I just saw a report that the MPLS city council is considering revoking the liqueur licenses of two hotels that rented rooms to ICE agents.
I could be wrong, but this sounds a lot like what a fascist might do. As does blocking public roads and restricting access to those public roads.
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
Somehow I've always missed the second part of this passage. But as we navigate some strange times, this passage seems like something to consider.
First, slow is good. Listen, gather information, and then slow down. So often we feel the need to speak out quickly, rather than to take the time to consider our words. I suspect that there is a connection between speaking quickly and being angry quickly. Whether quick speech leads to quick anger, or quick anger leads to quick speech, I'm not sure. But I am pretty sure that quick is bad and slow is good.
Second, the fact that "human anger doesn't produce righteousness". We sometimes speak of "righteous anger", yet James seems to indicate that (with the exception perhaps of Jesus) that righteous and anger do not go together. I've long believed that anger is addictive. That our anger might start out as righteous but that there is a power or attraction to anger and what it allows us to get away with, that eventually becomes it's own justification. I suspect that way too many Christians take Jesus' angry cleansing of The Temple as more normative that it probably should be and embrace the anger without the righteousness.
Third, YHWH desires "righteousness" and anger does not produce what YHWH desires. Why would we indulge in something that does not produce the "righteousness" that YHWH desires? Why wouldn't we focus on that which does lead to the "righteousness that YHWH desires", instead of that which doesn't?
It's amazing how many times I've read this part of James and skipped over the end of the passage. I think that I blocked it out because I wanted the option of anger. Because I read it's OK to get angry, as long as I don't rush into it. Slowly considering something and building up to anger would justify my angry response as long as I ignore the next line.
Maybe this is something we should be considering.
For all those whining about ICE being "fascist" and protesters/rioters/those interfering getting hurt, I have an exquisitely simple solution.
First, local and state LE need to cooperate with ICE and honor legal detainers and deportation orders. Doing this in the controlled environment of a jail facility means two ICE agents taking custody of a prisoner. It eliminates the need for 10-20 ICE agents out in the streets trying to find criminals who are hiding/being hidden. There might be some instances where this is necessary, but not as many.
Second, protesters need to protest only. Stop the interference, rioting, blocking streets, engaging in battery against LE and bystanders, doxxing LE, or attacking people that you mistakenly ID is LE. This will minimize the chances of encountering non lethal crowd control measures. Oh, keep the small children at home.
Third, publicize the names and crimes of those detained. Let people know who and what they are trying to protect and let the rest of us understand that removal of these people will ultimately make our cities safer and better.
It's really not that hard to allow LE to rid our country of criminals, and for protesters to protest against removal of criminals.
https://www.blogger.com/blog/comments/8840366335457642958?hl=en&status=pending
Just the latest example of the racist, tolerant, left.
https://x.com/benryanwriter/status/2018889106298990779?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
https://x.com/lizcollin/status/2018831882759405952?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
https://x.com/swipewright/status/2018755555649609924?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
The rats are leaving the sinking ship. Who knew lawyers would be the ones to stop this insanity.
https://x.com/brooketaylortv/status/2018824805479264359?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
"1) Otabek Kobilovich a criminal illegal alien from Uzbekistan and known suspected terrorist. 2) Alexander Levkovich a criminal illegal alien Ukraine, convicted for terroristic threats, domestic assault, and driving while intoxicated. 3) Bryan Buestan Farfan a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador, arrested for malicious punishment of a child. 4) Karla Peralta-Rodriguez a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for malicious punishment of a child and disorderly conduct."
Wonderful helpers, all.
https://x.com/billmelugin_/status/2018763325081801132?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
This story is right at the intersection of hilarious and tragic.
https://x.com/guypbenson/status/2018742187802894343?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
This rests on Pritzker to a great degree.
https://x.com/joelpollak/status/2018660366730072085?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
" The refusal to distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants is one of the most destructive and divisive acts of deliberate rhetorical obfuscation. It's the entire issue."
I would add the fact that there is a push to label every single illegal alien as a refugee or asylum seeker to this as further obfuscation.
https://x.com/iamsean90/status/2018500475134345551?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
16 dead homeless people thanks to Zorhan. This is what happens when you elect someone who is totally unqualified and unprepared.
https://x.com/jasonjournodc/status/2018700411079626822?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
Who would have thought that CNN would have had the courage to air this story?
https://x.com/wil_da_beast630/status/2018189623176925508?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
The ability of those on the left to elevate such vile and depraved characters to sainthood in order to push their narrative is Truly impressive.
"Four of these people were convicted child anal/vaginal rapists who *happened to die* in jail. One was a drunk who waved an AR at an OFF-DUTY cop."
These are y'alls heroes.
https://x.com/gaulicsmith/status/2018200477368725624?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
It's a long thread, but good insight.
