There are still issues that are unrelated to the actions of men dressed in red who chose the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. One of those issues is the state of partisanship within the government of the sole world superpower, the United States. In the not-so-distant past, members of the United States Congress would see beyond their differences to a larger … [Read more...] about Politics should not be a Death Match

When German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI there were two reactions in the square and around the world: great relief on the part of some — and great disappointment on the part of others. The reason: the new Pope Benedict XVI, in his earlier incarnation, was known as the Vatican's prime guardian of doctrinal orthodox, an efficient and unabashedly … [Read more...] about Mixed Reaction To Joseph Ratzinger As Pope Benedict XVI

With some good planning, Morning Edition on NPR today had a story on the future of dissent within the Roman Catholic Church, discussing how what they termed "one possible successor" Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now chosen as Pope with the self-selected name Benedict XVI might address this issue. From the summary page to the audio link, the man newly named Pope "seems to have … [Read more...] about The possible future of dissent under Pope Benedict XVI

In the end, the frontrunner, and a man closely tied to the late Pope John Paul II, became the new Pope: Germany's Cardinal Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 78, the Vatican's guardian of doctrinal orthodox — a man who called himself a "simple humble worker." Over the past few days speculation centered on whether the new Pope would be someone from Italy, Asia, Africa — … [Read more...] about Frontrunner Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Is Pope Benedict XVI

A new Pope has been elected: Germany's Cardinal Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 78, the Vatican's of doctrinal orthodox and a close associate of the late Pope John Paul II. … [Read more...] about POPE BENEDICT XVI

CNN reports that a decision has been made: VATICAN CITY (CNN) — White smoke rose from a Sistine Chapel chimney and bells rang Tuesday, signaling the selection of a new pope. Thousands of people in St. Peter's Square clapped and waved flags as the smoke began to billow over Vatican City about 5:50 p.m. (11:50 a.m. ET). Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estévez was expected … [Read more...] about WHITE SMOKE RISES AND BELLS RING: A NEW POPE

Greg, 13, sits in front of a TV here in San Diego ....watching for the white smoke. "It's white!" he said. "No, it's dark..." And doesn't want to change the channel.. From San Diego, to New York, to Madrid, to Rome — people all over the world in every continent and all religions are watching for the dawn of a new era that'll be signalled by historical white smoke at … [Read more...] about The World Waits For White Smoke

A full-court press is going on now by House Majority Tom DeLay to rally his supports to keep him in office — at the same time as the White House has now seemingly come out behind the embattled GOP leader. Delay sent out an email to supporters blaming the allegations against him and pressure to step down on liberals, Democrats and the elite media — all seemingly … [Read more...] about DeLay Defends DeLay And White House Defends Delay

Bread is DANGEROUS! Research on bread indicates that: 1. More than 98 percent of convicted felons are bread users. 2. Fully HALF of all children who grow up in bread-consuming households score below average on standardized tests. 3. In the 18th century, when virtually all bread was baked in the home, the average life expectancy was less than 50 years; infant mortality rates … [Read more...] about “I Have A Story That’ll Bust This Town Wide Open!”

Ann Coulter is reportedly unhappy with the photo of her on the cover of Time Magazine. Now, let's start off by getting this out: if TMV was on the cover of Time Magazine he wouldn't care it he didn't look perfect — although last week he was on MSNBC and the cruel TV camera made his five foot two, 147 lb frame look 6 feet, 210 pounds so he has since made some adjustments … [Read more...] about Ann Coulter Hates Her Time Magazine Cover: So How’s THIS?

Once again liberal talk radio Air America is being pronounced on (excuse the expression these days after what our country has been through) life support — this time via an intriguing commentary in the Los Angeles Times. The commentary is by Brian C. Anderson senior editor of City Journal and author of "South Park Conservatives: The Revolt Against Liberal Media Bias," … [Read more...] about Is Air America Failing?

Your Mommy was right: have a nice day and you'll be HEALTHIER. A new study reports that there is indeed a connection — and that if you can have a day when you emulate the much-ridiculed smiley face you're apt to have fewer doctor bills and even live a bit longer. Scientific American.Com reports: Whereas previous research had linked depression with an increased … [Read more...] about Happiness Equals Healthier

The mother of boy who accuses Michael Jackson of molesting him yesterday summarized in one sentence what is really the issue in a trial that has attracted attention throughout the world: The woman, the New York Times reports, says the self-styled King of Pop (whose recent CDs have tanked terribly in the United States) said Jackson "managed to fool the world.." More: After … [Read more...] about Accuser’s Mother: Jackson Tricked The World

It's a sign of how dire the situation in Asia is that UN Secretary General Kofi Anan is now personally reportedly pressing hard to get to officials of China and Japan together to talk this week — to defuse tensions that seemingly accentuate every day. Anan hopes to get the two countries' officials together later this week in Indonesia, but the questions then become: a)is … [Read more...] about UN’s Anan Pushes Effort For China-Japan Talks

(NOTE: This is going to be updated and reposted under Tuesday's posts) The testimony is highly dramatic. The quotes from it are riveting. But the underlying question in self-styled King of Pop Michael Jackson's child molestation case has now become: has the prosecution undermined its case by putting the victim's quirky mother on the witness stand? An American cable network is … [Read more...] about Will Michael Jackson Moonwalk Free Due to Alleged Victim’s Mother?

Cross-posted to Random Fate. GRENOBLE, France - Although I am a part of a three-company alliance in the semiconductor industry, the primary aim of that alliance is more on the development and manufacturing side rather than on the research side where I work. Hence, primarily people from the French component of the alliance surround me. Today, I was able to spend some time … [Read more...] about France and the EU – more notes from a stranger in the strange land

Just imagine if you had THIS street address: PICO RIVERA, California (AP) — It's not easy living on Dork Street — just ask Mario Saucedo. "I had a resume kicked back because someone thought I was kidding," said Saucedo, who has lived on the street in this suburb about a dozen miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles for eight years. Ester Avetisian, who moved … [Read more...] about Don’t Dennis Kucinich And Alan Keyes Live There?

A word to guys who snore: if you make with the "zzzzzzzs" you are less likely to get the "sexxxxx.." In other words, if a night you can't be quiet, you may have to go on a love diet. This info comes from a new survey done in England. As the Telegraph elegantly puts it: More than a quarter "hardly ever" have sex and 60 per cent are regularly told to sleep in the spare room, … [Read more...] about Snoring Isn’t Sexy

Our periodic festival of links from all over the Internet. It's not restricted to any one ideology — and opinions do not necessarily represent ours. THE EU CONSTITUTION'S PROBLEMS IN FRANCE: We've done some posts on this. Now Centerfield's Jon Kaye looks at this issue. Read it in full, but here's a small part: "The pundits are all out looking for reasons for this. But … [Read more...] about Around The ‘Sphere

Today the College of Cardinals meets to formally begin the process of picking a new Pope — and it's coming at a moment none too soon. In this this 21st Century age of media overkill with its accelerating, constant barrage of information, words and images, it only stands to reason that speculation over who would replace the media savvy Pope John Paul II would be intensely … [Read more...] about Cardinals Will Pick Pope And None Too Soon