Huzzah! Here is a picture (thanks to timewarptoys)
"Mr. Joggy" is really spelt Mr. Joggi. It was manufactured by
Tigrett Industries, who did some unusual toys, including an early sonic remote control toy.

Happy memories from whem Momma was still living!

WWJB

A question that came up at home is What Would Jesus Blog?
(This of course begs the question of Whether We Need A Life.)
There are weblogs and journals of the utmost pristine purity,
nary a questionable question, no shade of unorthodoxy.
Then, there are those of Dark Design, used to promulgate
the eldritch, the shadowed, the bent. Between are endless ratios
of Mixture.Jesus was the sinless Son of God, yet many brethren today
would have serious trouble with him because of Who He Was Seen With.
Seems He was none too picky about whom he ate with, whom he taught,
whom he celebrated with.

Jesus did have some standards, however. He was not shy about letting the self-
proclaimed Orthodoxy know that they were rotten within, no matter how
perfect they appeared to those whom they lorded it over. The religious leaders
who made new rules to burden the hoi polloi were termed vipers, lumped
in with The Serpent himself. Yet Jesus was lambasted as a glutton, a drunkard,
as well as being a bad judge of character. As they say, where there's smoke,
there's fire! After all, his close retinue of followers included salty-tongued fishermen,
quisling tax agents , at least one terrorist, a thief, and a cynical doubter. He was acquainted
with Women Of Questionable Virtue, and actually...touched...lepers. His first miracle
provided potent potables for a wedding party- that would deny him membership at
Certain Congregations.

The point of this ramble is that if the sinless Son of the I Am was not loath to be in contact
with the imperfect, the sinful, neither then should we, as His disciples. As Paul -no shrinking violet, he- said, how shall they hear without a preacher? Whether it is online, at work, or in the marketplace, we are called to meet humanity and deliver the Good News of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the promise of His return, not huddle in sanctified self-righteousness, fearing contamination. It is incumbent upon us to spread the Word in whatever venue the Lord opens up for us. I have personally been able to multiply my opportunities sharing on different blogs through their comments. ONLY sharing the truth that is on topic, though, otherwise I would come across like a crank with an axe to grind. Read how Paul dealt with the idolatry in Athens.
Not a torch or anti-pagan march in sight! No flailing about with ten-pound KJVs. He met the Athenians where they were, and taught the appropriate truth. Listening to the Holy Spirit helped him, too, which indicates that God had no problem with Paul's modus.

Happy blogging!

I wish these things did not come to me in the shower.
I shower late, and hate writing on the wall with soap, so here
it is, 1:44AM Sunday morning, and I'm blogging.

Much has been done with the argumentum a silentio, where church polity is concerned.
Our fellowship, f'rinstance, does not utilize musical instruments in worship. The New Testament enjoins us to "sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord"

Ephesians 5:18-20, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" (cf Colossians 3:16)

We are explicitly told "sing and make melody". We are not told to have an orchestra, a one-man-band, nor a kazoo, for which I am profoundly grateful, as I despise music practice, and if God had said "piano", then the sea-lawyers among us would make it a salvific requirement for me to tickle the ivories.

The Argument From Silence concludes that because God does not mention "musical instruments" in the New Testament, the church should not use them, as there is no specific authority. Unfortunately, one can use the same "proof" to show that the apostle Paul did not believe in the Virgin Birth of Christ, because he never mentions it.

It is not my desire or interest therefore to drag an aging upright into the sanctuary....errr, auditorium, nor to install a Righteous pipe organ around the baptistry. I merely want to call a style of reasoning into question, to have it examined.

The type of argument here used springs from Aristotelian logic, a Greek -or Gentile- construct.
Well and good, but what is the wellspring whence the church sprang? Is it not Hebraic thinking, a covenant-based process, a mode of thought alien and barbaric to the Greek? Should we not be trained to think in the terms and ways Jesus, Peter, and Paul thought? (And, no, I am NOT advocating "judaizing" the church. I've read Galatians, too. The idea is to attempt to think and reason the way Jesus did.)

I can go no deeper now than to say that it seems to me that attempting to "decode" Hebraic Scriptures using Greek methods will ultimately be as useful as trying to decrypt 128 bit encryption using a pear. You might get something, but likely it will be sticky, unpleasant, and expensive.

Of course, this one is quite nice, too!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: His Grace Lord Weatherly the Charitable of Kesslington under Ox Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: The Most Honourable Weatherly the Weary of New Scagglethorpe Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Beyond their Promulgating the Lie, I have another reason to avoid H&R Block.

Their new commercials have the hapless hubby using a "box" tax software product.
He gets stumped, so his redheaded (usually a major plus) wife proceeds to he...

You think I'm gonna say "help".

Proceeds to heckle him: "Ask your tax people. Oh, wait...you don't have people. You have a BOX. Ask the BOX." She talks to the box, then holds it up to her ear and hears nothing, you know, just to REALLY illustrate what a stupid yutz her hubby is.

Endearing.