That's some quality learing right there.
https://x.com/gragedustin/status/2018753360132755705?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
Supporting anything but these people being jailed or deported is the complete opposite of decent and moral.
https://x.com/cwbchicago/status/2018470739217678637?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
Remember the Decent Moral Progressives that fought tooth and nail against DOGE trying to find fraud/waste/abuse in the federal budget? Well, the monetary toll continues to grow immensely and in blue states across the country. The fact that this fraud directly harms the sick, poor, homeless, and hungry doesn't seem to faze DMPs, that this is literally money stolen from US taxpayers also doesn't bother them enough to get behind efforts to stop it.
https://x.com/emily_hoeven/status/2017694847722000439?s=20
https://x.com/LukeCanasta/status/2018003063190270460?s=20
https://x.com/lukecanasta/status/2018003063190270460?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
How freaking hard is it to stop a guy who's been threatening people with a machete for a long time?
https://x.com/guypbenson/status/2018429774385779006?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
https://x.com/seanmdav/status/2018397484209635625?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
More damaging polling data for the DFL.
https://x.com/highway_30/status/201819587582828586?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
Royce is one more black person who the DMPs will attack and discredit.
https://x.com/andrewkerrnc/status/2018361160165175558?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
Another one bites the dust.
https://x.com/wil_da_beast630/status/2018189623176925508?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
And another one's gone...
https://x.com/shipwreckedcrew/article/2018398953587519840
It seems like manipulating the court system to favor illegal alien criminals might be authoritarian.
https://x.com/gaulicsmith/status/2018200477368725624?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
An extensive thread of the fallacy of everyone crossing the border being a refugee or asylee. It's one more example of DMPs working the system to favor those who aren't actually qualified for asylum.
https://x.com/wil_da_beast630/status/2018733745348436402?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
https://x.com/geiger_capital/status/2018717121425834279?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
https://x.com/megbasham/status/2018403373112754553?s=51&t=cLq01Oy84YkmYPZ-URIMYw
Voter ID is polling well, yet the DFL power brokers refuse to let it come to a vote.
76% of Blacks Support ID
82% Latino
86% White
95% GOP
71% DFL
The issue of voter ID is an issue that has high support across the partisan divide as well as racial/ethnic groups. Yet the DFL senators absolutely refuse to let it come to a vote, while pretending that this is some absurd sort of "Jim Crow", for which we only have the DFL to than historically.
The polls are telling a clear story and the DFL is choosing to ignore the will of the people. This obviously isn't a new tactic for the DFL, but their clinging to this despite the public sentiment being overwhelmingly against them raises questions about WHY.
As we approach the Superb Owl we end up in the now yearly discussion of the halftime show. This year we are treated to Bad Bunny. Apparently he is very popular among certain demographics, which is awesome. He makes music that people like and listen to, more power to him. However, that raises the question regarding what the purpose of the Superb Owl halftime show really is. To start to answer that question, you'd have to look at the demographics of who watches the game. Then you'd have to try to match the halftime to the demographic in one strategy. Cater to the primary viewers. Or, you could try to use the halftime performer to create a draw that would increase demographics that otherwise might not watch the game. Bad Bunny might hit the first of those, but seems unlikely to draw new viewers.
(Let's not forget that it is all about viewers, ratings, and ad rates. Nothing else.)
Personally, I'm not a fan of Bad Bunny and am unlikely to watch the halftime performance. I'm also not a fan of anyone at the alternative halftime show and probably won't watch that either. In all honesty I don't know if I'll watch much of the game this year, but that's something else entirely. But, I like the idea of a competing halftime show and of being able to measure which one gets more viewers.
As an aside, it seems like the NFL could (through streaming or broadcast partners) offer several performers of different styles and genres during halftime.
Having said all of that, my first thought on halftime performances for the Superb Owl is that local is better. In this case, I would have looked first at bands from the Bay Area. Green Day (who's doing pregame), Metallica, Santana, Journey, or a combination thereof. Strangely enough there aren't many more options beside John Fogarty that have been popular. Can you imagine Kirk Hammett shredding Don't Stop Believing?
Beyond that, I would argue that the better option is to find an artist (or combination) that are hugely popular and have wide appeal. While I'm not a fan, Taylor Swift is the most obvious choice for obvious reasons. Foo Fighters are another, again not a huge fan. While I'd prefer that they target music I like, I'm not stupid enough to think that doing so makes sense. I do think that broader appeal is better than narrow appeal.
I also think that style matters. Some styles of music just work better as a big production than others. Also it's probably a good idea to switch genres regularly to maintain broader appeal.
In short, I think that Bad Bunny is probably not the best choice and realize that I could be proven wrong Ultimately it's just not a huge deal to me and It's highly unlikely that I'll watch. On a personal note, I tend to focus on lyrics and when I can't understand the lyrics, I tune out. I appreciate musicianship, but I don't want to see Joe Satriani shred for the halftime show.
It might be fun to come up with a list of who we'd like to see at the halftime show. For starters, let's stick to bands that are living.
Right now, I think that the band that Sammy Hagar (who does have some SF roots) has put together for his retrospective tour/residency would be a good choice (especially if he could get Wolf to hop in). Some combination of Styx, and Cheap Trick could be interesting as well. Taylor Swift is the no brainer, and Chris Stapleton (who did an amazing job on the anthem) could be good as well. Earth Wind and Fire are still amazing, as is Queen/Lambert. Would I personally love some sort of old school rap thing with Sugarhill and Run DMC, absolutely, maybe throw Chic/Nile Rogers in for some funkyness.
