Susan Campbell | Fear, itself

I want to know more, but...

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:10:29 -0500

...the bare bones of this story is that a Massachusetts second-grader was sent home after drawing a stick-figure rendition of Jesus on the cross.

The father of the boy said the family was asked to take the boy for a psychological evaluation before he could return to class. Evidently, the teacher was concerned over the X's the boy -- unnamed in news reports -- drew over the eyes of Jesus, to denote his death -- a violent depiction, in the teacher's estimation.

As if one of you isn't enough

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:07:19 -0500

Mike sends us a link that says you (if you're a girl) can have your very own android.

Be warned, though. The price is a little steep, but once they perfect these babies, you can buy one and make it do the nonsense you don't find appealing. Like standing in line. Or laundry. Or cleaning out the gutters and stuff.

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A plea for a new word

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:03:40 -0500

What do we call a female cad, I wonder?

Is there a name gentler than "slut," something that shows that on some level, we appreciate the effort involved in going outside one’s marital bonds?

Because that’s what’s missing in Slate’s Worst Cads of 2009.

Slate has assembled a list of badly-behaved newsmakers of the past year that includes unscripted television star Jon Gosselin, former presidential hopeful John Edwards and, most recently, Tiger Woods, who’s taking a break from golf while he watches his endorsements bleed out on the floor, and women-not-his-wife pile their steamy accusations outside his door.

It’s a fairly comprehensive list that, nevertheless, is missing something. Namely, there are no women.

Santa's not welcome at detainee center in England

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:00:42 -0500

An attempt to bring some holiday spirit to children held in an immigration detainee center went awry.

...when the Anglican church's leading expert on Father Christmas, dressed as St Nicholas himself, arrived with one of Britain's most distinguished clerics to distribute presents to children held at the Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre in Bedfordshire, things took a turn straight out of Dickens.

He was turned away as a security threat, though he'd had prior approval. Experts are united in their opposition against detaining children, much less keeping them from getting a few goodwill gifts.

And thank you, Jay, for the link. Here's more on the children.

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Sen. Lieberman (Party of One-CT) says he'll block health reform as it exists now

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:00:00 -0500

Our Joe spoke out this weekend. Come let him know how you feel.

Rally at 12:30 Tuesday at the senator's Hartford office, One Constitution Plaza, in Hartford.

Need a map? Go here.

And yow! Here's one key to understanding Sen. Lieberman.

Wonder where the recovery money's going?

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:01:14 -0500

You can find out here.

See who is getting -- or got -- what in your town.

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If Jenny Sanford won't run for office, perhaps she can set up workshops?

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:00:24 -0500

The soon-to-be-ex-wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has moved through the rough shoals of a public spurning by her cheating husband with the kind of grace not normally found in such situations. It's been suggested that she enter politics, but if that's not her cup of tea:

This says that Elin Woods, Tiger's wife, might learn from her. And, in fact, any spurned spouse -- male or female -- might take a page from the Jenny Sanford playbook.

If you're interested in helping out the Lunt Family:

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:54:29 -0500

The fund set up to pay for Jim Lunt's medical bills (as explored in today's column) is at New Alliance Bank:

The Jim Lunt Medical Fund, P.O. Box 131, Columbia CT 06237.

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Because you know you want to...

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:05:47 -0500

Enjoy the ugly wares here or here.

Photo courtesy of Myuglychristmassweater.com

Come enjoy a Night of Giving

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:00:05 -0500

The Connection Inc., a local nonprofit human services agency, is hosting a Night of Giving from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday at Nikita's Bar and Bistro, 484 Main St. in Middletown.

Advance tickets are $25 and one new unwrapped toy, or $30 at the door with a toy donation.

The toys will go to The Connection's supportive housing program, and the Hallie House for Women and Children programs in Middletown.

For more information, call 888-TCI-1972, or go here.

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Where are the Protestants?

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:56:32 -0500

Certainly not on the Supreme Court, which has just one -- John Paul Stevens, and he's retiring soon.

The fabulous Dahlia Lithwick asks at Slate: Are the days of worrying about religious diversity behind us?

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Hanukkah starts today

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:54 -0500

For more on the holiday, go here. Or here.

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Does separation of church and state apply to Jerry Falwell?

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:00:51 -0500

Bro. Falwell has gone on to reap his reward, but what about the U.S. government giving tax-exempt status to Falwell's Liberty University, an independent, fundamentalist Baptist school whose mission is to "train young Champions of Christ."

Or what about any school whose stated purpose is religion-based? Should they be granted tax-exempt status?

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Roman Catholics, the Eucharist, and abortion

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:10:23 -0500

An anti-abortion group founded by Randall Terry, who also started Operation Rescue, rolled into Hartford Tuesday afternoon to ask that Archbishop Henry J. Mansell deny Communion to any Roman Catholic legislator from Connecticut who votes for health care reform that funds abortion.

Diana Roccograndi, one of a band of three from Insurrecta Nex, said Hartford was one stop on the D.C.-based group’s 13-cathedral tour across nine states with predominantly Roman Catholic delegations in Washington. Of Connecticut’s seven U.S. representatives and senators, four are Roman Catholic.

The group came to hold up signs and pray the Rosary outside Cathedral of St. Joseph on Farmington Ave., and then Roccograndi went into archdiocese offices next door to deliver a letter that said, in part:

"We humbly beg you to warn any Catholic Senator or House Member within your See or within your state: ‘If you vote for child-killing in ‘health care reform,’ you will be denied Holy Communion.’"

Gary Boisclair, who held signs in the chill wind, described denying communion as "pastoral," a characterization with which Rep. Rosa DeLauro, of New Haven, disagreed.

Today is International Human Rights Day

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:05 -0500

How are you celebrating?

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