There is a second one that is even worse. Sadly, from many of the blogs I see, her attitude is FAR from aberrant, so far as current norms are concerned. Of course, at least as far back as old time radio, the showcasing of hubby as a boob, and wifey as Einstein-once-removed has been the standard. Hmmm, could be why SO many men do not want to marry, especially the no-fault, feminist, covenant-bereft, anemic, government-ridden travesty that passes for marriage these days.

Personally, I am blessed to be married to a woman who not only read Proverbs 31, but chose to emulate it, one who also does not "trouble her own house".

I am thankful for the Dread Dormomoo.
Happy Birthday, sweetheart.

What does it mean?

I am on the cusp of becoming fifty years old, and I have no inkling of what this means.
I look like the men that I have always called "Sir".
Yet, in my own head, I am as I was in my twenties and thirties. Fact is, I have no idea where the last twenty years have gone. This is no paean of regret, but rather a Bemusement.

I love toys, and the kids shows of my youth. I am a devotee of the animation arts. Fact is, I find them to be the most creative and original motion picture story forms extant. I get on well with The Younger Set, and try desperately hard NOT to be the Dutch uncle.

Bottom line, I don't know "how to be fifty", so I guess I'll just carry on as usual.

Maybe I'll get it when I'm seventy.

Honest...given the parameters of the quiz, and things it did NOT say as well, it was the only way to answer.

...then again, maybe I'm NOT that nice a guy!

Which House MD Character Are You?
House You're House! You're mean, insolent, gruff, callous, intelligent, and all the other awesome things that makes House a meaningful and memorable character. You have drive and a dominating dedication to the rules of logic and reason, even in the face of day to day trivialities. Not afraid to back down or change your stance or even be PC, you totally stand out wherever you go, despite standing out in an often negative way.
Take The Quiz Now!	Quizzes by myYearbook.com

Loen caught the Bug.

My youngest is 16 years old, and he has caught a Dire Contagion.
Not sure I want him to get over it.

He and his best bud have started a business "Gamers" is a video console arcade. For an hourly fee, or for a monthly membership, you get to play the hottest games on the hottest systems. They will also have Old School Gaming systems like the Atari 2600, up through the XBox 360 and the Wii.
Guitar Hero and DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) will be major draws.
They have a storefront just off of the Square in our town, where a Comic Shop used to be. They open February 8th.

Entrepreneurism is good to catch, but know this: once contracted, it ruins you for working for anyone else. Pray for their success, them wot does such.

....and if you find yourself in Athens AL, stop in after school hours at 210 S. Jefferson St. and PLAY!

Twaddling my thumbs...

Twaddle:  To talk in a weak and silly manner,
like one whose faculties
are decayed; to prate;
to prattle. --Stanyhurst.

I had never seen "twaddle" used as a verb, but this morning I have seen
it in action.
I print Vacation Bible School (VBS) shirts for several local churches.
They normally purchase a canned curriculum for their program,
but have us do a design that is cooler than the one provided with
the materials.

I wanted to get ahead of the game, so I got my Sunday morning java,
aimed my household Logic at the 'Net, and went Here.
I wanted to check the download clipart, to see if any of it was usable.

Let's imagine Paul the apostle, or Peter, or Stephen the first
martyr of the church: faced with persecution and death for
preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, yet driven still to do
so by the Holy Spirit. Imagine their coming up with the stuff
that currently passes for Gospel teaching. Imagine Paul and
Barnabas doing "Avalanche Ranch", twaddling
the Gospel.

I wonder why Islam and other "isms" have made such inroads
in the West?

I have a perverse fascination in the Judas Pig.

You know, the porker that lures you, invites you, nay, begs you to eat himself and his kin.

They are famously used as BBQ come-ons, as you see here.

Periodically I shall share the most infamous, or at least the most bizarre that I find on my travels to conventions.

Mmmmmmmmm...hickory!

Your Aardvark has been remiss in his duties.

The new year is starting with a bang, not a whimper. Business-wise, we are doing very well, even in the winter doldrums. For this we are all profoundly Thankful.

As to areas of Politics and Governance, well, my interest begins to pall. The Ship of State is foundering on the shoals of Pragmatism and the Foolishness of the Pee-pul. The most cogent counsel I am receiving from many quarters is COME OUT! Don't vote. Don't participate.

Frankly, it becomes an increasingly tenable position. If, as one fellow put it, Theft is wrong (according to God's Immutables), then it is equally wrong to put in a representative who will steal for me by proxy. Our representatives...DO NOT. At least, they do not represent ME.

The Lie of the Moral Majority and the Christian Coalition is that a united Christian vote Means Something in our post-Christian times. To quote a favorite Lewis character: Show it me i' the Book!". I find no indication of Jesus or Paul advocating political activism. To practice such seems antithetical to Christ's explanation to Pilate that "My kingdom is not of this world".

