This is just too good. Thanks to Diana, I've learned that Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal, is or was associated with a bit of demon possession.  It's true!

While under the supposed control of satanic demons, Susan lashed out at Jindal and his friends. "Whenever I concentrated long enough to begin prayer, I felt some type of physical force distracting me," Jindal reflected. "It was as if something was pushing down on my chest, making it very hard for me to breathe... I began to think that the demon would only attack me if I tried to pray or fight back; thus, I resigned myself to leaving it alone in an attempt to find peace for myself."

Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at 03:18 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Category: In the News
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In the same vein as the "Octomom" Britain has a 13 year old dad.

The Sun: Baby-faced boy Alfie Patten is father at 13

BOY dad Alfie Patten yesterday admitted he does not know how much nappies cost — but said: “I think it’s a lot.”

Baby-faced Alfie, who is 13 but looks more like eight, became a father four days ago when his girlfriend Chantelle Steadman gave birth to 7lb 3oz Maisie Roxanne.

Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at 10:55 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Kottke linked over this this article, "Ten Take Aways from the Bush Years," which he summarizes as "keep your head out of the sand and your ass."

It basically consists of a list of very specific situations summed into marginally more general rules of leadership, which without the examples would be almost meaningless, counter-productive in principle, or just obvious to all but the most idiotic:

1. Presidents set the tone. Don't be passive or tolerate virulent divisions.
2. The president must insist that everyone speak out loud in front of the others, even -- or especially -- when there are vehement disagreements.
3. A president must do the homework to master the fundamental ideas and concepts behind his policies.
4. Presidents need to draw people out and make sure that bad news makes it to the Oval Office.
5. Presidents need to foster a culture of skepticism and doubt.
6. Presidents get contradictory data, and they need a rigorous way to sort it out.
7. Presidents must tell the public the hard truth, even if that means delivering very bad news.
8. Righteous motives are not enough for effective policy.
9. Presidents must insist on strategic thinking.
10. The president should embrace transparency. Some version of the behind-the-scenes story of what happened in his White House will always make it out to the public -- and everyone will be better off if that version is as accurate as possible.

1. Never sacrifice freedom for security.
2. Insist that every decision be based on a defense of individual rights.
3. Embrace short-term losses that lead to long term prosperity.
4. Mind your own damn business.
   
5. Learn to pronounce big words, like "nuclear" and "Ahmadinejad," before you go on television.
6. Don't talk about a problem without a clear solution.
7. Don't talk about a solution without a clear identification of the principles behind the solution.
8. If you have to pray about any decision you make, quit your job immediately.

Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at 04:04 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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The Catholic Church is selling Indulgences again.

Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at 02:03 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Found over at Joe.My.God.  I find myself supporting this ignorant, silly man's right to impose silly rules on his business.  Those punks who complain that he is in some way violating their rights by refusing to allow them in his private property are wrong both in taste and politics.

What's interesting to me about this story is that it doesn't really directly address his political views.  We might hazard some reasonable guesses, but this story focuses just on the outrage some people feel about not being allowed to mind other people's business -- literally!

Posted by: Flibbertigibbet at 05:36 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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