, I think he may be on to something here. If only we're honest enough to admit the consequences of the breakdown of the family in our society--a reality that seems to hit the African-American community as hard as any.

Apparently, we're the terrorists according the Iran's parliament. They voted to accept a non-binding resolution labeling the CIA and the U.S. Army as "terrorist organizations". I wonder what the true definition of a terrorist is? (In related news, the real terrorists seem to love Rosie. You know it's a bad sign when your biggest fan club is made up of Islamic jihadists.)

On his way out, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Peter Pace takes a parting shot at his critics. General Pace's demise is just one more example of the power of political correctness.

A Brazilian woman gave birth to twins. The catch? They were actually her grandchildren! I did a similar post on this back in August. With biotechnology moving at the speed of light, it won't be long before these kinds of stories cease to be noteworthy. How do we responsibly address issues of bioethics?

In further developments on the Patriots scandal, Bill Belicheat and the Patriots were sued for $184 million. The reason, according to the disgruntled NY Jets fan? "Deceiving customers." It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

For all you mothers out there, imagine delivering a 17-lb. baby! This newborn should be ready for a driver's license next week.

And finally...Colorado high school students walked out of class during the pledge and recited their own version sans "one nation, under God". The group of protesting students were part of the Student Worker Club (which ironically has a certain socialist ring to it.) The principal Bud Jenkins said that "he was proud of the students for standing up for their beliefs." When you see the bourgeoisie in our schools rising up to throw off the fetters of the proletariat it just makes you proud to be an American. Until next time...

Monday Morning Weekend Review

Well, Tuesday night is not Monday morning, but "better late than never" as they say. I've finally managed to pull my head back above water after a day spent filming and doing some photo shoots on promotional projects for some of my upcoming speaking engagements. Aaahhh the life of a movie star! (Of course, my career will be short-lived once this Rube Goldberged filming effort goes public. It's amazing what you can do with a paper clip and some duck tape. A little MacGyverism and Hollywood here I come! Special thanks to D.J. Payne and Phil Heisick for there ongoing efforts on these projects.) I'm finally able to get back up to speed with the blog. Thanks for your patience!

The big news of last week was that Dan Rather is suing CBS. The aftermath from the "Memogate" scandal leading up to the 2004 presidential election still lingers. Back in February of 2006, I was at a Hillsdale College event in West Palm Beach, FL and heard John Hinderaker from Power Line blog describe their collaborative role in exposing the fraudulent reporting of CBS. That Joe Average Blogger could bring mighty CBS to its knees has become the stuff of legend where the power of the blogosphere is concerned. The monopoly of the MSM is unraveling.

A Democratic State Senator from Nebraska sued God this week seeking an injunction against natural disasters. Apparently, God responded to the lawsuit.

Barry Bonds and the Giants part company. His record-breaking season wasn't enough to salvage the 15-year relationship.

Al Gore is in the hot seat again with global warming. In some of the latest video footage secured by FOX News caught Al Gore deplaning from his private jet. Once again, praxis undermining theory...

In his new book, The Age of Turbulence, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan spares no criticism. I don't usually get in on the Bush-bashing tsunami that has swamped the president's two terms since the early days of hanging chads. Not because I'm a Republican (and all good Republicans are supposed to support the members of their own party, right?). But more because of his position as president. Regardless of one's political persuasion, I believe the president is deserving of respect by virtue of his position. That said, it is difficult to ignore the liberal spending that has happened on the Bush 43 watch. As a conservative, this trend is troublesome, regardless of whatever social and moral stands Bush has taken.

And finally...a soccer mom scooped Al-Qaida. Laura Mansfield happened across the most recent tape that was scheduled to be sent out during the week of September 11th before Al-Qaida was ready to release it. Who is Laura Mansfield? Not who you'd think. An average South Carolina mom who's not so average after all. Until next time... Thanks again for your patience!

Monday Morning Weekend Review

On the political front, Rudy Giuliani fired the first major salvo from the GOP side of the battlefield across the bow of the Hillary Clinton campaign accusing her of flip-flopping on the War in Iraq. (See the full web-ad here at JoinRudy2008.com.) This is not the first ad against Hillary, but it is the first from the other side of the political battlefield. (If you'll remember, there was the mysterious Apple ad that made the rounds last March, purported to be put out by an Obama supporter.)

