Troglodish

Court: Judges cannot get involved in church dispute

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:34:00 +0000

The Supreme Court held unanimously that a "ministerial exception" does exist under the freedom of religion guarantee of the First Amendment that protects churches from being sued by religious employees under anti-discrimination laws. While groundbreaking in its limitation to employment discrimination, the ruling itself is narrow and expressly does not specify the distinction between a secular employee, who can take advantage of the government's protection from discrimination, and a religious employee, who can't.

USCCB holding immigration forum in Utah

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:51:00 +0000

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will hold a three-day conference on immigration reform in Salt Lake City beginning today to consider how state-initiated laws impact local communities and to move "toward consensus" on a "more humane" approach to immigration reform. The trick, of course, has always been how to separate the strangers among us who are just looking for a better life from those intent on doing harm.

John McCain derides "tea party hobbits" in debt ceiling fight

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Sen. Smeagol hates filthy tea party hobbitses. In other breaking news, dog bites man.

Irish prime minister: Vatican has 'calculated, withering' abuse stance

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:05:00 +0000

The piling on continues.

Disregarding real attempts by Pope Benedict and other officials to prevent future child sexual abuse and to be open in response to reported cases, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has accused the Vatican of clericalism and obstruction, based on a judicial investigation into the Church's handling of the sexual abuse crisis in the Diocese of Cloyne.

Google+ pulls in 20 million in three weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:55:00 +0000

Any bets whether Google will ever be viewed as evil as Microsoft, or Wal-Mart?

Web-traffic watcher, comScore, using a Nielsen-like methodology, estimated earlier this week that Google+, a social network play to challenge Facebook, has had 20 million unique visitors since its launch three weeks ago. Data regarding quality of views were not readily available. What's particularly impressive about Google+'s growth is that access has been by invite only. Google+ allows sharing with various "circles of friends," or the public. Like other social network sites, content includes sharing of comments/status, articles, photos, and videos. Google is expected to use its other services (search engine, Gmail, YouTube, Blogger?) to integrate features and market Google+.

Wall St. makes fallback plans for debt crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:00:00 +0000

I consider the debt limit Countdown to Doomsday on Aug. 2 to be overblown greatly. On the off chance that I'm wrong and there is a genuine crisis, it will not be limited to the US government, but will ripple through the economy. Panic peddlers see this as only heading for a crash. But never fear, while there certainly will be dislocations, perhaps severe, the economy's shock absorber is pumping up in anticipation: market competition. Wall Street firms have been preparing for months to play key elements the coming "crisis" in multiple ways, including by: increasing system monitors, building in trading flexibility, raising cash. With so many looking at the possibilities, two things are certain: 1.) there won't be "radioactive" steam let off as the market assimilates the disruption(s) as some would have us believe a la 2008, and 2.) the market's credibility will endure. The problems we know about aren't the ones that get us (think Y2K); it's the ones that catch us off guard that do (think 2008).

Bachmann continues to surge

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:20:00 +0000

With Michele Bachmann in a dead heat today with Romney (slightly ahead in a recent poll from the Democratic PPP), we can expect the whisper-smear pieces of the last week about her religion and her migraines to continue. Frankly, the idea that life in the Beltway bubble may give her headaches isn't necessarily a negative for me. And, for the record, the WELS teaching that the pope is the antichrist is not a fundamental article of the faith. I'd wager she'd keep her distance from it.

Pope appoints Archbishop Chaput to Philadelphia archdiocese

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:20:00 +0000

No doubt a solid choice for an historically important see. Plus NY's Archbishop Dolan could clearly use some back-up.

Bernanke does TV interview to defend Fed bond purchases

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:29:00 +0000

The question is whether the Fed chief is chasing the deflation ghost, fiddling while Rome is about to burn, or just playing the man behind the curtain.

GOP leaders hint at compromise on tax cuts, jobless benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:22:00 +0000

Extending the unemployment subsidy is the political price if tax rate certainty is going to be achieved before the end of the year.

US payroll gains trail forecasts; unemployment rises

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:51:00 +0000

If we (as a country) are unwilling to embrace the reality that the Keynesian premise that there is an immutable relationship between unemployment and inflation has been demonstrated (again) to be false, why don't the Administration types go all in on it then? If massive government spending and quantitative easing haven't done the trick, then wouldn't authentic Keynesians be advocating for not just extending the Bush-era tax rates, but lowering them? Of course, the President's so-called stimulus was never really about finding a solution in the first place.

Constitutional provision jeopardizes sweeping food safety bill

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Regardless the efficacy of the bill (of which I am highly skeptical given its anti-subsidiarity underpinnings), how many more times does one of the chambers have to pass a bill just so it can find out what is in it?

Millions may lose jobless benefits as holidays loom

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:59:00 +0000

At some point we will have to stop denying this is not really a problem of the debt as critics claim, but a case of the government bubble-making factory incentivizing the unemployment that it created in the first place.

LPGA to change gender requirement

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:47:00 +0000

Not what I thought when I read the headline... instead more bit by bit until no stone is left unturned

The Troglodyte NCAA Football Top 12 Released for Nov. 29

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:11:00 +0000

A big jumble follows Oregon and Auburn. LSU and Boise tumble, Alabama and Oklahoma State sit on the bubble after narrow losses at home, and Arkansas and Wisconsin leap frog Michigan State with strong conference finishes.

California's stem cell agency seeks more time, money

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:24:00 +0000

It may be possible to argue that the dearth of developed therapies can be offset somewhat by the volume of research papers in answering the question of whether there has been any progress to show for the $6B spent by Californians. Regardless, the epic failure in delivering on the promise of "removing politics from science" is undeniable. And you don't have to look beyond the moral sense of the pro-hESCR camp to understand why.

The Troglodyte NCAA Football Top Twelve Released for Nov. 22

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:42:00 +0000

No changes on top with many teams idle. Nebraska falls out of the top 5 and off the list after a tough loss to A&M, while Arkansas edges back in.

Pope Benedict on condoms in "Light of the World"

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:31:00 +0000

No, the Holy Father did not say condom use is permissible, as has been reported widely. And it wouldn't be doctrinal, even if he had.

FDA issues warning over alcoholic energy drinks

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:27:00 +0000

There's a lot more to binging than caffeine and the fruit flavors. Should we go back to previous favorites like Jaeg bombs, rum & Coke, and Irish coffee? How about appletini's? Good grief.

Fed may hesitate on more easing after critics question mandate

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:06:00 +0000

For better, or worse, claims of the Fed's impending demise are greatly exaggerated.

Death panels needed to fix economy

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:44:00 +0000

Along with sales taxes. It doesn't get much more anti-social justice than this (not referring to the cafeteria-style social justice)

Napolitano asks fliers for "patience"

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:44:00 +0000

Is there any doubt where the next level goes should someone attempt to mule explosives aboard a plane?

The Troglodyte NCAA Football Top Twelve Released for Nov. 15

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:09:00 +0000

Oregon and Auburn remain atop the ranking, and the rest of the top 12 from last week remains intact.

White House gives in on Bush tax cuts

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:29:00 +0000

It seems that elections have consequences.

Lure kittens to play online with (computer) mice

noreply@blogger.com (Scott W) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:12:00 +0000

If the barriers for you to play with cats are too high, you can try using remote control. I'm sure there's a joke here somewhere.