Quote of the Day
It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes
and to make amends for them.
John J. McCloy
Earlier One-Off Post: Man of the Year 2012
Religious Liberty and the American Principles Project
Last Wednesday, the DC Court of Appeals reinstated a dismissed case (thumbs UP!) by two religious affiliated institutions, Wheaton College and Belmont Abbey College, against HHS on the controversial mandatory birth control benefit. (HHS has promised a rule with relevant exceptions but has procrastinated.)
On Dysfunctional Local Government
A Virginia tree farmer whose wife is a cancer survivor was trying to sell (for donations) Christmas trees in his front yard when the local zoning officials shut him down. (He was raising money for cancer patient wigs, e.g., during chemotherapy.) In the video below, LA law enforcement essentially hassled a long-time burger outlet out of existence.
Down that Slippery Slope....
A defense reconciliation bill dropped a Feinstein amendment which rules out indefinite detention for American residents (thumbs DOWN!)
Musical Interlude: Christmas Retrospective
Celtic Woman, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". Technically I think this is a new release. I sought it out because I heard a snippet of their glorious chorus harmony on a late-night ad. Flat out, the best version of the song I've ever heard (I've had it on auto-repeat for the past hour--my latest digital purchase, highly rcommended). How do you make a familiar song your own? These ladies manage to do it--a distinctive harmony and, oh my God, that soaring soprano. The song itself (not this version) plays a major part in the Charlie Brown Christmas special.