Like our own U.S. forces, the Brits have had their own run-ins with the Islamic radicals. This tragic tale is yet another reminder of the nature of the enemy we face. As I've suggested before, the possibility of diplomatic solutions to this struggle seem unlikely in the face of such atrocities.

And in other political news, comedian and liberal talk show host, Al Franken, has decided to run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. And no, this is not just a publicity stunt--he's serious and he has the money to be a contender. The real question is whether or not he will be taken seriously by the Minnesota voters (Of course, this was the state that elected Jesse "The Body" Ventura as their governor, so anything's possible.)

Controversy at the Emmys last night? The encouraging "controversy" of the whole thing is that they actually censored somebody coming out of Hollywood (Did you hear the one about Kathy Griffin and Jesus? Don't miss Lauren Green's very insightful column about it over at FOX News. It deserves a TDD blog post all its own.)

What a week of sports highs and lows! The Portland Trailblazers are lamenting a serious setback to their rebuilding plans, as they found out that #1 NBA draft pick, and Indianapolis native, Greg Oden is expected to be out for the whole season. In the coverage on ESPN Radio last week I heard someone talking about what a blow this is for the Blazers franchise. On the one hand, I agree. It certainly puts a huge rain cloud over the next season. On the other hand, even if Oden had to theoretically sit out for two whole seasons to get his knee fully rehabilitated, he would be, what, 21 years old? In this sports culture where the college and pro scouts are eyeballing little leaguers for future glory we have lost a lot of our perspective. What's it gonna take to get it back?

In the "battle of the bums" (only implied because up until Saturday these two football powerhouses were winless this season), Michigan reestablished their dominance over "Notre Doomed". Charlie Weis, the head coach for the fighting Irish, is certainly feeling the pressure as the vice of performance is increasingly tightened with each loss of this once-deified football dynasty.

These are the kinds of stories that make my day. Have you heard the latest about the "senior" citizen who is playing Division III college football? He suited up but was not put into the game. Bummer! Imagine getting laid out by someone old enough to be your grandpa. That hurts your body and your pride.

And don't miss this mascot smackdown. Gotta love football season! :)

Finally, if you've got $5,000 you can enter the bidding to win a cameo role on Will Farrell's next movie. It is part of his creative fund-raising effort on behalf of Cancer for College. No better way to start a budding acting career than for a good cause. The bidding is already at $12,600, so you'd better start saving your pennies. :) Until next time...

Monday Morning Weekend Review

And in the biggest news of weekend, Hillary Clinton led the Democratic charge calling for a pullout from Iraq at the recent Democratic debate Sunday night (which was also the first debate broadcast in Spanish). Oh wait, that's not big news. The Democratics have been pushing for our withdrawal from Iraq (even after many of them voted for our initial engagement in that theater of war) ever since it became politically expedient to do so. As I've suggested before, the real question will be how those proponents of withdrawal will react when Iraq implodes after we leave?

Sen. Larry Craig has decided to withdraw the guilty plea he previously agreed to when caught in the sex sting in the Minneapolis airport in August. The first step toward confirming my earlier suspicions about the pull of power. There's still the opportunity to take a higher road in this matter. I can only hope he chooses to pursue that path, though I'm not optimistic given these latest developments.

How will history judge the George W. Bush presidency? That is one of the major questions being addressed in a new book, Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush, by Robert Draper.

Attorney General Roberto Gonzalez wants to spend more time "eavesdropping on his family". At least that's what he jokingly suggested to reporters recently at a press conference regarding his resignation.

"3:10 to Yuma" wins the box office showdown. Because Jean was uncharacteristically gone on Friday evening, I went and saw this movie. It was a 21st century version of the classic western. Very well done with a redemptive message in the end. If you like westerns it's worth seeing.

In two incredible survival stories, a 76-year old survives for two weeks in the wilderness after being separated from her husband. She's one tough cookie. And in another similar story, an 18-year old young man climbed out of a car wreck after being pinned for a week. Two great examples of faith and the courage of the human spirit.