Political doings have been my life for twenty years. Vote Christian! Sadly, EVERY putatively Christian candidate for whom I have voted has bitten me on the bum, from Jimmuh Cahter on.
As far as activism, I remember well the parties in the streets that followed the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Do you remember where you were that day; remember how our Representatives listened to the majority outcry for the unborn, moved by the peaceful, hymn-singing, praying marchers standing for innocent lives?

Behold the spectacle of the American Church NOT speaking as Nathan to Washington's David, but wavering and keeping silent so as to maintain 501c3 status, for we all know that American Christians will contribute, not because cheerful giving delights their Lord, but because they can deduct their "charity" from their Income Taxes. Maybe my right hand should not know what my left is doing, but by Goo, Washington will.

The producers are robbed to pay for policies they do not often agree with, and their wealth given often to the lazy, and those who feel "entitled" by race, neighborhood, or ancestry.
Foul. FOUL.

Our Leaders drag our nation into international conflicts that ultimately are not our business. I have NO MORE patience with the stupidity which passes for Foreign Policy.

Our crime rates are going up, and much of it is IN FACT caused by the Hard Working But Undocumented Neighbors From South Of The Border Who Do The Work That Lazy Americans Won't Do Anymore. The illegal ones, the ones whose very presence here proclaims their disdain for our laws. The ones Our Representatives have so ably combatted by beefing up border security.

Then there is the North American Union.
FOUL!

I cannot take it anymore. To be ignored by "my representatives" is more than I can bear.
To be billed for it is an indignity too great.

I do not know what to do. For once it appears that there is no good answer. Everyone whines about it, but NO-ONE has an answer.

HAPPY HORN DAY!!

(Search the blog. You'll find out.)

If you are on the Northern Gulf Coast of Florida, Sandestin or Niceville, or in Memphis, TN, or in Spanish Fort, AL, you NEED to go to Ciao Bella Pizza. Riatsila and I go there when we attend Anime South. Honest, it is one of the reasons that I go. Amazing Italian food. This is NOT an Americanized cardboard-crust chain, nossir; this is the Real Deal. Here is the TripAdvisor review page.

Do yourselves the favor. Enjoy. It's not just pizza, either. Their salads and desserts are amazing.
Then there's the bread and dipping oil. Between the garlic and the olive oil, I'll NEVER have a coronary! Absolutely amazing.

OH! They are in Jacksonville, FL as well!

Go. eat. Rejoice!

For a veritable avalanche of right-of-center interest news stories, check out and sign up for W.G.E.N.

Follow the link, and follow the instructions if you want a great source of news and commentary delivered to you. Your Aardvark is a partaker of Jackie Juntti's newsy goodness. You will find it all useful, amusing, and maddening by turns.

http://grassrootsgranny.com/wgen.htm

Do it!

The Aardvark is comforted.
The Queen Bee, Nancy Pelosi, is ensconced in the Seat of Power as the new House Speaker.
The Lizard Queen, aka the Hilldebeest, aka Hillary is slouching towards the White House, aka The Cherry-Blossom Throne.
He feels so safe and secure, especially in light of this.

Your Aardvark may be reactionary in this, but to me this says that a State of War exists between the US and Mexico. It has been de facto as far as the Aztlan crowd are concerned, but should now be declared de jure. (More pro-Aztlan stuff here)

Now, THIS little forgotten incident occurred in 2000.

The Aardvark has his knickers in a twist (just don't think about it) because our armed forces
RETREATED
before the Mexican Horde. Armed May-hee-can nationals CROSSED OUR BORDER, "overran" our troops, causing them to retreat. The invaders then faded back across the border.

This little sortie showed Our Good Neighbors To The South Who Just Want To Work Hard By Doing The Jobs Spoiled Americans Won't Do a simple truth:

We will not stand up to them.

What this says to your Aardvark: May-hee-co has declared war on us.

Enjoy your enchiladas!

I have not provided the churlishly yclept "loot list" of Christmas goodies. This shall be rectified partially now.

We have been enjoying the wonderful Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry series "Jeeves and Wooster".
I was gifted a boxed set this year. Dr. House as a brainless but good-hearted Rich Young Man.
Laurie can pull faces only cartoonists dream of. P.G. Wodehouse wrote the stories, and I chafe to read them now.

Get the books, and get the vids. They are painfully funny, and well worth the time spent. Witty, charming, arch, and not an unclad bosom in sight, nor unclean tongue.

Wow. It CAN be done!

An Aardvark Aware.

I was (not) amused to note that when the rector quoted Jesus:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life"

he neglected to finish the statement:

"no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6)

Seems to me that weasel-wording is not a fit way to send an honorable man like Gerald Ford into the Great Beyond. And quoting the Founder of the Faith in such an abridged manner truly does violence to the intent of the Founder.

Jesus was NOT inclusive. He was the Prince of Peace, not the prince of wuss. Christ draws the line in the sand and says "these are Mine". The promise that "the Lord knows those who are His" encompasses the fact that There Are Those Who Are Not; hence the Great Commission, hence the need for evangelism.

Brethren, we must redouble, reTRIPLE our efforts in spreading the Good News.