TexasAndLiberty's Xanga

Move Along, Nothing To See Here

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:21:27 GMT

The Texas Legislature is, somewhat unsurprisingly, going with the status quo. Yesterday the House voted to reelect Speaker Tom Craddick, the Republican who presided over the DeLay-induced redistricting debacle several years ago. (You know, the one where Democrats broke quorum by leaving first for Oklahoma, then New Mexico.) And freshman Senator Dan Patrick's attempt at rule reform in the Senate failed by a margin of 30-1. Yep, looks like business as usual again in Austin... and with a complacent third-term Republican governor, I don't expect anything to change for the better. (One bright spot, I suppose, is the record $14.3 billion surplus. I guess we didn't need a new business tax after all, Mr. Perry...)

Let me assure you that I'm no authority on this topic, having been away from the state for the better part of 18 months. These are just the impressions I get from mainstream news sources. If something important is being kept from me, or if I'm overlooking something in my cynicism, please tell me. Nothing would please me more than to know that I am wrong when I criticize our state's Republican leadership for its lack of bipartisanship, imagination, and common sense.

New Year's Greetings

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 10:34:56 GMT

I was so busy this holiday season that I didn't take the time to think about the year just past. Now, I suppose, it's too late. Onwards to 2007! Even without careful reflection, I feel confident in saying that perhaps it will be a good one.

Maybe this is just euphoria because I got my grades in the mail. They were not fantastic, but the best I've done yet. And I know I don't study enough as it is, so hopefully this will not result in a renewed relaxation of my already loose academic standards.

I've said this so many times that it's trite, but I'm tired of hearing the aphorism "It's not the grade you get but what you learn in the class that matters." This is not the case for those of us who aspire to postgraduate degrees. It is the grade. Or, more specifically, the GPA. And I'm afraid that a 3.3 won't do it.

Actually, I sometimes wonder if studying is really the most important thing at school. Maybe growing up is the most important thing. But I suppose studying can be a means to that end.

Yeah, it's going to be a good year.

(For legal purposes, this post does not constitute "careful reflection.")

Merry Christmas!

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 23:23:10 GMT

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

On Ignorance

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:36:28 GMT

The sermon I heard yesterday included an aside regarding how much it is necessary to learn and whether some things are best left unknown by most people. This was prompted, I believe, by the use of the word "ignorant" in Ephesians 4; the question was sort of framed as whether or not ignorance is an absolute evil, or an evil at all. The answer given was that it is some kind of contingent good. Because there are some things that none of us need to know that will only confuse us, such as nuclear physics.

(In fact, nuclear power in general is unnecessary. We have enough fossil fuels to last us until the Second Coming of Christ. The earth is not going to be destroyed by greenhouse gases but by fire at the command of God, and he doesn't need our help to do it. Interesting argument; though I was thinking as I heard this that destruction by fire would not be unlike a devastation of the earth by nuclear warfare. I'm not so confident that we couldn't destroy the earth on our own, or at least harm it significantly in violation of our God-given responsibility to care for it.)

But how can we know what we're supposed to know? The answer given was that it's based on God's calling for our lives. This is actually where my disagreement arises; the implicit definition being used of "God's calling" includes only our walk with God and our day-to-day vocation. In contrast, I believe that God has called all of us to many broader things, not the least of which is to live with justice in a free society. And the very origin of the phrase "liberal arts" defines it as those things which are necessary for the education of a free man. This of course assumes that we will live better if we have considered the works of Plato, Shakespeare, and J. S. Bach than if we have not. On a more practical note, it is important as well to know basic details of such things as nuclear physics so that our minds as well can be free: if we have a basic knowledge of the subject, we will not need to rely completely on the opinionated knowledge of others when important questions touching nuclear physics arise.

The NIV Bible was referred to in the same sermon as the "Never Inspired Version," though I try to ignore such things.

Sehnsucht

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 20:25:46 GMT

"There comes a time when we ask, even of Shakespeare, even of Beethoven, 'Is that all there is?'"--Sartre

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."--C. S. Lewis

"Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee."--St. Augustine

When Will I Learn?

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 19:57:57 GMT

Independence leads to cyncism which leads to nihilism which leads to despair... which leads me back to God.

(Maybe one of my problems is that I have been sleeping late and thus I haven't been seeing enough sunrises. It's been so long that it seemed surreal when I saw the sun coming up this morning.)

Later

Mon, 03 Jul 2006 12:15:04 GMT

I'm going out of town for about two weeks, heading to Pennsylvania for a funeral. I'll try to post from the road, but the place where I am going has tenuous connections to the Internet, if any. (This and the last two posts have been very narcissistic... an emblem of what I don't like about blogging.)

The Astros reclaimed the Silver Boot with a decisive 9-5 win over the Rangers last night in the final game of the 2006 Lone Star Series. Now if only they can start hitting like that every day...

Five Hundred Days

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 23:38:58 GMT

Today marks five hundred days since I entered the world of Xanga. It is interesting to note that this is my 152nd post. Do the math: contrary to the general impression that I "never" update, I average one post every 3.29 days.

In looking forward to this milestone, I thought at one point that I would bid Xanga farewell on the anniversary, in favor of an alternative blogging venue. But having so recently said hello again, it seems too soon to say goodbye.

In my initial post, I wrote: "Disclaimer: this is most likely not going to be a regular thing. And those of you who like incisive political commentary will probably not find it here. It's just the life of a young conservative who is subconsciously trying to make people think he's a moderate, and quite possibly succeeding." After five hundred days, politics no longer defines my life like it used to. Perhaps the problem is that I'm not quite sure what's taken its place...

Let's Try This Again...

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 15:05:53 GMT

Yeah, basically I told myself I wouldn't waste time on Xanga until I found a job. Obviously that took longer than I thought it would... so now I am provisionally employed at the premier hardware store in the Golden Triangle region of East Texas. (I have no idea why they call this place the "Golden Triangle." I think I've mentioned before that it's a little too rural for my tastes.) I'm leaving for a week or two in Pennsylvania before I start working, though. Thus my cash flow will be pretty lean for a little while longer, and I'll only end up working for about four weeks before heading back to PHC. (I am hopeful about the future of my school. Not necessarily optimistic--ask me about that after I meet the new faculty--but hopeful.)

And I agree with the consensus that Xanga is dying. If nothing else, the destruction of Mr. Stone's celebrated blog has sealed its fate. "Lo, how the mighty are fallen..." Time to rebuild, but I don't know if it's worth the time.

(I get just about as many comments when I don't post as when I do...)

Apologies

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:03:23 GMT

I am in San Antonio right now, having a good time and doing things that are constructive. I apologize for abandoning Xanga for the past few months. Some are skeptical and think that Xanga is beyond saving. Perhaps.

Look for a serious post next week regarding the immigration issues before Congress. (I say this so I will feel obligated to actually do it...)