A female playing football? No, it's not the first time we've heard of such stories, but Holley Mangold isn't just a kicker either. She's on the offensive line. Apparently, it runs in the family.

Michigan takes another one on the chin from Oregon, 39-7. Is Coach Lloyd Carr going to be ridden out of Ann Arbor on a rail? After last week's debacle against Appalachian State the rumors of his impending doom were swirling. This week's repeat may turn those rumors into reality.

And finally, wide receiver Randy Moss showed all of the Patriot fans why he will be a huge addition to their team this year. He had a huge day (9 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown). Why was this the greatest day in this NFL season to date? Because Team Craniac (composed of Jean and I) has Moss on our Fantasy Football team here in our church league. :) Why was this simultaneously the most crushing day of our fledgling Fantasy Football career? Because we had him on the bench this weekend, having paid too much attention to the early reports of his nagging injuries. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! (Won't happen again :) Until next time...

Monday Morning Weekend Review

Well, we're back in action with another belated edition of the MMWR due to my self-imposed siesta over this Labor Day weekend. I hope the weekend found you doing less laboring and more resting as well. A lot has been happening since the last time I put up the "Monday morning thingy". Here's just a few of the highlights, large and small.

In one of the biggest stories, Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq. He used the trip to talk to his commanders on the ground, address the troops, and try to infuse more support for the recent surge of troops in Iraq. The talking heads were stirring the pot, suggesting that it was only a publicity stunt. Maybe, but for the Commander-in-Chief to stop by and encourage those on the frontlines is always desirable, publicity or not. One could make the same argument for anything the President does. By virtue of his position, even falling off his bike is an international event.

The other big story...mighty Michigan was vanquished by the little upstart, Appalachian State 34-32 on Saturday. In what is being billed as arguably the greatest upset in college football history, this is becoming the underdog story of the ages.

A child prodigy goes off to college. 15-year old freshman, Brittney Exline, is starting at the University of Pennsylvania this fall. Who knows, at this rate she'll probably get her bachelor's degree before she can even vote (or drive a car).

You may have heard that wealthy aristocrat, Leona Helmsley, recently passed away. What you may not have realized is that she left $12 million to her dog, Trouble. With that kind of inheritance, Trouble will be eating is ALOT of "Fancy Feast". Apparently, someone is already filing a lawsuit about it. (Two of her four grandchildren were left with nothing. I guess Trouble is no longer "man's best friend" after all.)

David Letterman and Oprah have finally decided to bury the hatchet. Next month he is scheduled to make his first-ever appearance on Oprah Winfrey.

In update on Owen Wilson's recent suicide attempt, according to recent reports he his home and recovering well.

In other news, there was 5-minute long bench-clearing brawl in a minor league baseball game in Greensboro, NC. Another great example of adults acting like children. No wonder our kids are confused about what actually constitutes good sportmanship these days.

Weekend revelers got out of hand when a beach brawl nearly turned into a riot in San Diego, California. When the police moved in to break it up, the brawlers turned on them. (A related side note: Beware and be aware of the mob mentality--it's obvious in events like sports and beach brawls, but not always so obvious in areas like politics, judiciary decisions, and the like. After all, that is what distinguishes a true democracy from a republic such as ours.)

And finally [in light of our own sand castle efforts at the Indiana Dunes this past weekend] Aaahhh, the dispute continues for sand castle dominance as the current world record holder fights for the right to forever yell, "My sand castle's bigger than your sand castle!" Were this coming from a pre-pubescent youngster, it might be understandable. From a grown adult, I'm not so sure. Until next time...

UPDATE: I did a little bit more research on the sand castle story and found that I must retract a bit of my previous sarcasm. My apologies. Apparently, Ed Jarrett, the current record-holder solicited help from over 1,500 volunteers over a 2-month period to build his nearly 32-foot high sand castle in order to raise money for terminally-ill children. You have to respect a cause like that...though I do still think there's enough room in the sandbox for everyone to play nicely together. :)

UPDATE: For those of you who may have missed the Michigan massacre, it is being replayed. Watch history in the making. They also have the ignominious distinction of being the first Div. 1 team to take the biggest tumble out of the Top 25 rankings.